The Breakdown - Episode 16 - Avery puts up 186 on the way to the 1A title
Avery County put 10 on the podium (of the 12 they brought) and ran away with the 1A team title. Robbinsville had 5 Champs and another placer, but couldn’t make up the depth of Avery and finished 2nd (65 points behind). Uwharrie Charter was 3rd with 71, Mt Airy was 5th with 54.5 and Rosewood rounded out the top 5 with 52.5 points.
Photo Credit: @NCHSAA
The team race was pretty well in hand very early as Avery put 10 on the podium and 10 into the finals. Robbinsville put five into the finals and crowned 5 champs, but there was little doubt which team would win the team race after the opening round.
East vs. West
Half of the finals matchups had the #1 from the East vs. the #1 from the West. 145 had an East vs. West matchup but it was each of the 3rd place finishers from the week before that made their way to the finals. In the remaining 6 matches we had an all-West finals - 1 vs. 2 except at 182 where it was 1 vs. 4. When there are two regions (as opposed the the 4 in 2A-4A) it is always interesting to see the rematches that occur and whether one region is “stronger” in particular year. This year that designation goes to West … they had a finalist at every weight and 2 finalists in 6 weights (20 of the 28 finalists were from the West Region).
106 lbs.
1st: Luke Wilson (Robbinsville) 23-3 won by decision over Jason Kennedy (Rosewood) 29-1 (Dec 7-4)
3rd: Heaven Fitch (Uwharrie Charter Academy) 21-3 won by decision over Hope Horan (Mt Airy) 16-8 (Dec 7-2)
What Happened: Before last weekend’s region - most people were pointing to Heaven Fitch claiming a second state title. Fitch lost a tough decision in the East region final to Jason Kennedy and as a result would draw Robbinsville’s Luke Wilson in the semis … Wilson got a takedown in overtime to knock off the defending champ and punch his ticket to the finals. Kennedy took care of business on the top side with a fall and a 14-1 major decision win. Kennedy began the finals with a takedown and a 2-0 lead before giving up a takedown and 3 nearfall in the 2nd. Another takedown by Wilson with under a minute sealed the win with a 7-4 decision. Fitch pinned Horan to finish 3rd.
113 lbs.
1st: Tristan Hale (South Davidson) 22-0 won by decision over Benjamin Jordan (Avery County) 25-2 (Dec 7-0)
3rd: Hunter Fulp (North Stokes) 22-2 won by fall over Brady Buchanan (Cherryville) 23-3 (Fall 3:59)
What Happened: Tristan Hale was absolutely superb on his way to the 113 lb. title. He pinned Fink without giving up a point and then had a 15-0 tech fall of Brady Buchanan in the semis. A dominant 7-0 win over Ben Jordan of Avery capped off the day. Hale finished his JR season unbeaten and did not give up a point (one of just a handful to do that). Jordan wrestled well on the bottom side with a fall and a 10-1 major, but wasn’t able to take down Hale I nthe finals. Hunter Fulp was 3rd and Buchanan was 4th.
120 lbs.
1st: Logan Tortual (Rosewood) 23-0 won by fall over Grant Reece (Avery County) 25-3 (Fall 3:13)
3rd: Ricardo Bustos (Albemarle) 13-3 won by decision over Brandon Ropp (Rosman) 25-6 (Dec 15-10)
What Happened: Logan Tortual capped off his JR campaign with 3 falls, an unbeaten record, and the 120 lb. state title. Tortual pinned Mann, Ropp, and Grant Reece on his way to the title. Avery’s Grant Reece had an 11-0 win, a 4-1 decision of Ricardo Bustos before taking the loss to Tortual. Bustos rebounded from his loss to take 3rd in a wild 15-10 match with Ropp.
126 lbs.
1st: Jayden Nowell (Robbinsville) 28-0 won by fall over Timmy Freeze (South Davidson) 21-1 (Fall 3:58)
3rd: Alex Cox (Mt Airy) 23-3 won by decision over Bryson Church (Alleghany) 25-5 (Dec 6-1)
What Happened: Nowell was simply the best 126 in the gym (once 1A got to Uwharrie Middle - might have been the best at Glenn as well). He had an 18-3 tech fall, a 15-0 tech fall over 3rd place finisher Alex Cox before pinning Timmy Freeze in the 2nd period after leading 12-1. Freeze had to survive a tough opening round match vs. Satchel McCoy 10-9 before pinning Church in the semis.
