Mt Pleasant had to be nearly perfect to claim the 2A title … and they did just that to top pre-tournament favorites Foard and CATA. Mt Pleasant brought 5 fewer wrestlers to the tournament than Foard and 2 fewer than CATA (as well as 2 fewer than Reidsville, 1 fewer than Trinity, and so on) - so the margin for error was razor thin. All six Tigers made their way to the podium with Levi Kluttz and Chase Crayton leading the way with individual titles.

How Mt Pleasant won 2A …

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Mt Pleasant started their run from an unenviable position … 5 fewer wrestlers than Foard and 2 fewer than CATA. But the Tigers took it round by round as they were able to claw their way to the top. All six Tigers made the podium (which ended up being the same number as Foard and one more than CATA, Reidsville, and Trinity), but it was their semifinal success that ended up being huge. Mt Pleasant put 5 in the finals (2 more than Foard and 1 more than CATA). It was as impressive a run as you can get and likely would not have happened in the double-elimination format (all Foard or CATA would have needed was a few wins in the first or second round of consis to overtake them). But that wasn’t the way the tournament was setup this year and Mt Pleasant made the most of the opportunity. It was quite a run and one we should be talking about for some time.

106 lbs.

1st: Brayden Mejia (Fred T Foard) 29-0 won by decision over Rayshun (RJ) James (Reidsville Senior) 19-1 (Dec 2-1)

3rd: Eli Thomas (Forbush) 34-1 won by fall over Trent Almond (Mt Pleasant) 18-5 (Fall 3:05)

What Happened: Mejia wrestled nothing like a freshman on his way to the top step at 106. He had 2 falls before an 8-2 win over Eli Thomas for Forbush in the semis. But the “rubber met the road” in a tight state finals match where Mejia really showed his mettle. Neither Mejia or James were able to score on the their feet … so a reversal by Mejia and an escape by James made up all the scoring. James had a nice 4-1 win over Trent Almond of Mt Pleasant in the semis. Thomas downed Almond for 3rd.

113 lbs.

1st: Tyler Holland (Wilkes Central) 24-0 won by fall over Hunter Clark (Fred T Foard) 28-1 (Fall 3:34)

3rd: William (Seth) Redd (Reidsville Senior) 18-2 won by fall over Jacob Kresicki (First Flight) 20-4 (Fall 2:14)

What Happened: Fellow Foard freshman Hunter Clark looked unstoppable early as he had 3 falls on his way to the finals including a 2nd period fall of Redd. Tyler Holland had 2 falls before having to work for a 5-2 decision over Jacob Kresicki in the top semis. But it would be all Holland in the finals - a 1st period takedown, a 2nd period reversal put him up 4-0 before getting the fall. Redd downed Kresicki to take 3rd.

120 lbs.

1st: Kyle Montaperto (Central Academy of Technology and Arts) 14-0 won by tech fall over David Mceachern (Mt Pleasant) 19-4 (TF-1.5 3:55 (24-9))

3rd: Javon White (Salisbury) 18-2 won by fall over Raul Hernandez (Bunker Hill) 20-7 (Fall 3:01)

What Happened: CATA’s Montaperto was simply outstanding - as he has been for quite some time now. He had 3 falls on his way to the finals and downed David McEachern 24-9 to claim another state title. McEachern played a huge role in Mt Pleasant’s run to a team title. He downd Connor Wishon 4-2 before pinning Walker Bell to make the semis. A 10-2 win over Javon White started the ball rolling for Mt Pleasant in the semis. White pinned Hernandes for 3rd.

126 lbs.

1st: Elijah Boyd (Reidsville Senior) 20-0 won by decision over Aaron Ortega Perez (Trinity) 27-2 (Dec 6-2)

3rd: Brock Carey (Fred T Foard) 24-1 won by major decision over Samuel Hodge (Currituck County) 14-2 (MD 13-2)

What Happened: Reidsville’s Elijah Boyd looked like (and wrestled like) the favorite an a man on a mission. He pinned Horne before teching Jajuan Givens 15-0 in the quarters. An 11-4 decision of Samuel Hodge put Reid one match away from the 126 lb. title. On the top side, Aaron Ortega Perez wrestled lights out. He had a fall before downing Elijah Harris 6-4 in the quarters. Ortega Perez followed that up with a 7-3 decision of Brock Carey in the semis. The finals was quite a match … Reid got out early with a takedown and then got a reversal to start the 3rd period to go up 4-0. Ortega Perez had an escape and then earned a penalty point for Reid stalling - 4-2, but a Reid takedown with about 30 seconds remaining sealed the deal. Carey bounced back to take 3rd with a 13-2 major of Hodge.

