Asheville – Representatives from the Robbinsville wrestling program traveled to the U.S. Cellular Center on Friday and Saturday to compete in the Great Smoky Mountain Grapple tournament.
The Knights worked their way through some of the toughest competition available, as teams came in from all over North Carolina – plus Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia – to vie for supremacy on the mat.
Varsity
Nathan Fisher (138 pounds) finished third at the event. In the consolation semifinals, Fisher claimed third place by way of a 6-5 decision victory over Enka’s Corbin Dion.
Meanwhile, Kyle Fink (195 pounds) took sixth at the tournament. In the consolation bracket, Fink would then incur a pinfall loss at the hands of Travelers Rest, S.C., wrestler Zeirean Riley before Mauldin, S.C.’s Peyton Fisher picked up a 12-9 decision victory in the fifth-place match.
Also competing in the varsity tournament was Luke Wilson (106), Case Beasley (113), Willie Riddle (132), Jacob Hall (145), Phoenix Brooks (182) and Stewart Carver (220).
Lady Knights
Two Robbinsville High School athletes competed in the girls bracket, Aynsley Fink (106) and Gracye Burchfield (132). The duo finished second in their respective classes.
Fink would advance to the finals after pinning Swain County’s Tynighia Lillard, but lost to Hoke County’s Laila Sa in the finals.
Meanwhile, Burchfield lost via pinfall to Hoke County’s Milena Daniels in the championship finals.
Fink and Burchfield’s performances helped Robbinsville finish fifth in the bracket with 40 points.
Junior varsity
Justin Stewart was the lone Black Knight grappler to win a bracket, capturing the 170-pound junior varsity title.
Stewart attained glory with an 11-2 majority decision win over McDowell’s Collin Campbell.
Micah Smith (106) and Nick Anderson (132) both finished second in their respective bracket. Smith lost to Locust Grove’s Tristan Malette in the finals, while Anderson lost to Swain County’s Dhruv Senghani in the final bout.
Also competing in the junior varsity bracket was Julius Cross (120), Lawson Roberts (220) and Drake Hill (heavyweight).
Middle school opener
Robbinsville won its middle school season opener against Cherokee on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 72-24.
Adair Panama, Mason Phillips, Lleyton Hooper, Loxston Hooper, Rylee Patterson, Christian Phillips, Kage Williams and Kaleson Dooley each got their hands raised via forfeit, while Alexis Panama, Dalton Hill, Murphy Shanahan and Owen Blevins all secured pinfall victories for the Knights.