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By Brian Pitts
Enterprise Record

Davie’s wrestling team churned out five champions and manhandled the 13-team field at the North Davidson Gobbler Nov. 27. It was its first individual tournament of the year.
The War Eagles rolled up 218.5 points to beat the runner-up by 54. Morehead scored 164.5, Southeast 119.5, Dudley 113.5, West Davidson 105.5, East Wilkes 104.5, Oak Grove 79.5, North Davidson 78.5, West Wilkes 64.5, Nation Ford 47, East Davidson 42, Northern Guilford 35.5 and Mt. Airy 31.5.
Aiden Szewczyk went 4-0 at 126 in ruthless fashion. The sophomore’s record was 6-0 after three pins and a tech fall. “Aidan has dealt with some stuff this year – some injuries and skin stuff,” coach Josh Stanley said. “He’s been chomping at the bit. I’m excited for him.”
Cayden Glass, a 11-0 senior who was a state runner-up last year, did what he was supposed to at 132, going 4-0 with two pins, a tech fall and a decision. The decision in the finals came against a state runner-up in 3-A last year. “We knew (the Dudley wrestler) was going to be tough,” Stanley said. “Cayden can beat anybody. (The Dudley guy) lost in the last seconds or he would’ve been a state champ. Cayden put the kid on his back. Cayden has a hard time finding guys who can take him to deep water every day in (practice). He spends a lot of time trying to help other guys and bring them along.”
Davie has three unbeatens, including senior heavyweight Ryder Strickland, who pinned twice before decisioning in the finals to lift his season record to 10-0. “Ryder is super explosive; he’s just got to believe in himself,” Stanley said. “We’ve just got him to pull the trigger (like he does in the practice room).”
Junior Jamarius Pelote’s three straight pins at 165 registered as a “whoa” moment. “He is getting better every day,” Stanley said. “He can hold his own muscle-wise out there. He is trying hard; he has committed to it.”
Junior Elliott Gould was fantastic, too. At 150, he went pin, major, tech to bump his record to 9-1. “Elliott is believing more and more every day,” Stanley said. “(His one loss was) to a really good opponent in a close match.”
Davie got substantial contributions from Maddox Creason (4-1 with four pins at 190), Graylan Anderson (4-2 at 106), Tiaj Thao (3-1 with two pins and a tech at 138), Brett Foster (3-1 at 144), Jack Bost (3-2 at 120) and Stephen Jacobs (2-1 with two pins at 113). Thao’s loss in the finals was to a legit opponent.
“T lost to a guy who was a state champion as a freshman and a runner-up as a sophomore,” Stanley said. “It was a good experience for us.”
Going 2-2 were Leighton Reavis (120), Carter Hoots (144), Jaden Dillard (157), Davis Jones (157) and Walker Matthews (215). Stanley carried 21 guys and got one win from Dominic Ishuin (106), Garrett Whitaker (126), Ethan Gentry (138) and Ajuis Patterson (285).