132 lbs.
1st: Ethan Shell (Avery County) 28-0 won by fall over Cody Lawson (South Stokes) 19-1 (Fall 2:41)
3rd: Braeden Reiss (Rosewood) 28-2 won by tech fall over Byan Lackey (Uwharrie Charter Academy) 20-5 (TF-1.5 5:03 (18-3))
What Happened: Shell might be the best wrestler in 1A - he has some competition, but he demonstrated this past Saturday that he amongst the best 132’s in NC. Would love to see him vs. Ross, Lewis, Joplin, and the others. As for the 1A bracket … Shell had 2 1st period falls before pinning Cody Lawson in the 2nd period of their finals match. Shell didn’t surrender a point in outscoring his opponents 16-0 in 3 matches. Cody Lawson of South Stokes had to battle on the top side … he downed Cotterman 11-7 before surviving a 2-1 semifinal match vs. Byan Lackey. Reiss downed Lackey to take 3rd.
138 lbs.
1st: Jonah Hayes (Avery County) 27-1 won by decision over Cole Combs (Rosman) 29-2 (Dec 6-4)
3rd: Shane Hatfield (East Carteret) 23-5 won by decision over Kole Lambert (East Wilkes) 16-7 (Dec 3-0)
What Happened: 138 in 1A was fun to watch … Hayes, the West Region Champ, had a fall before getting a tough 5-4 decision over Kole Lambert of East Wilkes in the semis. Rosman’s Cole Combs had an 11-2 major before pinning East Region Champ Shane Hatfield in the 2nd period of their semi match. Hayes won the rematch with Combs 6-4, but had to battle throughout. Hatfield downed Lambert 3-0 to take 3rd.
145 lbs.
1st: Riley Pruitt (Alleghany) 28-2 won by decision over Drew Shelton (Uwharrie Charter Academy) 22-2 (Dec 11-5)
3rd: Brice Browning (Tarboro) 19-1 won by major decision over Franklin Bennett (Mt Airy) 22-3 (MD 14-5)
What Happened: 145 is a great example of why you expect anything to happen in a high school bracket … the finals match had the two wrestlers (Pruitt and Shelton) who finished 3rd in their region tournament the week before. Both had to win close matches in order to get to the finals. Shelton won 3-2 over Avery’s Cable in the first round before pinning Brice Browning in the semis. Pruitt had a 12-3 major decision win before getting a 4-3 decision over Franklin Bennett in the bottom side semi (from the scoreline on track it looks like a stall call was made with 5 seconds left in the match that was the difference … I wasn’t there and haven’t been able to find the match online to weigh-in on that call). Pruitt took control of Shelton in the finals and cruised to an 11-5 win for the 145 lb. title. Browning downed Bennett to take 3rd.
152 lbs.
1st: Connor Medvar (Mt Airy) 26-0 won by decision over Tristan Adams (Avery County) 28-2 (Dec 7-3)
3rd: Grayson Roberts (Uwharrie Charter Academy) 24-1 won by decision over Michael Gabbard (South Stanly) 13-4 (Dec 4-2)
What Happened: Mt Airy’s Connor Medvar wrestled extremely well to cap off a unbeaten season with a 7-3 decision of Tristan Adams in the finals. Medvar had a 17-0 tech fall before grinding out a 5-3 decision over Michael Gabbard in the semis. Adams won 10-0 in his opening match before knocking off East Region Champ Grayson Roberts of Uwharrie Charter 5-2 in the semis. Roberts rebounded to down Gabbard 4-2 to take 3rd.
160 lbs.
1st: Bradley Parker (Avery County) 28-0 won by decision over Doug Bowles (Uwharrie Charter Academy) 23-1 (Dec 8-4)
3rd: Chase Miller (Cherryville) 26-3 won by major decision over Trent Drake (South Stanly) 13-4 (MD 12-1)
What Happened: Really good weight class with some fun matches. Region Champs Doug Bowles and Bradley Parker took care of business on their sides of the bracket. Bowles had 2 falls to advance to the finals. Parker had a fall and a 7-3 decision of Drake to make the finals. Parker used a hufe 2nd period to distance himself from Bowles and cruised to the title with an 8-4 decision. Miller came back from his loss to Bowles to take 3rd.
