Hoke County takes the WRAL Girls title

By Ron Forquer

The Hoke Girls Wrestling team came home with yet another win, taking first place at the WRAL Invitational this past Saturday, December 16th, 2023. Going up against 47 other teams, the girls ended with a score of 154 team points, having a 30 point lead over Havelock High School, who placed second. Taking first place, Zaria Robinson (235), who scored 28 team points, and Noelia Hipolito (165), who scored 27 team points. Placing second, Azya Monroe (100), scoring 20 team points. With a fourth place finish, Sara Warren (114), scoring a total of 22 team points, Jianna Gomez (120), scoring a total of 19 team points, and Jada Lebron (145), scoring 18 team points. Harley Hardin (107), scores a total of 3 team points. Miracle Lester (126), scoring a total of 7 team points. And Keira Rush (138) scoring 10 team points. Missing a few pieces still this Lady Bucks team has been dominant in tournament competition.

The Second place team in the tournament was coach Chase Holleman’s Havelock team . The Lady Rams of Havelock had another solid showing despite being down three starters from their line up. Natalie Titus became a three time WRAL Champion with her pin in the finals. Kennedie Snow placed for the third year in a row with her runner-up finish. The Rams also had three other placers in Olivia Ready, Kyndal Harris, and Isabella Campbell. Along with their team runner-up finish, the Lady Rams took home the Sportsmanship Award.

By weight class Anna Ockerman from Corinth Holders made easy work of her opponents in the 100 weight class pinning Azusa Monroe of Hoke in 2:20.

At 107 Meghan Rowland 16-1 met Lillian Prendergast 25-0 in the finals for an epic clash , with Lillian catching the pin and victory at 5:45 sec in the 3rd period and dominated most of the match . A surprise new comer and unseeded wrestler from Garner named Addison Gore freshman 9-0 knocked off the #1 seed from Hoke 15-4 Sara Warren before going on a Pinning spree and .54 second pin finals match against senior Khaing Htway of New Bern.

At 120 Addison Vindigni from Cleveland high school avenged 3 previous summer defeats by Ahriana Scales of Pasquotank in a tough 9-4 decision and Victory for the junior .

Weight 126 saw a rematch of two seniors , Kamilah Brooks also smashed through her bracket only spending a total of 70 seconds on the mat going into the finals. In the finals, she defeated Alfa Dominguez Gutierrez from Cary 4-0, who is the defending state champion and Kamilah's only loss last year at State. She has now beat 2 defending state champions this year. Kamilah also received the MOW award of the tournament with her victory .

At weight class 132 two junior ladies met in the finals with Ariyanna Parson coming away with a pin at 5:22 over Kennedie Snow of Havelock in a hard fought match .

Brooke Zak a senior from Currituck County walked easily through her 138 bracket. Zak made quick work of her challenger Sophia Sutton from Swansboro in 2:44 finals pin .

Natalie Titus also made quick work of all her competitors at 145 with all wins by pins and defeated Swansboro Maggie Milbery in just 3:22 to secure the title.

Weight 152 was the match of the night with two very talented wrestlers . Faith Bane of New Bern knocked off the #2 seeded wrestler Kenley Riley in a tough semi finals battle . Securing that win put her in the finals against undefeated Keira Rosenmarkle of Seaforth high 17-0 . The match was close with the score 2-0 off a takedown by Rosenmarkle ,then solid top wrestling which prevented her opponent from escaping .

Noelia Hipolito of Hoke upset #2 seed Ebony Mejia-Aguilar in the semis with a major decision 10-2. She would then defeat Stephanie Diaz- Mendoza in the finals by a decision 9-2.

At 185 Cleveland senior Winston Yarborough 14-0 and #2 seed met senior and #1 seed Amy Gilliams in finals . Yarborough defeated Gilliams 11-5 to become the champion .

Final match of the night was at 235 saw Sophia Marshall of Rosewood Junior 16-2 against Junior from Hoke Zaria Robinson . Zarias two previous matches only lasted only a combined .36 seconds and her finals match lasted only 1:10 resulting in a fall .