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By Brian Pitts
Enterprise Record

Both teams were 6-0 in the CPC. Glenn’s wrestling team had outscored six league opponents by an aggregate 333-112. Davie had smothered the same six foes 395-72.
The co-leaders met at Davie on Jan. 29 with the regular-season title on the line. The result was a familiar story. The War Eagles stomped Glenn 51-29, exposing just how big the gap is between Davie and the rest while collecting their 31st regular-season crown in 41 years.
“We did really good,” said Josh Stanley, who moved to 40-3 in his second year as Davie’s coach. “(Glenn’s) not an easy team. They’re getting better every year. So we performed pretty well.”
The War Eagles (17-2 overall) erased an early deficit and never allowed the Bobcats (25-6) even the slightest glimmer of hope. Supplying pins were Tiaj Thao, Elliott Gould, Max McCall and Ryder Strickland.
Thao ran his record to 28-4, including a perfect mark at 132.
“Since he got to his weight, he’s really leveled up a lot,” Stanley said. “He’s long and stringy, so with his style it hurts him when he’s going up in weight.
“Elliott’s a tough kid, so he should be favored in pretty much every match except for four or five guys in the state.
“Ryder’s starting to let it go. We were so pumped for him. He took a shot on the guy and took him straight to his back. If he can let it go, I’m telling you, he can wrestle with anybody. There’s two really, really good heavyweights out there, but Ryder can wrestle with anybody.”
McCall is picking up steam, winning 13 of 16 matches after a 5-7 start.
“He’s a huge part of what we’re doing,” Stanley said. “Coming into wrestling with not much background, he’s learning every single day and he’s vocal, he supports everybody, you can hear him screaming with the coaches. So he’s been a blessing to have with us, and he’s just figuring it out.”
Davie had two more lopsided wins, including a tech fall from Cayden Glass.
“Cayden did what Cayden does,” Stanley said of the 2024 state runner-up at 120 who is at 126 as a senior. “He’s going to compete in anything we do. He wants to be the best at a video game. He wants to be the best at dodge ball. So whatever situation you put him in, he’s going to compete. He’s goal-driven.”
Although Andy Davis found himself on his back during the match at 144, he restored order and took a major decision.
“Andy got put on his back and had to battle a little,” Stanley said. “He’s coming off of sickness, so he struggled a little and put himself in a bad spot twice. But gutted it out.”
Notes: Davie won nine of 14 weight classes. … Davie won the CPC for the second year in a row. … Davie has a five-match winning streak over the Bobcats, who have vastly improved after losing 69-9 and 70-6 to Davie the past two years.