Statesville N.C.— Mooresville didn’t look as strong is it has in the past but still was able to be victorious over South Iredell in tonight‘s duel matchup. The meet started at 132lbs where Austin Emmert secured a 17-2 tech fall over South Iredell’s Aidan Moose. Landon Kaiser answered back getting the stick over Joshua Allen of Mooresville at 138lbs.
Greg Merriman who placed 4th in the NCHSAA State Tournament as a freshman was injured all last season and was unable to compete. Merriman was at 145lbs where he pinned South’s Shepherd Kappel. When asked about the injury this is what he said. “after my injury I came back a little bit before I was cleared because I wanted to get back on my grind. And ever since then I felt like a different wrestler. I felt like I definitely improved in different areas that I was weak in last year. I feel like a completely new wrestler that’s ready to go and do what I can at the state tournament and all these big tournaments that we have upcoming“
Merriman believes that he’s grown a lot as a wrestler since his freshman year. “I’ve definitely learned a ton of moves, our assistant coach, he knows a lot, we have the Shaw brothers coming into the room, we have really good training partners, actually, like multiple high-level training partners and they’ve taught me a lot and really help me to get to where I am right now. Like freshman year it was me and Davis, we always practiced with each other and he definitely made me a better wrestler. Because I have multiple looks in the room, I believe that I’ve gone to the next level. I went 3-2 at the Super 32 and I’ve been getting better from there” Merriman said.
Davis Freeze would pin Caleb Donaldson of South in the first period 152lbs. Freeze was a State runner up as a freshman and placed third his sophomore year. Freeze seemed to be pretty satisfied with his performance. “I think I did pretty good I didn’t get in on a leg. I kind of just snapped him down but I’ve been trying to work more leg attacks recently but overall I did pretty good“ Freeze said.
He also talked about his preparation for the season from the work in the off-season. “this off-season I lifted weights a lot and moved up two weight classes so I’ve been trying to get bigger and now that I’ve been getting bigger I’ve been getting into my weight class and trying to figure it out and I think that I’ve grown a lot over the summer in my wrestling ability too”
Johnny Merriman (160) Brady Rabb (170) and Desmond Jackson (182) would all put six points on the board for Mooresville, Jackson’s six points came via forfeit. South’s Mike Rank would score a 7-0 decision over Blaise Mann at 195lbs. Dylan Donaldson (220) and Nathan Sanders (285) would both get back to back sticks for South Iredell. Mooresville‘s primary 285 Ray Watson had to take a sick day and cannot wrestle in tonight‘s meet. South forfeited to Mooresville at weight classes 106,113, and 120. Jaiden Noblezada would end the dual with a fall over Brock Cotton of South Iredell at 126lbs.
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