Solid performance turned in by EHS wrestling team

By Marvin Birchfield
STAR STAFF
mbirchfield@starhq.com

   GRAY--Signs of vast improvement is starting to show for the Elizabethton wrestling team, as a good team effort at Daniel Boone High School Tuesday enabled them to go 1-1 on the night.
   The Cyclones locked up with Daniel Boone and Tennessee High, resulting in a close team loss to the Trailblazers and an overwhelming win of 51-18 over the Vikings.
   Elizabethton drew Daniel Boone first, and despite winning the overall individual competition, the Trailblazers came away with the team victory because of several forfeits.
   "Our situation in the first match was we have two or three kids out with injuries, and then we have two missing due to family issues," said Elizabethton coach Bill Potter.
   The Cyclones wrestled in just eight of the matches scheduled, winning five.
   It was even more of a lopsided affair with Tennessee High, with none of the Vikings' points being gained in the events they wrestled.
   "They beat us a week ago which was a disappointment, so we were fired up and wanted to come out and beat them," said Elizabethton assistant coach Adam Wilkin. "We came out real aggressive, and I think we'd be dangerous right now if we had a full team to field."
   The underclassman stepped up their performance, with sophomore Tyler Ross and freshman Zack Potter both getting pinfalls in each of the two matches they wrestled.
   Ross pinned Boone's Adam Stewart with over a minute of the second period in the 112-pound weight class, as he rang up a 6-0 lead before wrapping up his opponent.
   "We've been working all season long, and now I think it's really paying off for us," said Tyler Ross.
   Another victory came when Ross got the pin in the third round against the Vikings' David Hertzog, after scoring six quick points and taking a commanding lead during the second period.
   "We've definitely come a long way this season, and if we wouldn't have lost some guys and had a full team, then I think we could compete with everybody in the conference," said Ross.
   Zack Potter was just as impressive with his matches, as he made of quick exit of the Trailblazers' Tommy Brown in the first period.
   Tennessee High's Andrew Prince was the next victim on the list. Tied 2-2 after two periods, Zack grabbed the victory with 1:09 left by pinfall.
   "I feel a lot better finally. I think we're all starting to hit our peak right now," said Zack. "This team is as good as any out there I feel like, and that's just because we have a lot of heart about us.
   "I'm really happy to be able to avenge a couple of losses I receive prior in the season."
   John Ross found himself being faced with two tough matches, as he faced Boone's Ryan McGrew, who's ranked second in the state in the 125-pound weight class.
   John battled to a hard fought loss of 13-5 against McGrew, but he redeemed himself with a third-period pinfall over Tennessee High's Russell Haynes.
   "John Ross wrestled Ryan McGrew tough tonight," said Bill Potter. "He's ranked second in the state and I thought he did a very good job against him."
   Corey Henson pulled out a close 5-4 victory over Adam McKee, and scored another win, which came a little easier as he beat the Vikings' Todd Marcus with a first-period pin in the 135-pound class.
   After losing a close match in the third period to Boone's Aaron Modzelewski, Patrick Jenkins came back to score a 6-3 win over the Vikings Michael Mumpower.
   It was an exciting first period for Justin Chizmar, as he made the pin on Boone's Graham Perkins with one second left on the clock.
   "Boone beat us bad earlier in the year by about 40 points and tonight they only beat us by 10," said Wilkin. "If we can keep on improving and heading in the right direction, then hopefully we can peak come time for the regionals."
   Chizmar continued his dominating performance by doing the same to Tennessee High's Jordan Hollifield, which took less than a minute in the first period.
   In the 152 class, Mitch Cornett received the victory after pinning Boone's Josh Jarrett during the first period with 59 seconds left.
   Despite winning 13 out of 16 matches the Cyclones competed in, Science Hill was declared the overall team victor by defeating both Daniel Boone and Tennessee High in total points.
   "We got good performances from several guys tonight, and I'm happy with the way we competed," said Bill Potter. "We had to give up 24 points in forfeits to Boone, and if it wasn't for that then we would have probably beat them."