Takedown Report

Ian Fritz of Topsail H.S. named the ‘Roy Heverly Award’ winner

Ian Fritz of Topsail H.S. is the ‘Roy Heverly Award’ winner as the top Underclassmen wrestler in Eastern North Carolina in 2023

State champion Ian Fritz of Topsail H.S. will be presented the Roy Heverly Award this fall at a home football game.  The Heverly Award is for the top underclassman scholastic wrestlers in eastern North Carolina for the 2023 season.  Fritz completed his sophomore season with 51 wins and just 2 losses to out of state wrestlers at the nationally ranked Beast of the East tournament.  His career record so far is (94 – 5) with a 4^th place finish at the state tournament his freshman year.  He has also won two Regional Championships.  On his path to the 4A State Championship Fritz defeated a 3x Finalist and 1x state champion Brandt Fajerman in the semifinals.  He faced the defending State Champion Eli Murray in the finals and defeated him by a Tech Fall.

            In the month following the state championship Ian won four of six matches at the National High School Coaches Association national tournament in Virginia Beach.  His losses were in a close 6-5 decision to the 3rd place finisher and to the 7th Place finisher by a 5-3 decision.  Both wrestlers were from the Buckeye State of Ohio.  Academically Ian has maintained a 4.3 GPA in school and earned his teammates respect as they voted him Team Captain as a Sophomore.  He is “Hands down the hardest worker in the room” according to his coaches.  Ian is a strong candidate to repeat as champion next season.  More details of the day and time of the presentation in the fall shall be announced later.

Previous ‘Roy Heverly Award’ winners    

2022   Alex Hopper of Wilm. Laney

2021   Caleb Beaty of Wake Forest and Mark Samuel of Wilm. Laney
2020   River Carroll of Swansboro and Mark Samuel of Wilm. Laney

2019   Christian Decatur of Rosewood

2018   Alec Sampson of Hoggard                  2017    Beau Studebaker of East Carteret

2016    Harrison Campbell of West Brunswick          2015    Blaine Mainz of Jacksonville

2014    Joe Sculthorpe of Topsail       2013    Matteson Correll of Topsail

2012    Nick Quillen of Rosewood and Tyler Ross of Jacksonville

2011    Jake Smith of Havelock          2010   Marquin Hill of Washington

2009    Ryan Blackwell of Croatan     2008   Charlie Millea of Havelock

2007    Frank Hickman of Wilm. Laney        2006    Sean O’Laker of Croatan

2005    Eddie Sawyer of Currituck Co.          2004    Brian Lashomb of Currituck Co.

2003    Raymond Jordan of New Bern,

The award is named in honor of former state champion Roy Heverly, a 4 time state medalist at West Carteret and three time All-American at The University of North Carolina-Pembroke.  The TakeDown Report, an on-line publication promotes amateur wrestling in eastern North Carolina, sponsors these Awards.  “These awards recognize the most successful wrestlers in the area each year.” Fleming noted, “It encourages the young men from the teams in the eastern part of the state with another opportunity for others to realize the hard work, determination and discipline it takes to be a top wrestler,” he added.  The TDR also ranks wrestlers in a TDR Top 12 List that is displayed on the TDR Blog page. The TDR has been involved in the publicity of amateur wrestling in North Carolina for over 20 years.  Contact the TDR at martinkfleming@gmail.com, (252) 883-3311 & https://takedownreport.wordpress.com/

April 16, 2023 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized