Dominant Dozen: 12 of the area’s best in ‘12

December 31, 2012

Hopewell, East Gaston and West Mecklenburg high schools featured some star-studded athletes in 2012. From the gridiron to the golf course to the soccer field, there was a solid collection of talent emanating from the trio of schools.
Here’s a look at some of the best athletes from Hopewell, East Gaston and West Mecklenburg and their accomplishments:

Michael Bedard, East Gaston wrestling
Bedard transferred to East Gaston from Ardrey Kell High and instantly made friends with the Warriors’ wrestlers. Winning can do that for you, and Bedard won on a regular basis.
He lost only three regular-season matches and captured the bronze medal in the 120-pound weight class in the Class 4A state wrestling championship on Feb. 25 in Greensboro. Bedard lost in the quarterfinal round, but dominated the consolation rounds to take third place in the tournament.
Bedard, now a senior, finished the season with a 48-4 record and a third-place ranking in the state 120-pound class, according to www.retrorankings.com.

John and Jacob Grigg, East Gaston wrestling
The third and fourth members of the Grigg family to star for the Warriors on the mat, John and Jacob Grigg, followed brothers Jared and Jesse and set the tone for East Gaston’s 2012 season.
John’s senior year was his best. The Warriors’ top presence on the mat finished the season with a 52-4 record en route to winning the Class 4A state championship’s 132-pound class in the state final on Feb. 25 in Greensboro.
His last match as a high school wrestler was arguably his best. Grigg finished off his career with a 9-6 win over Southern Pines Pinecrest’s Dallas Roemer to capture the state crown.
Jacob’s sophomore year was also impressive, with a 52-11 mark in 2011-12.

– compiled by Aaron Burns

Read the full article: Dominant Dozen