Published: 12:35 AM, Fri Feb 26, 2010
McCall aiming for second straight wrestling title
By Earl Vaughan Jr.
Scholastic sports editor
Defending state champion Timmy McCall of South View heads a group of 29 Cumberland County wrestlers competing in this weekend's N.C. High School Athletic Association wrestling championships at the Greensboro Coliseum.
Preliminary matches begin today at 9 a.m. followed by the first round of consolations.
The quarterfinals start at 6 p.m. today.
Competition resumes Saturday at 8:30 a.m. with the second round of consolations, followed by the championship semifinals and the third round of consolations.
The championship finals begin Saturday at 6 p.m.
A two-day pass is $18. Admission to each daily session is $12. Admission to the finals only is $7.
Wrestlers who do not qualify for the tournament will be admitted for $3 if accompanied by their coach.
McCall is one of six county wrestlers in the tournament who won 4-A regional championships last week at UNC-Pembroke. The top four finishers in each weight class at the regional advanced to this weekend's state tournament.
The other county 4-A regional winners are Kamal Leak of South View at 125, Darius Delgado of Jack Britt at 135, Blake Norris of Cape Fear at 145, Jackie Green of Seventy-First at 215 and Devin Riles of Seventy-First at 285.
McCall, who is seeking to repeat as 189-pound state champion in the 4-A classification, expects his toughest competition to come from county rival Kevin Radford of Pine Forest. The two met in the state finals last year and have wrestled in the finals of the last two regional tournaments.
McCall won two of those three meetings, losing only in last year's regional final.
"It's something you practice for all year,'' McCall said. "All the blood, sweat and tears go into one tournament.
"For me, it's something big. People in my community will be there. I'll have family members and friends going to Greensboro to watch me.''
McCall said he has no special strategy for the weekend. "Just work hard, keep my heart though all the matches and don't give anybody any kind of lead,'' he said. "I go out there with one thing on my mind, to take it to them from the get-go.''
Scholastic sports editor Earl Vaughan Jr. can be reached at vaughane@fayobserver.com or 486-3519.