Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Brian Pitts

Enterprise Record

The Ellis wrestling team’s 3-3 start is understandable. This is a young team with a new coach, although Charles Compton does have considerable experience in the sport.

“I only had the kids for four days before our first match (on Nov. 29),” said Compton, who replaced Andrew Marshall as head coach shortly before the opener. “They have a lot of growing to do. Wrestling is all about muscle memory and drilling the fundamentals. It’s a good group of kids. They listen and they want to learn, so I can see big things at the end of the year.”

The Jaguars’ learning experience began in a tri-meet at West Rowan. They lost to West and Erwin.

Six days later at home, the Jaguars tasted success, winning big over Thomasville (84-18) and North Carolina Leadership Academy (79-18).

At that point, Elijah Chaffin was red hot, pinning all four opponents at 170. Jack Bost was 3-1 at 98, the only loss coming in a match in which he held a lead, and Ayden Chilton was 3-1 at 138.

“Elijah trains more than just five days a week,” Compton said. “He has double practice on Mondays and Wednesdays, and then he wrestles on Sundays. I told the kids: ‘What we do here for two hours is not going to make you a champion. You have to do stuff on your own, go to these clubs.”

A week after the first wins, Ellis torched NCLA again, this time in Kernersville. George Crowley, Caleb Speer, Austin Eggers, Bost, Tony Velasco, Carter Hoots, Finnly Sink and Chaffin had the wins as the Jaguars rolled up a 66-17 blowout.

ND 75, Ellis 27

After losing two in a row, North Davie let off some steam at Ellis on Dec. 14.

“Overall I thought we wrestled well,” North coach Jamey Holt said. “It was probably our best match so far in neutral position. I saw things we’ve been working on in practice get used. It was a good way to end before Christmas break. I told the guys they’re going to be better in January, but we will too. We just need to embrace the grind and keep working hard, keep building.”

The Wildcats (4-2) overpowered Ellis (3-3) by racking up 11 pins from Jeremiah Hernandez (76), Wesley Stanley (90), Stephen Jacobs (113), Easton Stanley (120), Hank Blankenship (126), Isaac O’Toole (138), Landon Carpenter (145), Javon Carter (152), John Evans (195), DJ McCaskill (220) and Walker Matthews (250).

“Jeremiah did his thing,” Holt said. “Once we learn some mat wrestling, the sky’s the limit for him. Wesley (a new starter at 90) was a nice surprise. He was aggressive off the whistle. Stephen had a nice headlock for pin. Another solid match (by E. Stanley). He just keeps putting solid matches together. He wants to get better every day in practice. Hank got caught early but fought back and wrestled hard after that. Workmanlike efforts (by Carpenter and Carter). Landon fought through being under the weather, and Javon was looking to score at every opportunity. John, DJ and Walker took care of business.”

North captured 13 of 18 weight classes, including a decision victory at 132 by Brayden Jenkins. Jaden Dillard took a forfeit at 182.

“Brayden and Carter Hoots had a fun scrap at 132,” Holt said. “Both guys wrestled hard. Brayden had two crucial takedowns. He was very solid on his mat returns as well – never sloppy or rushed to take Hoots back to the mat.”

Ellis’ winners were Daniel Hennessey (pin at 106), Sink (pin at 160) and Bost (major decision at 98). Eggers (83) and Chaffin (170) received forfeits.

Notes: Compton was a Davie assistant the past three years. He’s retired from the military. “I’ve been coaching for 14 years and I’ve got 30 years in the sport,” he said. … North has a six-match winning streak against Ellis. … Holt mentioned four prelim guys. “Nice matches from Kolby Long and Taylor Shenberger,” he said. “Sawyer Hall and Luke White are learning and getting better every day.” … South Davie stomped Thomasville 90-16 on the road on Dec. 15. The Tigers entered the break at 4-3.