The Super 32
Make NC Mat your start-up page
|
|
Parkland Wrestling: Year in Review
by William Wolfe
Parklands' wrestling season started off with the Mustangs missing some starters due to the excellent football season that the team had. This caused the Mount Tabor match to be canceled and hurt the Mustangs at Demon Duals, where the team went 2-3. December started off on the right foot for the Mustangs, and by the end of the month, we knew who the future relied on. We beat West Forsyth 46-15 in our first action of the month to improve to 3-3. Parkland then hit tournament action, finishing 7th in the Swiss Bear, 2nd in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Tournament but lost Ian Smith for the season along the way, and finished 2nd in the Wildcat Invitational without 3 starters. December also saw Parkland host the first annual "Mustang Stampede", which turned into quite a tournament. The Stampede saw 19 teams from North Carolina and Tennessee do battle, with Fuquay-Varina winning the tournament. Parkland finished 9th. No December is complete without attending the "Tiger Holiday Classic". Chris Sanders placed sixth and was Forsyth County's only placer. The Tiger was also Rod McCollum's "coming of age" so to speak, as he beat some highly ranked wrestlers before being put out of the tournament. January was a month a mayhem, between a starter quitting and the weather playing havoc with the schedule. Parkland survived it all, going 6-1 on the month and taking control of the conference. February was a month of ups and downs. Parkland finished dominating the conference to regain it's crown, beaten SW Guilford to avenge last years loss, which was the Mustangs first conference loss in over five years. In the first round of state duals, Parkland clobbered NE Guilford in the first round, only to find a tough Eden Morehead team that would not be denied. Regionals rolled around and the Mustangs finished third, sending six wrestlers to states. Parkland was somewhat held back by starter and 1999 State Qualifier Rick Farthing being pulled by the doctor due to injury, and Rod McCollum losing to an upset minded Corey Campbell from Carver who went on to qualify for states. A week later at the State Tournament, injury struck again as Chris Sanders had to forfeit out the tournament after injuring his ankle. Terrance Ingram wrestled well, but couldn't get his hand raised. Senior David Morelli won his first match by beaten a previously undefeated wrestler, but lost his next two. Marquis Moncrief and Brandon Ayers both won two matches before going out. Robbie Meadows lost his first round match, but battled back against tough opponents and illness to wrestle back through consolations and finish fourth as Parkland lone placers. The biggest news to come out of this season is that next year the Mustangs will be a force to be reckoned with again. Starters Rick Farthing and Ian Smith will be back from injury, 2000 State Qualifiers Brandon Ayers, Chris Sanders and Terrance Ingram will be back. Also back will be Rod McCollum, Martin Lawson and JV standouts Abraham Watson and Grey Farthing. So, anyone hearing these rumors about the demise of Parkland wrestling, I want to invite you to sit back and watch, because the train just keeps on coming!
|