Sports - December 2002

West, LHS wrestlers have tough times at Hickory meet

TERRANCE THOMAS, LTN Staff Writer

December 9, 2002 - HICKORY — West Lincoln and Lincolnton wrestlers had some tough times in the nine-team St. Stephens Indian Classic Saturday.

West finished fourth while Lincolnton, which competed without its top players, came in ninth.

Teams came from as far as Chapel Hill, and Wadesboro to participate.

West coach Butch Ross said the top six teams (St. Stephens, East Burke, Newton-Conover, West Lincoln, Anson County and Chapel Hill) are ranked in the top 10 of either the 2A, 3A or 4A in the state.

“This is one of the top tournaments in the state,” said LHS Joe Marcum, a wrestler in the 171-pound class. “There’s a lot of big, tough guys here.”

It was an individual’s tournament. Each person competed to win the championship of its weight class. The teams got points on how well each wrestled did. If a wrestler lost, he would try to go far as he could in the consolation bracket.

Both West and LHS had problems because they weren’t able to practice during the winter storm and power outage.

The Wolves’ top two wrestlers couldn’t make it or couldn’t be found, according to head coach Joe Pollard.

Nevertheless, LHS competed anyway. Bradley Beamer did reach the semifinals of the consolation bracket.

West had better luck.

Zeb Elmore had a second-place finish. Zac Elmore, Josh Hullette, Matt Avery and Aaron Terry all placed third.

Jeremy Person, Steele Barber, Will Bess, and Antonio Rojo all were fourth in their classes.

West had a bunch of wrestlers who competed in the junior varsity tournament at the two-gym school.

NOTE: West’s Eric Steele is a Wendy’s High School Heisman nominee.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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