Sports - December 2003

Rebels win Indian Classic

Published December 8, 2003

By JOHN MARK BROOKS, Staff Writer

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The West Lincoln Rebels are a perfect 10-0 after winning the Indian Classic on Saturday.

Chapel Hill had five first place wrestlers, but had only four other wrestlers that finished in the top four. West Lincoln meanwhile only had two first place wrestlers, but had nine wrestlers to finish in the top four.

Head coach Butch Ross was happy with his team performance, but said Chapel Hill performed well too.

“The boys went in and gave good solid effort. Chapel Hill had more champions, but we had a total TEAM effort. That was the difference,” he said.

The Rebels total team score for the tournament was 181.50, Chapel Hill was 164.50 and Newton-Conover was 139.50.

East Burke finished with 128. While St. Stephens, the host team, finished with 99 points.

Ross has a lot of respect for the Indian Classic and felt this victory was import for his team.

“It’s one of the tougher tournaments in the western half of the state so I’m real proud of them,” he said.

The Rebels top individual results are:

John Harkey, at 103 pounds, came in third in the tournament. Matt Avery, at 112 pounds, came in second and Jeremy Pearson, at 119 pounds, recorded a third-place finish.

Zeb Elmore, at 130 pounds, came in second. Brent Gates, at 135 pounds, came in fourth. Steele Barber, at 140 pounds, came in fourth.

Rebel teammates Daniel Scronce, at 145 pounds, came in third. Dustin Hester, at 152 pounds, came in third and Daniel Soto, at 189 pounds finished in third as well.

Keane Steele won the 171 pound weight class and Ross was spoke highly of him.

“Keane wrestled the best he’s wrestled all year. He was determined he was going to win the tournament and he just went out there and won it,” he said.

Ross was also proud of Antonio Rojo the Rebels heavyweight division winner.

“Antonio is an outstanding wrestler. He’s one the best heavyweights in the state and same thing as Steele. He just went out there and went after them,” he said.

The coach believes that victories in a renowned tournament is a stepping stone for the remainder of the season.

“Our goal is to finish high in the state and this is just one of things that helps you get there. I’m real pleased with the output of them and the way they wrestled this weekend,” he said.

Ross was more happy with the way everybody contributed.

“There wasn’t one single person that didn’t score points for us,” he said proudly.

The Rebels 10-0 mark is something Ross is pleased with, but by no means satisfied.

“This is where I was expecting us to be. I expect it because we really expect to win when they go out there. That doesn’t mean we always get one,”

West will wrestle East Gaston on Wednesday. The Warriors are the No. 1 team in the state in 3A.

The Rebels defeated 4A heavyweight Freedom in Morganton earlier in the season.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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