Buonocore brothers lift Laney wrestling to second dual-team state championship appearance
The Laney wrestling team is returning to the NCHSAA 4A dual-team state championship, and it couldn't have happened without brothers who wouldn't accept defeat.
The Buccaneers defeated both Lumberton and New Bern in the 4A East Regional tournament on Wednesday, bringing the team back to the state championship for the second consecutive year.
"It's just a great realization that Laney's not going anywhere. We still got a lot of depth, and all these other guys are starting to believe in themselves." Laney coach Andre Adams said.
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In the semifinal matchup against Lumberton, things got off to a fast start when senior Avery Buonocore got a quick pin to put the Bucs up 6-0. However, Lumberton battled back and take a 32-30 lead with just one match left.
After seeing teammate Robert Tann get a win, Laney junior Tyler Buonocore took matters into his own hands, clinching the Bucs' victory with a second-period pin that lifted his team to a 36-32 victory.
"Once (Tann) got out there and got the pin, it fired me up and really got me ready for my match and go out there and stick with it and get the win," Tyler said.
Just when you thought things couldn't get more dramatic, Laney jumped to a 32-0 lead in the final against New Bern. The Bears spectacularly stormed back, eventually taking a 36-35 lead with one match left.
With the weight of sending his team to the state championship, Avery strolled onto the mat and put on a masterclass. The senior swiftly outmatched New Bern's Har Htoo, earning a 16-0 tech fall.
"I was very nervous and was hoping it didn't have to come down to me, but when it did, I knew I was ready," Avery said. "My mentality was to go out there and destroy whoever on the other end of the mat was."
Despite graduating state champions like Mark Samuels and Devon Bell this offseason, Laney has returned to the state championship by utilizing some less-familiar names.
Adams said although his roster looked different this season, his team has the ability to outwork anyone.
"We're always going to have a chip on our shoulder, so I want them to keep doubting us. It gives us more reason to train harder and keep showing up, and when we show up it's going to a be a tough day for whoever we go against," Adams said.
Laney will attempt to make school history Saturday in Greensboro by repeating as dual-team state champions. The Bucs get a rematch against Northwest Guilford from last year's final. The match is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. at the Coliseum Fieldhouse.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Laney wrestling returns to dual-team state championship
