By By BRIAN HAINES, Brian@wdnweb.com, Sports Writer
The Washington wrestling team battled in the Coastal Conference tournament this weekend at West Craven High School and had six athletes win bronze or better.
The Pam Pack’s meet was highlighted by reigning NCHSAA 3-A heavyweight state champion Marquin Hill, who continued his pursuit of back-to-back titles by winning the conference championship and being named the Coastal Conference Wrestler of the Year.
Hill’s path to glory wasn’t easy as the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the state had to go through the No. 2 ranked wrestler in D.H. Conley’s Deshawn Stevenson. Hill won the match 10-2, and finished 2-0 at the conference tournament to up his record to 41-0 on the year.
With the win, Hill is now eight wins away from tying Gabriel Gardner’s single-season Washington High School record of 49 wins and is nine wins away from tying Justin “Weasel” Moore’s all-time record for wins at Washington High School.
“(Marquin) has really been working hard this season,” Washington coach Daniel Riggs said. “He keeps saying that breaking those records would be great, but his main focus is on trying to win his second straight 3-A heavyweight state championship.”
While Hill, the seasoned vet turned in a great performance, Washington also got outstanding efforts from its younger wrestlers. Sophomore Jack Rodman who went 1-1 at the meet and took second place in the 171-pound weight class, while freshman Jason Gardner went 3-1 to capture third place in the 103-pound class. Fellow freshman Devon Vancura also earned a bronze medal as he 2-1 in the 152-pound division.
Riggs said he was extremely impressed with Rodman, who has developed into a top wrestler.
“ I am proud of the way he wrestled at the tournament, he has really stepped it up this season,” Riggs said. “He is one of the guys I expect to win. Earlier in the season I told him that if he wants to make it to states that he needs to change his attitude and step it up. Ever since he heard that he has done everything I asked of him.”
Though just a freshman, Gardner has behaved like a vet all season and has compiled a 28-12 record in his first year with the Pam Pack.
“I have been really impressed with the success Jason has seen this season,” Riggs said. “As a freshman you would think Jason would be making freshman mistakes and be nervous out on the mat. It is a different story for him, he goes out on the mat with a “tough man” attitude. I usually only expect juniors or seniors to get us wins every time because they have the experience and know what it is all about, but Jason, as a freshman, is one of those guys.”
Another freshman on the fast track to success is Vancura, who went 2-1 to up his record to 28-13 on the year.
“Devon is a very mentally and physically strong freshman,” Riggs said. “Devon is at a weight class where there are a lot of seniors, and you think he would be nervous or timid when he stepped on the mat, but not Devon. Devon will have a great shot at making it to states, but we need to work on his mistakes which affected him in all of his losses. If he keeps working hard and corrects those mistakes than his chance of a trip to states will increase.
Though the youngster shines, there was still plenty of great efforts by the Pam Pack seniors, most noteably Matt Williamitis and Raphael Gibbs.
Williamitis finished the tourney with a 3-1 record to take third place in the 140-pound weight class, while Gibbs powered his way to a 2-1 record to capture third in the 189-pound division.
Riggs said he was proud of Williamitis, who raised his record to 28-10 on the year, and said that he has made some tremendous strides this season.
“ Matt is one of the most improved wrestlers on the team this season,” Riggs said. “ His first three years Matt experienced some injuries, and I was just excited when he got us a win. This season, (assistant coach) Bryant Gardner and I expected Matt to win and get us team bonus points. He has really stepped up to the challenge. At the tournament, Matt showed us a lot about the type of person and wrestler he is.”
Out of all the great performances over the weekend, Riggs said he was taken aback by the way Gibbs wrestled.
“Raphael was the biggest surprise this weekend,” Riggs said. “He was seeded last in the tournament, but that didn’t bother him. With his 2-1 performance, he now has a season record of 20-21. Raphael lost his first match to Shane Williams from Havelock High School by a pin in 4:43. Raphael wrestled strong to make it to the consolation finals and get a rematch of his loss earlier in the day. He got his revenge and won 4-3. Raphael is finally realizing this is his last chance to make it to the state tournament. I keep telling him that records mean anything this time of year. It will depend on who wants it more. Over the weekend, you could see Raphael wanted it more. If he wrestles like he did at the tournament, he will have a great shot at making it to states.”