Cary High School Wrestling

With the varsity starting lineup still far from set for the season, the Imps stepped up to the challenge of mixing experience with new blood and juggling weight classes to put together a 73-6 dual team win in their season opener.  Traveling to the mat of conference foe Lee County, Cary wrestlers won every varsity match wrestled, with the only team points lost due to a single forfeit at 145#.  Several in the lineup earned their first varsity wins, and a number of JV wrestlers gained valuable mat experience in JV matches as well.  More detail asit becomes available… 

This Saturday finds the Imps in their first tournament of the season, as they travel to Fayetteville for the Westover Invitational.  More on this year’s team following this tourney.   Suffice it to say that the ice has been broken on the 08-09 season in fine style…

Here’s a link to pics of both JV and Varsity in action:  http://creed777.smugmug.com/gallery/6607387_ieNnX#P-2-24

The Super32 is now considered the preeminent pre-season tournament in the nation, attracting the top wrestling talent of each state from coast to coast.  It’s much more than a shakedown for the upcoming season.  This year, no less than 44 NCAA D1 Wrestling coaches decended on the Greensboro Civic Center to witness a showcasing of the finest high school wrestling talent the nation has to offer.  Each bracket boasted a full array of state champions (147 of them), All-Americans, and nationally-ranked contenders, all laying it on the line for the one champions spot available in each 128 man bracket.  Eight Imps took on the Super32 challenge:  Ben Creed, Adam Elliman, CJ Bean, Chris Villari, Ronnie Winterton, Matt Colvard, Cordale Risk, and Gabe Brotzman.  Matches were won and lost, but the experience of challenging, and often beating, the best in the country, will serve these Imps well in the season to come.

Notable runs were made by Gabe Brotzman and Ben Creed, both of whom went deep on the champion side of their bracket and came within a match of placing, notching wins against top competion.  Cordale Risk wrestled back the hard way, loosing a close opening bout only to reel off three straight wins in the wrestle-backs.  Matt Colvard picked up a nice win against a Fargo runner-up, while Ronnie Winterton picked up a hard-fought win as well.  Every one of the Cary contingent kept it close against the toughest competition, experience that will bear fruit in the season about to start.

Pre-season individual rankings from WrestlingUSA Magazine have recognized five from Cary Wrestling:  Senior Eloheim Palma is ranked #3 nationally at heavyweight (all grades) and Senior Gabe Brotzman is ranked #30 nationally at 152 among seniors.  Matt Colvard receives Special Mention in the national 145 rankings for juniors, along with Ronnie Winterton, who receives Special Mention at 135.  Sophomore Ben Creed is ranked #20 nationally among freshman/sophomores, and #27 nationally for all grades at 103.  The season is upon us, Imp fans!!!

2008-2009 preseason rankings just released by WrestlingUSA Magazine feature none other than our beloved Imps.  Ranked #7 in the Southeast, which covers FL, GA, AL, SC, NC, and TN, Cary wrestling again shows promise as a force with which to reckon.  But as Coach Winterton would be quick to point out, no team was ever beaten by a ranking, and it now falls to our Imps to live up to their billing on the mat.  The great news is that every Cary wrestler this author has seen is hungry to do exactly that.  Practice starts next Monday, Imp fans!  Keep a spot on your favorites page for this website, and follow the exploits of the gang in green…

WRESTLING USA Magazines / NATIONAL WRESTLING COACHES ASSO. / CLIFF KEEN

Top 10 High School Teams South East Regional - Fl, LO, TN, SC, FL, NC, GA, AL

     Southeast Region Top 10 Teams 10-23-08

1-South Dade (FL)

2-Brandon (FL)

3-Collins Hill (GA)

4-Baylor (TN)

5-Bradley Central (TN)

6-Parkland (NC)

7-Cary (NC)

8-Summerville (SC)

9-Cleveland (TN)

10-Vestavia Hills (AL)

10-Eastside (SC)

 

THE LATEST 08-09 CARY WRESTLING  GEAR IS NOW AVAILABLE TO ORDER FOR A LIMITED TIME!  GET YOURS NOW WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!  GREAT GIFTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS!  GET GRANDMA THAT CARY WRESTLING TOBOGGAN SHE HAS ALWAYS ADMIRED!!!

Cary Wrestling Attire

Order by October 1st!

Christmas is coming, so buy now!  

