Lady Knights compete at state duals
Robbinsville – Proving that less is better, the Black Knights’ two lightest grapplers sawed through the field during the James Orr Invitational on Saturday.
The annual extravaganza at Robbinsville High attracted 24 teams from three states, with the hosting Knights themselves prevailing in the race for the team championship as well: posting 153.5 points to best second-place West Forsyth High School (a 4A school in Clemmons) that scored 144.5. Pigeon Forge, Tenn. (a 3A school), was third, with 141.5.
However, it was the flyweight and bantamweights who stood alone at the top of the podium for Robbinsville, as Skyler Anderson (106 pounds, 40-2) and Adair Panama (113, 41-4) both conquered their respective brackets and kept their strong push for a state crown alive in the process.
Anderson’s journey to the gold took him through West Forsyth’s Elias Marquez Flores, which ended in a pinfall at 3:28; a 9-3 decision over Enka’s Jacobie Morrison in the semifinals; and Gunner Mease of West-Oak, S.C., in the finals, culminating in a 14-6 majority decision.
As for Panama, he pinned Murphy’s Jake Miller at 1:01 in the quarterfinals; knocked off Samuel Everett’s Parker Lewis via 17-1 technical fall in the semifinals; and blasted Glenn’s Yusel Aguilar in a 16-4 major in the championship bout.
Loxston Hooper (132, 42-6), Lleyton Hooper (144, 44-5) and Jonah Teesateskie (285, 17-10) each advanced to the finals of their weight class, but finished second. Kellen Ensley (215, 14-2) placed third, while Ayden Conley (120, 9-7) took fourth.
Others competing for the Black Knights were Ethan Webster (126, 30-22); Knox Orr (138, 22-17); Devin Hall (150, 30-17); Braydon Lane (150, 8-12), Luke Green (157, 15-16); Kyler Branham (175, 5-4); and Christian Koeller (190, 13-12).
Jackson Lane also wrestled at 120 pounds for Robbinsville in the junior varsity bracket, finishing second in the class.
Lady Knights
Monroe – Robbinsville’s varsity girls went 1-2 at the state duals invitational, which was held Saturday at Parkwood High School.
Robbinsville (10-12) fell 60-12 in the opener to North Henderson, but defeated Mitchell in wrestle-backs 29-24 before dropping a 53-18 outing to West Rowan.
Emma Taylor (165) and Cecelia Maney (185) both received forfeit wins late in the match against North Henderson.
While facing the Lady Mountaineers, Robbinsville’s Alexis Miller (107) ran up a 19-3 technical fall over Katie Stowe; Alexis El-Khouri (132) pinned Zoe Hippe at 1:30; and Cheyanne Geyer (145), Taylor and Maney all won via forfeit to lift the Lady Knights to victory.
The 100-, 126- and 235-pound weight classes were each double forfeits in the dual.
Madison Cable (120) scored a 35-second pin over West Rowan’s Bella Ingram in Robbinsville’s finale, while El-Khouri muscled Riley Beam to the mat just one second slower.
Geyer later pinned Lilliana McMillan at 2:21 to round out the Knights’ efforts.
Tuesday’s senior night tri-match with Swain County and North Henderson was moved to after Wednesday’s press deadline.