132 lbs.

1st: Hunter Ross (Central Academy of Technology and Arts) 17-0 won by decision over Jorden Schlossman (North Lincoln) 29-3 (Dec 7-2)

3rd: Bryson Whitley (West Stanly) 19-7 won by decision over Landon MacFarland (Oak Grove) 15-4 (Dec 9-8)

What Happened: CATA’s Hunter Ross and North Lincoln’s Jordan Schlossman simply wrestled better than anyone else in the bracket. Ross had 2 falls in under a minute before earning a 16-5 major decision over Bryson Whitley of West Stanly in the semis (Whitley was 4th in the Midwest region the weekend before). Schlossman, the Midwest runner-up last weekend, and Landon McFarland of Oak Grove easily took care of business on the bottom side. Schlossman had a fall and a 9-2 decision; McFarland had two 1st period falls. Schlossman dominated the semis and was leading 10-0 in the 3rd when he got the fall to setup a rematch with Ross. Ross was simply better on his feet in the finals - 3 takedowns vs. none and claimed the title with a 7-2 decision. Whitley was one of the few wrestlers to finish higher on the state podium than the region podium … taking 3rd with a 9-8 decision over McFarland.

138 lbs.

1st: Jacob Cox (South Rowan) 22-0 won by decision over Louis Mehaffey (Pisgah) 27-1 (Dec 5-4)

3rd: Logan Fite (Central Academy of Technology and Arts) 18-2 won by decision over David Makupson (Trinity) 28-2 (Dec 9-7)

What Happened: It is always a treat for the fans when two very talented wrestlers cross paths in the finals. Jacob Cox easily took care of business on the bottom side of the bracket … he had a fall, a 9-1 major of Zachariah Lewis of RS Central before pinning David Makupson of Trinity in the 2nd period of their semi. Pisgha’s Louis Mehaffey had an 8-2 decision, a 3rd period fall of Ian Murdock before downing Logan Fite with an 8-5 decision in the semis. Cox vs. Mehaffey looks like it was a barnburner. Cox got a 1st period takedown before Mehaffey got the reversal … Cox got an escape at the end of the 1st to go up 3-2. An escape by Mehaffey in the 2nd period tied it up at 3-3 heading into the 3rd. Cox got a penalty point and an escape in the 3rd and emerged with a close 5-4 win. Fite downed Makupson 9-7 to take 3rd.

145 lbs.

1st: Jeremiah Price (Surry Central) 20-0 won by fall over Michael Lowry (Salisbury) 17-2 (Fall 5:49)

3rd: Keagan Bolman (Dixon) 20-3 won by decision over Jamie Richard (Fred T Foard) 26-2 (Dec 10-6)

What Happened: No one in 2A wrestled as well as Jeremiah Price. Price had an 18-1 tech fall and a 2nd period fall (while leading 14-2) before earning a 16-0 tech fall of Jamie Richard in the semis. He then built a 9-0 lead on Michael Lowry before getting the 3rd period fall in the finals. Price outscored his opponents 57-3 in his 4 matches. Lowry, the Midwest region runner-up to Price, wrestled great on the bottom side - he had 3 falls and outscored his opponents 22-5 until running into Price in the finals. Keagan Bolman downed Richard 10-6 to claim 3rd.

152 lbs.

1st: Lucas Whitted (Pisgah) 25-3 won by decision over Tyson Ryley (South Point) 13-8 (Dec 3-0)

3rd: Aidan Hiott (West Stanly) 21-1 won by major decision over Alex Minish (Trinity) 25-2 (MD 12-4)

What Happened: Pisgah’s Lucas Whitted wrestled several close matches, but was there in the end to claim the 152 lb. title. Whitted had a fall and a 7-2 decision before grinding out a 4-0 semifinal win over Alex Minish of Trinity and a 3-0 decision over Tyson Ryley of South Point for the title. Ryley was one of the few #4’s from a region to make a run as a true “darkhorse” - someone not on the radar that knocked off 2 region champs on the way (including Aidan Hiott who won the region where Ryley finished 4th). Ryley won close matches vs. Julius Miller 4-3 and Hiott 9-7 before falling to Whitted. Hiott rebounded to take 3rd, Minish was 4th.

160 lbs.

1st: Aiden Curry (Central Academy of Technology and Arts) 16-0 won by decision over Dalton Miller (Mt Pleasant) 17-3 (Dec 3-2)

3rd: Caleb Moore (Bandys) 27-4 won by decision over Ezekiel Jones (Southwest Onslow) 18-2 (Dec 7-4)

What Happened: 160 featured a rematch of the Midwest region finals in the state finals with Aiden Curry and Dalton Miller. Curry was able to “best” Miller once again - this time a 3-2 decision for the 2A title. Each handled their side of the bracket with relative ease … Curry with 2 falls before getting a 7-2 decision over Caleb Moore and Miller with 2 falls including a fall of Ezekiel Jones. Moore downed Jones 7-4 for 3rd.

