Wrestling - Generic Graphic
Feb 8, 2009
HILLSBOROUGH — The state championship was sweet enough, but the landmark victory that came with it made it all the better.
Orange won the NCHSAA 2-A dual team state wrestling championship Saturday, and the 33-27 win over Newton-Conover was also Panthers coach Bobby Shriner’s 400th career victory. The title is Orange’s second straight and third since 2005.
Instead of recognizing his own achievements, Shriner gives thanks to everyone around him.
“I think it’s a great feeling,” he said. “I’m so happy for our kids and the community, and really the wrestlers in the past. And I’ve been here 21 years, 20 as head a coach.”
The final score was not indicative of the actual flow of the contest. The Panthers jumped on the visiting Red Devils 17-0 after just four matches. Opening at 119 pounds, Orange’s Dustin Champion staying true to his name and getting an 11-1 major decision. It continued to roll in Orange’s favor from there, as Chris Johnson got a pin in 1:15 at 125 pounds.
The first evenly contested match-up was at 135 pounds, with Orange’s James Rodgers and Newton’s Charlie Avis. With the Panthers already leading 14-0, Avis wrestled with a sense of urgency. The two wrestled evenly into the third period at 6-6, but Avis continued to have blood timeouts and had to have his face wrapped in medical gauze so he could move on with the match.
Rodgers maintained his battle with Avis and with a minute left in the third, he received a point for an escape then sealed it with a takedown with 18 seconds to go and held on for the 9-6 win.
The Red Devils (36-6) eventually got on the board with the help of their 140 pounder, Matt Owensby. He scored a 3-0 decision over Orange’s Tyrone Mason.
Nine of the 11 matches wrestled went the full six minutes and ended in a decision. Orange (27-3) methodically built their lead to 33-9, but they had to work for it.
“These guys are a great team,” Shriner said. “Three points is a tough match, and we ended up winning those tough matches and that was crucial. You get the ball rolling and it’s hard sometimes to stop it.”
Another standout for Orange was Nicholas Shriner, the son of the head coach. Shriner took on Newton’s Gilbert Rodriguez and the two went scoreless into the second period. Shriner continued to work hard to get around and through his opponent until he managed a few takedowns midway through the session and ran the score up to a 6-0 heading into the third period.
Rodriguez got a takedown and some escapes on Shriner in the third, but Shriner persevered an 8-4 decision. The win earned Shriner the most valuable wrestler award.
“The kid was a great athlete, I think he just got tired and I just got lucky and won,” Shriner said. “My dad pushes me so hard, but he pushes everybody the same. He helps me and wants me to be the best I can be.”
After Eric Confer notched a 4-0 conquest for the Panthers at 215 pounds, it was all academic, as Orange had built a 24-point lead with three matches left, a lead Newton-Conover could not overcome. The remaining three matches were forfeited to the Red Devils, producing the final score of 33-27.
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