Black Knights add to decorated season by winning Enka Duals
Candler – If the trend continues, they might have to re-name the famed “Jet Hanger” at Enka High School, “Robbinsville’s House.”
For the third time this year, the Black Knights traveled to suburban Asheville on Saturday. The task ahead? The annual Enka Duals, which draws competition from all over the tri-state area.
Robbinsville took one look at the goal, cinched a tight headlock and ultimately stretched its dual record this season to 23-3 by knocking off Asheville, 53-24, Polk County, 64-9; Union High School (Va)., 45-19; RS Central, 46-19; and – who else – but the hosting Jets in the finals, 37-33.
The victory was not without its fair share of adversity, however. In the opener against the Cougars, Kyler Branham (182 pounds) was pinned by Da’quan Pretick during the kickoff bout. In response, Kage Williams (195) pinned Diego Rosas-Ruiz; Koleson Dooley (220) scored an 18-4, majority decision over Eddie Pretrick; and Jacob Teesateskie (285) clasped Aiden Gettier’s shoulder to the mat in a 45-second encounter.
Both Adair (106) and Alexis (113) earned back-to-back forfeit wins, before Loxston Hooper (120) scored a 53-second pin against Drystan Stewart. Twin brother Lleyton (126) followed suit with a first-period pin of his own – downing Aidan McCloud – while Bobby Moore (132) pushed a 16-5 majority decision onto Burlton Sluder.
By the time Juan Rios stepped onto the mat to face Devon Rutherford at 138 pounds, Robbinsville led 44-6. Rutherford got the better of Rios with a quick pin and Peter Wilkinson had his hand raised via forfeit at 145 pounds, before Harrison Cash earned a third-period pin over Blake Powers (152).
The Cougars were shut down from that point forward, as Jeremiah Phillips (160) recorded a 7-1 decision against Uistean Anderson and Turner Jackson sealed the deal for the Knights via forfeit at 170 pounds.
Against Polk County, Williams, Teesateskie, Alexis Panama, Loxston and Lleyton Hooper, Moore, Rios, Powers and Jackson all pinned their respective opposition. Dooley won his bout in a 13-5 majority decision, while Adair Panama again posted six for Robbinsville by simply checking in for the 106-pound bout. Polk County’s only wins came on a Logan Nodine forfeit win at 145 and Zalen McCraw’s 15-10 jostle against Jeremiah Phillips.
Union County, Va., experienced just a tad more success against a focused Knights crew. Dooley again won in a majority decision, 11-2, while Alexis Panama, Moore, Rios and Powers each pinned their way to victory. Adair Panama finally saw an opponent when he trotted onto the mat and promptly responded with a technical fall, to the tune of a 19-3 rough-housing.
Loxston Hooper earned a 2-1 decision nod, while Lleyton — not to be outdone by his sibling — scored a 5-3, overtime win. Jeremiah Phillips and Williams earned respective 10-4 and 3-2 decisions over their foes.
Union’s triumphs against Robbinsville came thanks to a 13-1 majority decision for Connor Clendenon, over Teesateskie; a Colton Kennedy forfeit win at 145; Thomas Potter’s pin over Jackson; and Izaak Keith’s 7-0 fanning of Branham.
RS Central gave the Knights some tough bouts to overcome. Adair Panama prevailed in a 13-10 decision, while Alexis Panama earned a 6-4 affirmation. Loxston Hooper posted a 10-2 majority decision, while Moore defeated his opponent 10-6 and Powers came out on the winning side of a 14-7 decision. Pinfalls for Robbinsville were achieved by Jackson, Branham and Teesateskie, while Williams and Dooley both secured forfeits.
Hunter Feargin pinned Lleyton Hooper, while Caleb Cox took a forfeit win at 138 for RS Central. Cameron Crawford emerged with a 7-3, overtime win against Rios, while Brayden Helms’ 14-4 majority decision proved to be RS Central’s final win of the dual.
