THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, March 3, 1996                  TAG: 9602290134
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST           PAGE: 14   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER, CORRESPONDENT 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   49 lines

NORTHEASTERN HAS ITS BEST-EVER FINISH IN STATE TOURNEY; PLUS A MEDAL WINNER

Ernest Sutton took home a second place medal in the 135-pound class, and Northeastern High School had its best-ever finish at the 4A State Wrestling Championships in Charlotte this past weekend.

The Eagles placed 11th out of 72 teams, the best finish in the history of the school.

Sutton wrestled Joshua Spencer of Cary in the 135 finals. Sutton, who went into the match undefeated, had beaten Spencer with a 7-5 decision in the regionals. He was about to pin Spencer, but time ran out and the Cary wrestler won a 12-11 decision and the state championship.

Sutton, who was the only undefeated wrestler in his weight class, still qualified for the 7th Annual National Wrestling Championships in Pittsburgh, March 29-31.

``We're going to meet and figure out how to raise funds,'' said Herman Little, Northeastern head coach. ``This is something which the school does not finance. Last year Rob Eckerfield could not get the money in time to go to the nationals. This time we're starting earlier. It would help the community and the school get recognition, so hopefully the community will help us.''

For Sutton, workouts will continue even though the North Carolina high school season is over.

``We will more or less give him a few days off and then start back with a wrestler around his weight class,'' Little said. ``It's kind of difficult not having the full team here.''

Lloyd Sutton, Ernest's younger brother, also fared well in the tournament, taking third place at 103. He won by decision over New Bern's Loren Guarisco in the third-place match.

T.J. Sutton, no relation to the other Suttons, ended up in fifth place at 152. C.J. Harris, a wrestler who qualified for the tournament at 160, did not place.

Little was happy with the overall performance of the team.

``When I have different coaches from the last month at the state duals and state championships come and tell me we have the most improved team in the state, that says a lot for the program,'' Little said. ``Wrestling is sometimes not recognized in this community because people don't have an understanding as to how much discipline it takes to be a wrestler. Teachers at the school have told me how well the wrestlers are disciplined.'' by CNB