170 lbs.

1st: Brady Ross (Central Academy of Technology and Arts) 19-0 won by decision over Kyler Pickard (Mt Pleasant) 21-2 (Dec 3-1)

3rd: Zane Birtchet (Fred T Foard) 28-2 won by decision over Joseph Plyler (North Lincoln) 24-5 (Dec 7-3)

What Happened: The younger Ross finished out his Junior season in style with an unblemished record and a 3-1 decision of Kyler Pickard of Mt Pleasant. Ross had 2 falls before downing Zane Birtchet 5-3 in the semis. Pickard, who was 2nd to Ross at last weekend’s Midwest region, handled the bottom side of the bracket with relative ease - getting a fall, a 13-2 major before pinning Joseph Plyler to setup the rematch. Bitchet downed Plyler 7-3 to take 3rd.

182 lbs.

1st: Landon Foor (Fred T Foard) 23-0 won by fall over Milosz Gargol (First Flight) 23-1 (Fall 5:34)

3rd: Sebastian Talent (Trinity) 25-2 won by forfeit over Grayson Cannon (East Lincoln) 25-2 (For.)

What Happened: Foard’s Landon Foor made it four state titles and capped off a brilliant career with a fall of Milosz Gargol in the finals. It should be noted that Foor had to battle for his 4th and final title. He had a fall and a 10-4 decision before he ran into Sebastian Talent of Trinity in the semis. He got down early 8-1 and had to battle back before getting the fall in the 3rd period. Gargol cruised on the top side and didn’t give up a point until the finals vs. Foor. Talent rebounded from his loss to Foor to take 3rd and Cannon was 4th.

195 lbs.

1st: Levi Kluttz (Mt Pleasant) 21-1 won by fall over Jason Jelic (Carrboro) 19-2 (Fall 3:40)

3rd: Owen Clark (Newton Conover) 28-1 won by forfeit over Ayden Prevatte (Trinity) 27-3 (For.)

What Happened: After Foor’s win at 182, the pressure was on Kluttz and Crayton to push Pleasant to the team title. Kluttz had 3 falls on his way the finals at 195. His opponent was Jason Jelic of Carrboro who had a 13-4 major decision win, a 7-4 decision, and a tough 4-2 overtime win over Owen Clark to reach the finals. Kluttz got a takedown late in the 1st period and then was able to get the fall in the 2nd. I believe they started the finals at 160 or so … so the team race wasn’t finished, but Kluttz’s fall matched Foor’s fall and Pleasant was able to stay with Foard in the team race.

220 lbs.

1st: Chase Crayton (Mt Pleasant) 21-1 won by decision over Alex Johnson (North Pitt) 23-2 (Dec 3-1)

3rd: Cole Clark (Newton Conover) 30-1 won by fall over Keyan Floyd (Reidsville Senior) 7-3 (Fall 4:22)

What Happened: Chase Crayton came up huge for Mt Pleasant. He had 2 falls before surviving a very tough semi vs. Cole Clark - a 3-2 win in overtime (although the scoring on trackwrestling doesn’t make a lot of sense). Crayton then got a 3-1 win over Alex Johnson to claim the 220 lb. title and push Pleasant into the team lead. Johnson handled the bottom side with relative ease - 2 falls and a 7-2 decision before falling to Crayton in the finals. Clark rebounded to finish 3rd and Floyd was 4th.

285 lbs.

1st: Ryan Walker (Newton Conover) 32-1 won in the ultimate tie breaker over Alex Roland (West Wilkes) 17-4 (UTB 3-2)

3rd: Ki Rankin (Reidsville Senior) 13-1 won by forfeit over Johnny Peake (Atkins) 16-5 (For.)

What Happened: Very competitive 285 lb. bracket. The path to the finals for both Walker and Roland were anything but easy. Walker had a fall before having to win in an ultimate tiebreaker 3-2 over Curtus Wilson and a 3-2 win over Ki Rankin in the semis. Roland had a fall and a 12-4 major before getting a 3-1 win over Johnny Peake of Atkins. The finals was “escapes galore” with no takedowns on their feet. Each got an escape in regulation, an escape each in overtime and then Walker got the choice (based on scoring first) and for the escape for the win. Rankin took a forfeit win over Peake to take 3rd.

The Breakdown - Episode 15 - Mt Pleasant tops Foard for the NC 2A title