02.21.10
By Mac Heffner
The Charlotte Observer
Charlotte Latin's wrestling team grabbed its first team title in five years during the NCISAA tournament at Forsyth Country Day School Saturday, snapping the home team's streak of four consecutive state titles.
Seven area wrestlers - including two from Charlotte Latin - also captured NCISAA championships.
Latin's Ross Calhoun posted one of the most dominant championship performances, with an 8-1 decision against Forsyth's David Wall in the 140-pound final.
Calhoun, a senior who was 30-9 this season, said finishing third and fourth in the past two years motivated him to go out on top.
"I went out there and finished my shots and he couldn't do anything with me," he said.
Latin's Will Tome won the 152-pound title with a 9-3 decision against Georgio Rizos of Wesleyan.
Northside Christian's Joe Cutler capped his senior season off with perhaps the tournament's best championship match. Cutler led 4-1 in the second period, but Wesleyan's David Hurrelbrink cut the margin and tied the score at six with only 14 seconds left in regulation, forcing a sudden-death overtime period. Cutler almost gave up a takedown in overtime, but regrouped and scored four points to earn a 10-6 win and his first state championship.
Cutler, who finished 46-6 this season, said he didn't hold back once overtime started.
"I was thinking, 'I have to get this takedown,'" Cutler said. "I got my hips up and got control back. At that point, I had to use my momentum and I did it. It felt great."
Charlotte Christian senior Matt Zitsos (103 pounds) earned the first title of the day when he scored a 19-second pin against Caleb Clinton of Fayetteville Christian. Zitsos finished the season 30-3.
Charlotte Country Day's Cameron Hallman won the 119-pound title with an 11-2 major decision against Alex Rosenthal of Cary Academy.
Northside Christian's Chris Caton, a sophomore, posted a quick pin in the first period of his title match at 125 pounds, while Providence Day's Evan Rodbell took the 135-pound title with a 12-2 major decision against Latin's Marshall Sykes.
Forsyth Country Day's Cole Edwards (130), Christian Funder (145), Stout Watson (160), Kwame Seymour (171) and Brett Harris (285) all won titles, while Greensboro Day's Tommy King (189) and Kerr Vance's Chris Frampton (215) were the other two individual champions.
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