170 lbs.
1st: Matthew Mauro (Bradford Preparatory School) 26-2 won by fall over Seth Blackledge (Avery County) 21-3 (Fall 3:03)
3rd: Jathan Parker (East Carteret) 23-2 won by decision over Cameron Clark (Uwharrie Charter Academy) 21-4 (Dec 6-4)
What Happened: It is not often that you get a 1 vs. 2 from the same Region in the state finals … it is rarer still to watch the #2 get the win over the wrestler that they lost to the weekend before. But that is what happened at 170. Bradford Prep’s Matthew Mauro had 2 falls before pinning Avery’s Seth Blackledge for the 170 lb. title. Mauro vs. Blackledge was close throughout with Blackledge actually leading 6-5 when Mauro was able to get the fall and claim the 170 lb. title. Jathan Parker rebounded from his semi loss to Mauro to take 3rd and Clark was 4th.
182 lbs.
1st: Kage Williams (Robbinsville) 29-0 won by major decision over Dalton Towe (Avery County) 26-3 (MD 8-0)
3rd: Eli Becker (East Surry) 19-3 won by decision over Bunmi Abudu (Mountain Island Charter School) 24-10 (Dec 7-6)
What Happened: Outstanding freshman Kage Williams rolled early … getting 2 1st period falls to make the finals from the bottom side. West #4 Dalton Towe pinned East Champ Lucas Wright in the 1st round and then downed Bunmi Abudu 7-4 in the semis to make the finals opposite Williams. Williams easily took care of business with an 8-0 major to claim his first state title. Becker downed Abudu 7-6 for 3rd.
195 lbs.
1st: Kyle Fink (Robbinsville) 25-3 won by fall over Meliek Bryant (North Stanly) 16-2 (Fall 1:17)
3rd: Jordan Mitchell (South Stokes) 16-5 won by fall over Daniel Cancro (Bishop McGuinness) 24-5 (Fall 2:03)
What Happened: Fun weight class to watch with tons of scoring in the semis. East Champ Meleik Bryant had a fall and then a wild 15-11 decision over Jordan Mitchell to make the finals on the top side. Fink had a fall and then downed Daniel Cancro 8-4 in the bottom semi. Mitchell pinned Cancro to take 3rd. Fink had a takedown and a 1st period fall to claim the top step at 195.
220 lbs.
1st: Ben Wachacha (Robbinsville) 22-2 won by decision over Zach Vance (Avery County) 25-2 (Dec 3-2)
3rd: Tony Rogers (South Stanly) 14-3 won by fall over Saverio Lennon (Mt Airy) 15-8 (Fall 1:41)
What Happened: 1A West rolled at 220 … Wachacha had 2 falls including a 2nd period fall of Tony Rogers, East Runner-up, to make the finals. West Runner-up Zach Vance had a fall over Marion and Lennon to make the finals on the top side. Mt Airy’s Saverio Lennon, 4th in the West, pinned East Champ Tyler Parrish to make the semis and finish on the podium. Wachacha needed a reversal with about 30 seconds left to win the rematch with Vance in the finals - getting a 3-2 decision and the 220 lb. title.
285 lbs.
1st: Levi Andrews (Avery County) 28-0 won by fall over CJ Henderson (Elkin) 27-2 (Fall 2:33)
3rd: Carlos Wesley (Robbinsville) 19-5 won by decision over Naqian Carpenter (Albemarle) 14-3 (Dec 3-2)
What Happened: Levi Andrews rolled again. Defending State Champ Levi Andrews had 3 falls including one over 1A West runner-up CJ Henderson in the finals to claim another title. Henderson pinned Naqian Carpenter, the 1A East Champ, in the semis to setup the rematch with Andrews. Carlos Wesley, 3rd in the West, of Robbinsville downed Carpenter to take 3rd. West went 1, 2, and 3 at 285.