Published Thursday, December 24, 2009
Northgate takes lead in Callaway Meet
The Newnan Times-Herald
Northgate jumped to the head of the pack after the first day of the annual Callaway Invitational in LaGrange, sending seven wrestlers into the semifinals.
The Vikings received wins from at least 11 of 14 weight classes while missing two key starters to sickness. Heading into the final day of competition, Northgate was ahead of Spencer, Troup County and Jordan after a solid effort on Tuesday.
"We wrestled pretty good," said Vikings head coach Adrian Anderson. "We made some mistakes, got caught on our backs a couple of times as usual, and had a couple get in some headlocks."
Newnan was also competing in the two-day event.
Northgate seniors Kyle Hennen (145), Jeffrey Higgins (152) and Chris Schenk (160) all reached today's semifinal round as did freshmen Braxtin
Ward (103) and Tyler Askey (140). Another newcomer, Nathan Hoffman, who has wrestled both varsity and junior-varsity matches this season, stepped in for an ill Kyle DiGiulio and reached the semifinals at 119. Clayton Prudeaux, at 135 pounds, rounded out wrestlers who will be battling for trips to the finals.
In addition to DiGiulio, Northgate was also without Kyle Black and heavyweight Bryson Newhouse, out with a knee injury suffered last weekend.
"We'll have him back at some point," said Anderson. "It's not his ACL, so it's not as serious."
Alex Anderson (125) and David Higgins (130) each went 2-1 on Tuesday while battling back from second-round losses. Anderson led his second match 13-3 before he was caught in a headlock.
Aric Anderson entered unseeded at 189 pounds and went 2-1, dropping his only match against top-seeded Zach McIntyre of Callaway, who finished second at East Coweta's CRWA tournament.
Rhys Rehberg also won his first-round match at 215 pounds.
Newnan was coming off a trip to last weekend's invitational at Lithia Springs, where the Cougars competed with 14 other schools.
Junior Lucas Malcom led Newnan with an individual title at 140-pounds after being unseeded. Malcom scored an upset against a top-seeded wrestler from Sandy Creek with a pin, before adding another over an opponent from John's Creek.
Other winners and placers for Newnan included a fifth-place finish from 152-pounder David Finlay. Finlay scored both a tech fall (15-point win) as well as a pin.
Freshman Austin Payton (119), Tyler Rosant (215) and Troy Owens (285) all finished sixth, with each scoring at least one pin.
Others contributing points for Newnan were sophomore Caleb Spinks at 135 pounds with a pin and Alec Nauris (160) had a first-period pin. Both came against Riverwood.
