02.26.10
By Aaron Garcia
South Charlotte Weekly
Sometimes, it’s all about timing. Just ask Charlotte Latin wrestling coach Richard Fletcher, whose squad brought home the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association wrestling Âchampionship on Feb. 20.
The Hawks (191.5 points) outscored Forsyth Country Day (171), the host team and winner of the four previous state titles.
“I kept telling my team we could do it if we all peaked at the right time and focused,” said Fletcher. “They ended up peaking at the exact right second of the right moment of the right hour of the right day for this to happen.”
Fletcher said his team had to overcome a late-season skid, capped by a trip to Atlanta for the Southeastern Prep Slam in late January.
“We had just the most miserable weekend of the season,” said Fletcher, who pointed to his team’s lack of focus as the reason for the bad showing. “To come back after that and wrestle like they did was just phenomenal.”
A pair of Hawks won individual titles. Will Tome captured the 152-pound title, while Ross Calhoun clinched the 140 division. But winning the championship took a team effort, said Fletcher.
“They say that wrestling is an individual sport, but I have to tell you, it was an effort put together by the entire squad,” he noted. “It’s the first time in a long time that I had a team where every person on the team won a match and scored points toward the championship. And that’s what it took, as good as ÂForsyth is.”
Three other south Charlotte wrestlers also brought home titles; Charlotte Christian’s Matt Zitsos (103) claimed an individual championship, as did Charlotte Country Day’s Cameron ÂHallman (119) and Providence Day’s Evan Rodbell (135).
Providence Day (113 points) edged Charlotte Christian (108) for third place. Charlotte Country Day (80) finished eighth.
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