news-record.com

Reigning 3-A state runner-up Dudley will be among the area teams competing tonight in the first round of the state dual-team wrestling tournament.

The Panthers (12-1) welcomed back five state qualifiers from last year's squad, which reached the title match for the first time in school history before falling to Parkland. Sophomore Andre Nie is ranked third in the state at 112 pounds, returning state qualifier Sam Ross is ranked sixth in the 135-pound bracket and honorable mention All-American Tylor Sigmon comes in ranked second at 152 pounds. They lead a group that just finished undefeated in conference matches for the first time.

Dudley, which moved from Class 3-A up to 4-A this school year, will open against West Forsyth, which it beat during the regular season, then face either Monroe Sun Valley or host Charlotte Ardrey Kell. A strong showing could set up a rematch with Parkland in Thursday's regional semifinals.

"All the weather has kind of been a blessing in disguise. We're a lot healthier than we've ever been," Dudley head coach Quentin Crosby said. "With matches every week, it kind of wears down on your body and your mind. With this team, they're very experienced and we're peaking at the right time."

Elsewhere, Northwest Guilford and Southeast Guilford will open in a bracket at Northwest, which will also host regional individual matches next weekend. Eastern Guilford, Asheboro and Bishop McGuinness are also in state action today.

TEAGUE TO VIRGINIA: Jimmy Teague's absence from high school football lasted all of one season. The former Reidsville head coach, who retired days after his team won a state title in 2008 and spent last season as Greensboro College's offensive coordinator, will become head coach at George Washington High School in Danville, Va., about 40 minutes from the Reidsville campus.

Under state rules, North Carolina teachers who retire can return to teaching or coaching after a six-month break — but they can't do both and still draw their pension, a practice called "double-dipping" in some states. The move across state lines allows Teague to draw his pension and continue to coach high school ball, an increasingly common move.

CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS: Barring cancellations today, the Metro 4-A and Piedmont Triad 4-A will finish their regular-season basketball schedules Monday and push back the start of their their conference tournaments a day or two.

That will make for a jam-packed schedule the next two weeks, but the other option was to cancel the tournaments and lose a huge source of revenue.

The Metro tournament will start Feb. 17 at the home of the higher seeds, with the semifinals and finals at Dudley on Feb. 19-20. The Piedmont Triad tournament will start Feb. 16 at the higher seeds, with girls semis Feb. 17 at Northwest Guilford, boys semis Feb. 18 at Northwest Guilford and the finals Feb. 19 at High Point Central.

Contact Tom Keller at 373-7034 or tom.keller@news-record.com

WRESTLING PAIRINGS

The matchups for area teams in the state dual-team wrestling tournament. The tournament will continue Thursday, with championship matches Saturday.

Today’s matches

4-A West
Dudley (12-1) vs. West Forsyth (29-10) at Charlotte Ardrey Kell; winner vs. Monroe Sun Valley or Ardrey Kell.
Northwest Guilford (19-7) vs. Davie County (33-1) at Northwest Guilford; winner vs. Southeast Guilford or Alexander Central.
Southeast Guilford (17-6) vs. Alexander Central (24-12) at Northwest Guilford; winner vs. Northwest Guilford or Davie County.

3-A East
Eastern Guilford (16-2) vs. Fayetteville Byrd (8-2) at Orange, 6; winner vs. Orange or Western Harnett.
Morehead (11-6) vs. Cameron Union Pines (28-2) at Cameron Union Pines; winner vs. South Brunswick or Chapel Hill.

3-A West
Southwestern Randolph (39-2) vs. Charlotte Catholic (11-3) at Southwestern Randolph; winner vs. North Iredell or Mount Pleasant.
Asheboro (22-3) at Anson County (21-12); winner vs. Concord Robinson or East Rowan.

2-A East
Cummings (9-8) vs. Granville Central (12-13) at North Pitt; winner vs. North Pitt or Swansboro.

2-A West
Thomasville (22-10) vs. North Surry (26-0) at Trinity; winner vs. Trinity or Catawba Bandys.
Trinity (22-2) vs. Bandys (18-7) at Trinity; winner vs. Thomasville or North Surry.
Wheatmore (19-13) vs. Monroe Piedmont (39-1) at Salisbury; winner vs. Canton Pisgah or Salisbury.

1-A West
Bishop McGuinness (19-14) vs. Alleghany (11-5) at West Wilkes; winner vs. West Wilkes or Murphy.