The main event was a back-and-forth war. Alexis Panama’s forfeit win and Loxston Hooper’s 12-5 triumph against Gavin Crydeman gave Robbinsville a quick 9-0 lead, but Enka reclaimed six points with an Isaiah Morrison pin over Lleyton Hooper. Moore shutout Jesse Smith in a 4-0 decision, but Noah Tocaben pinned Rios to tie the dual 12-12.
Bodhi McCormack’s forfeit win at 145 gave the Jets their first lead of the match, but Powers bested Lathan Lunsford 3-0 to cut the deficit to 18-15. Keith Rhodarmer and Riley Pugh’s forfeit victories hurt Robbinsville’s cause significantly, but the Knights rose to the occasion with Jackson pinning Coleman Jones; Williams downing Elijah Park in a 14-5 majority decision; and Dooley toppling Owen Hinson via pinfall.
Clinging to a 31-30 advantage, Robbinsville took one final ding in a 3-0 Teesateskie loss to Daniel Gath. Adair Panama then became the Knights’ hero by wrapping up the dual – and the event championship – with a 90-second pin against Jaden Barnes.
Lopsided “Fight”
Robbinsville – The outcome of a Jan. 3 tri-match with North Henderson and Murphy was never in question.
In a dual annually dubbed as the “Fight for the Knight,” Robbinsville improved to 3-1 in the tradition by knocking off North Henderson 53-10. The conference match against the Bulldogs yielded a 78-6 victory.
Rios picked up a 13-6 decision over Michael Lopez to begin the North Henderson contest. Nate Guerrero then prevailed over Willie Riddle (145) in an 11-9, overtime tussle, before Powers racked up a 15-0 technical fall against Ezekiel Antunez.
Jaime Vega then defeated Jeremiah Phillips in a 13-2 majority decision, before Robbinsville unleashed a variety of winning methods. The coveted “Knight Head” was retained when Turner Jackson earned a 7-1 win against Enrique Ibarra-Villa; Waldroup beat Victor Quebrado, 11-8; Williams pinned Felix Montiel; Dooley garnered six points by pinning Reese Meadows; Owen Blevins (285) downed Avery Thompson, Adair Panama walloped Logan McMinn for an 18-2 technical fall; and Skyler Anderson (113), Loxston Hooper and Mason Phillips (126) each had their hands raised via forfeit.
North Henderson did prevail in the final bout, a 6-4 Daniel Figueroa nod against Lleyton Hooper.
Murphy’s lone win came when Zach Kessler pinned Moore. Otherwise, Robbinsville was flawless against the Bulldogs, with Jeremiah Phillips, Jackson, Williams, Branham, Anderson, Loxston Hooper, Christian Phillips (132) and Riddle all prevailing via pinfall; and Powers, Dooley, Teesateskie, Adair Panama and Mason Phillips each taking forfeit victories for the Knights.
Junior varsity
Cherokee – Flexing its depth-chart muscle, Robbinsville sent a contingent to the annual Osley B. Saunooke Memorial Tournament on Saturday.
Anderson (106) and Kellen Ensley (220) each won first place in their respective weight classes, with both Christian Phillips and Blevins finishing second in their races. Devin Hall (145) and Zach Seay (160) placed third in their brackets.
Anderson’s march to gold went through Tuscola’s Aydan Mull, via 9-4 decision; a pinfall over Rosman’s Matthew Barton; and an 8-1 triumph against Pigeon Forge (Tenn.)’s Ques Zeglen. Ensley repelled the efforts of Cherokee’s Talan Crowe, West Henderson’s Luke McMinn and Pigeon Forge’s Enrique Perez, each by pinfall; and Owen’s Lucian Thomas in the finals, earning a 5-3 decision.
Robbinsville finished third at the tournament, with 85 team points. Pigeon Forge’s 165 cumulative points won the event, with Owen placing second by recording 104.5.