CIC Strong Veterans, Solid Newcomers Lead West Wrestlers BY DOUG RUTTER A good mix of strong veterans and solid ncwcomers would be one way to describe West Brunswick High School's wrestling team. Dangerous would be another. With four returning starters and a couple ncwcomers with years expe rience in local youth programs. West Brunswick figures to be well stocked at six weight classes. Throw in a handful of athletic un derclassmen and the Trojans could be plenty tough if their inexperi enced wrestlers learn the basics quickly and stay off their backs. "We've got some young kids out, several ninth-graders and some sophomores," Coach Joe Noble said. "They've got athletic ability. We should be OK by the end of Dec." Noble has welcomed back four starters from a squad that captured the regular-season county champi onship last winter. The Trojans fin ished 10-9 and advanced to the sec ond round of the state dual team playoffs. West Brunswick lost several top notch wrestlers to graduation, includ ing Dexter Coke Icy, Steve Brooks Eric And re is and 1993-94 county WEST BRUNSWICK QLARTERBA CK EMC JOHNSON (cen ter) amassed nearly I .HUM yards rushing and passing this season and accounted for 25 touchdon-ns. ALL-COUNTY TEAM West's Johnson Named Football Player Of Year BY DOUCRUTTER West Brunswick senior Eric John son has hccn named Brunswick County high vchool football player of the year after leading the Trojans to the Waccamaw Conference cham pionship and a record of 10-2. Johnson, who played quarterback and free safety, was one of the re gion's most dangerous players on offense. He compiled nearly 1,800 yards rushing and passing and ac counted for 25 touchdowns. "He had the finest year of any body I've ever coached," said West Brunswick head coach Yogi Hick man. Johnson heads up the 1W4 All Brunswick County High School Football Team that includes 11 of his teammates. South Brunswick (3 8) placed nine players on the hon orary squad, while two were select ed from North Brunswick (3-7). Hickman was named county coach of the year after leading the Trojans to their first outright league championship in six years and first undefeated conference season since 1975. Under Hickman, the Trojaas also set schools records with nine straight victories and 10 regular-season wins. Hickman's record is 74-12-1 in sev en seasons as a head coach. West's Johnson ran away with player of the year honors after com pitting 70 of 135 pass attempts (52 percent) for 923 yards and nine touchdowns. He also rushed 1 77 times for 872 yards and 16 touch downs. "He had a great year. If we would have played another week he would have had 1,000 yards rushing and 1 ,000 yards passing." Hickman said. Johnson (6-1, 180) had five 100 yard passing games and rushed for a career-high 172 yards and three touchdowns in the Waccamaw Con ference opener at South Columbus. Johnson's best game of the year may have been Oct. 21 against West Columbus when he passed for 148 yards and rushed for 75 yards. He threw a touchdown pass to Derek Frink in the final minute of regula tion before running 10 yards for the game-winning IT) in overtime. As good as Johnson is on offense, many area coaches say he's even better on defense. A Shrine Bowl se lection at defensive back, Johnson was one of West's leading tacklers and tied for the team lead with four interceptions. All-County Offense Joining Johnson in the all-county team's offensive backfield are South Brunswick senior running back OJ. Morris and North Brunswick senior back I-amont Southerland. Selected as wide receivers were (See SIX, Page 2-D) Friday Nights ? Doors Open 6:15 pm Shallotte Moose Lodge 710 Hwy. 1 30 East, Holden Beach Road ? Shallotte Open to the Public Games begin at 7:30 pm Minimum "Buy In" $5.00 Snacks Available wrestler of the year William Stanley. But the Trojans are not depleted by any means. Returning from last year's squad are seniors Chris Jackson and A1 Johnson, junior Kwabena Green and sophomore ClifT Gore. Jackson owns a two-year record of 50-9 and is a two-time selection to the all-county team. Green is the defending county champ at heavy weight and will be counted on heav ily this season now that Brooks has graduated. Top newcomers at West Bruns wick include ninth-graders James Wemyss and Billy Noble, the coach's son. West Brunswick had 18 kids on the roster as of last week. Tin hap py with that. I'm still looking to fiii a few spots," Noble said. Other team members include Shawn Hill, Cory Hill, Wesley 0