App State-commit named Most Outstanding Wrestler
Asheville – For two days, Robbinsville wrestling camped out at the Great Smoky Mountain Grapple, a yearly invitational that is held inside Harrah’s Cherokee Center in Asheville.
Out of the 35 teams from all classifications in North Carolina, the Black Knights finished third in the field, scoring 160.5 team points. Rivals Uwharrie Charter Academy (168 points) and Avery County (183) rounded out the top three.
But a quick scan of the individual results show how versatile Robbinsville’s wrestling program is, top to bottom.
Most notably, Kage Williams (11-0) was named the showcase’s Most Outstanding Wrestler. He dominated the 190-pound division, turning in consecutive technical falls over Asheville High’s Eddie Pretrick (8-4) and Mitchell’s Camron Cook (18-5), to the tune of respective 16-1 and 17-1 bout scores.
Once he reached the semifinals, Williams mowed over North Buncombe’s Jacob Nix (16-5) and Pisgah’s Landon Pope (14-4) in a pair of back-to-back majority decisions (13-2 over Nix; 10-1 against Pope) to stake his claim.
Though Williams was the only Black Knight to reach the top of the awards podium, several other Robbinsville wrestlers were in the hunt.
Skyler Anderson (106 pounds, 23-2); Adair Panama (113, 25-1); and Loxston Hooper (126, 23-2) all placed second in their brackets; while Alexis Panama (120, 22-3) claimed third in his race. Koleson Dooley (285, 10-2) took fifth, with Lleyton Hooper (138, 19-10) finishing sixth.
Other varsity competitors were Avery Phillips (132, 24-5); Juan Rios (144, 20-10); Bobby Moore (150, 14-8); and Kellen Ensley (220, 5-4).
Robbinsville also took control of the JV situation, as Ethan Webster (132), Christian Phillips (138), Blake Powers (150B) and Jonah Teesateskie (285B) all returned to Graham County with gold medals. Austin Bohn finished third in the 126-pound weight class; while both Zander Davis (157B) and Luke Green (157C) seized fourth in their brackets.
Also competing in the JV competition was Colby Welch (113) and Bracey Wilson (285C).
The Lady Knights also continued to garner crucial mat time at the grapple.
Andrea Sheeks (107, 7-9); Alexis El-Khouri (138, 8-8); and Pacey Bradshaw (165, 3-3) each went 2-2 in the tournament. Anna Norris (114, 5-9) and Jayce Shuler (145, 6-4) both collected a victory apiece; with Velvet Carver (107, 3-10), Kyla Jenkins (152, 6-6) and Campbell Brooks (165, 7-6) also competing for Robbinsville.
Knights vs. Knights
Hendersonville – The annual, coveted “Battle of the Knights” occurred Tuesday, with Robbinsville traveling this year for the showdown at North Henderson. Robbinsville (13-2) eventually prevailed 46-29.
The Black Knights leapt to a 30-0 advantage in the dual, thanks to rapid-fire pinfalls from Anderson, Adair Panama, Alexis Panama, Loxston Hooper and Webster. North Henderson’s first victory came at 138 pounds, an 8-3 decision for Daniel Figueroa over Christian Phillips. Ilia Ciudinov (144) then pinned Lleyton Hooper; before Nate Guerrero (150) emerged from an overtime bout with Rios on the better end of a 10-9 score. Powers attempted to right the ship against Eduardo Rodriguez, scoring a 16-7 majority decision at 157 pounds. Robbinsville’s Kyler Branham (165) endured a 16-0 technical fall at the hands of Jaime Vega; before the hosting Knights earned six more when Felix Montiel (175) collected a forfeit.
Down the stretch, Williams bumped the dual spread to 34-23 with a 55-second pin over Eli Blanton. Reese Meadows returned the favor by pinning Ensley, before Dooley concluded the evening with a forfeit win.