By Hannah Johnson
Sports Writer

Nine Nighthawk wrestlers are headed to the NCHSAA Regional Tournament Friday, Feb. 14 and Saturday, Feb. 15. Wrestlers from four different conferences will convene at Farmville Central High School for the 2A East Championship. All of these wrestlers will have their minds set on one thing: winning and advancing.

“As a team we have exceeded many goals that were set as well as many individual goals,” head coach, Russel Kepler said. “Our main goal was to be conference champions. Since the conference was cancelled, they decided we were the champions because we beat every team once, and most of them twice.”

Without a conference tournament and several days out of school because of bad weather, the wrestlers have had a substantial amount of down time before the individual playoff season. The team’s season ended Feb. 4 with a 19-48 lost to Croatan in the first round of the state dual team playoffs.

As a first-year coach, Kepler admitted the first season was challenging but it was also very successful. “All of the boys were very coachable,” Kepler said. “They made it very easy for me to step into the situation and there wasn’t much that I couldn’t overcome.”

Defending state champion Alex Monaco, a senior, broke the school record for career wins, the single season record for tech falls, along with the school’s single and season record for takedowns this year.

“This season has been great. I’ve progressed so much. I’ve also beat other state champs and many other kids on or close to my level,” said Monaco who wrestles in the 145-lb weight class.

“I’ve lost a few times this season as well, which has only made me better,” said Monaco, who enters regional competition with a record of 38-3. “I’m training to win a second state title and a national title and definitely looking forward to competition on the way.”

Another Nighthawk wrestler who has had a successful season is senior Landon Leithauser who wrestles in the 160-lb weight class is undefeated and broke the record for most consecutive wins this season. He is currently 42-0 on the year and has scored 22 pins this season. Leithauser became ill last year on the day he left for regionals and was forced to withdraw from competition. As a result, he was relegated to cheerleader for his teammate, Monaco, who claimed his first state title. Both Leithauser and Monaco must win this weekend to have a chance at state titles for 2014.

“This weekend I hope to win my third regional title, my second regional (Most Outstanding Wrestler) Award and tech fall or pin every opponent I face,” said Monaco who had eight pins and 10 tech falls this season.

Despite not being able to take the entire team to the state finals, Kepler is satisfied with how the his first year went overall.

“Now that it’s almost the end of the year and I have learned a lot, I wouldn’t go back and change anything,” Kepler said.

The other wrestlers competing at regionals are sophomore Kyle Cortez (126-lb), freshman Ian Crossman (170-lb), freshman Carlos Martinez (220-lb), senior Sam Eure (138-lb), sophomore Conner Hughes (170-lb), freshman Luke Potter (113-lb), and senior Caleb Kneiper (152-lb).

Weigh-ins begin today at 5 and the first matches will be played at 6. The regional tournament will conclude Saturday.