1.  Hooded Sweatshirt: Kelly Green/ White Print  $25
2.  Crew Neck Sweatshirt: Kelly green/ White Print $18
3.  Sweatpants: Oxford Gray/ Kelly Print  $15
4.  Long Sleeve: Black T-shirt/ White Print $18
5.  Long Sleeve: Kelly Green T/ White Print XVIII on back $18
6.  Short Sleeve: Kelly Green 3 logo T-shirt/ White Print $15
7.  Short Sleeve: White T-shirt XVIII on back-White Print $15
8.  Shorts: Black-mesh/ White Print-$18
9.  Toboggans: Black/ Green/ White-your choice-$18
10.  Hats: Black, Kelly Green-your choice-$20
11.  Wrestling shoes   On Back/look in locker room
12.  Knee Pads           On Back/look in locker room
13.  Headgear             On Back/look in locker room

 NOTES:·        Toboggans are all the same size- Just need what color you want·        Hats range from sizes S-M, M-L, or L+- need color also.·        Items 1-8: Just need sizes you want·        Items 11-13 on back: Need type, Color, Size of Shoes/Pads Please Make Checks Out to:The Cary Imp Club- Wrestling Mail Order and checks to:Jerry WintertonCary High School638 Walnut StreetCary, NC 27511

Cary heavyweight Eloheim Palma has been recognized by WIN Magazine as the #3 heavyweight in the nation in its’ recent pre-season national rankings.  Eloheim, a senior, is a returning 2 time State Champion and 3 time state placer.  He was also National Runner-up this past spring at the NHSCA Junior Nationals, losing in overtime to a NY state champion in a very controversial match.

Lauded as “…maybe the best heavyweight recruit in the country”, Palma has amassed a 167-8 record at Cary, to include wins over NJ #1 ranked Justin Embler of Cinaminson NJ and previously undefeated Tyler Shatley in the 2008 state finals on the way to an undefeated 07-08 season.  Quick as a cat with a thunderous blast double leg, he’s also great fun to watch.  Come on out and see him as the season kicks off, Imp fans.  You’ll see plenty of the E-train, along with returning state runner-up and co-captain Gabe Brotzman, state placer Matt Colvard, state qualifier Cordale Risk, and returning state champion Ben Creed, plus more than a few very capable dark horses, during the season to come…

THIS JUST IN…

The Raleigh Athletic Club last Wednesday honored Eloheim as their Student Athlete of the Week in recognition of his national ranking and overall excellence in dual sports.  When Eloheim is not occupied dominating the mat as a heavyweight force and Co-Captain of our mighty Imp wrestling team, he also moonlights a bit as Captain of the football team.  Here you see Eloheim, Coach W, looking right at home in front of the camera, and Mr Palma, the proud provider of Eloheim’s genetics.  Congratulations, Eloheim!  The world of Impdom is proud of you…

One of the great early driving forces of Cary Imp wrestling, John Sanderson, has been honored with a spot in the Cary Sports Hall of Fame.  Coach Sanderson will be inducted at halftime of the home football game on September 26th, and all friends of Cary Wrestling are encouraged to turn out to honor this fine man.  Prior to Coach Sanderson’s induction, there will be a reception in the gym, and all wrestlers and fans are encouraged to come shake the hand of one of the pioneers of Cary wresting excellence. 

John Sanderson coached the Imps to early dominance from 1975 to 1981.  Under his leadership, the Imps posted an impressive record of 73-5, with 3 of the 5 losses coming to out of state competition.  Coach Sanderson’s teams won six straight conference titles and four sectional titles.  They also earned the first of Cary’s 18 State Championships in 1977.  During his tenure at Cary, Coach Sanderson developed 5 wrestlers as individual State Champions, the first of which was Barry Armstrong, State Champion in 1977 as well as 1977 NC Outstanding Wrestler.  He went on to coach State Champions Clint Reese (1979), Bob Wagner (1979), Jeff McCracken (1981), and Jeff Farwell (1982), who earned his State Championship the year after Coach Sanderson’s departure.

Cary Imp wrestlers everywhere owe a debt of gratitude to this fine coach for setting the bar high and firmly establishing the tone of excellence that has driven Cary Wrestling in the years since.  Thanks, Coach.  Cary Wrestling is honored to have known you.  Congratulations on induction to the Hall of Fame…