Knights steamroll divisional title match, tournament
Robbinsville – When a program has won 25 Smoky Mountain Conference titles in just 46 years of existence, the term “powerhouse” is certainly applicable.
But this year was supposed to be different, critics said.
Of the six state champions Robbinsville Wrestling produced last year, just two returned. The Black Knights have a rare balance for varsity – more underclassmen than elder members – and teams like Swain County seemed prime to catch Robbinsville in a purported “off” year.
Head coach David Haney and the “Dirty Dozen” – a term coined by former coach Todd Odom, in reference to the high number of coaches who help the Knights maintain their dynasty on a yearly basis – knew different from the first day of practice. Haney’s fourth stint as Robbinsville’s head coach has produced a 26-3 dual team that still has a pair of returning state champs; but more importantly, a line-up that is determined to silence the critics.
Case in point: the Knights wrapped up their 26th divisional championship last week, smoking Cherokee on Jan. 17, 84-0; Andrews by the same score Jan. 19; and trouncing Swain County 53-15 on Jan. 19 in what was hyped as an ultra-competitive dual.
Robbinsville then collected nine of the available 14 individual championships from Saturday’s conference tournament, racking up a resounding 260.5 team points.
The doubters have not been heard from since.
“Not too bad for a rookie coach,” Haney said with a facetious smile, before shifting gears. “This feels sweet. Everybody said this was Swain’s year. They’re senior-heavy, so to win this with so many freshman and sophomores is special.”
Final sprint
Cherokee and Andrews offered little in the way of opposition.
Depleted rosters led to a five-bout road dual against the Braves on Jan. 17, while the Wildcats have only one grappler competing this year: Ian Matthews. Lleyton Hooper (132 pounds) toppled Matthews shortly after Robbinsville’s title-clinching dual with Swain on Jan. 19.
At Cherokee, it was all pinfalls and forfeits to round out the dual. Juan Rios (138), Turner Jackson (170); Kage Williams (182); Koleson Dooley (220) and Jacob Teesateskie (285) each prevailed in their bouts; Robbinsville won out the remainder via forfeit.
The Maroon Devils showed promise early in the championship match. Rios fell to Owen Craig in the first period of the 138-pound opener.
Though Robbinsville’s Willie Riddle (145) defeated Austin Jenkins and Blake Powers secured the 152-pound triumph by downing Israel Ferguson, Swain’s Gabe Lillard tied the affair 12-12 by pinning Jeremiah Phillips in the second period.
From there, a set of decisions (Jackson earning a 2-1 win over Lucas Sutton; Williams running up a 17-1 technical fall on Darius Saunooke) gave Robbinsville a 20-12 lead. Matthew Ferguson bested Robbinsville’s Kyler Branham in a 4-1 decision at 195, but that proved to be as close as Swain County would get to the championship.
Dooley needed sudden-death overtime to defeat Blake Sain, while Owen Blevins (285) picked up a disqualification victory against Kohlton Naudeau. Adair Panama (106) trounced Sully Cunningham in a 19-4 technical, with Alexis Panama (113) clinching the championship via forfeit.
Loxston Hooper (120) bested Kale Stephenson in a 12-1 majority decision, before Christian Phillips (126) pinned Jason Maffett and Bobby Moore (132) earned a 3-1 decision win against James Stroman to finish out the dual.
Individual accolades
Robbinsville’s dominant showing in Saturday’s tournament was the cherry on top of the sundae.
The closest program to the Knights was Swain County, which collected 168 points.
Championship victories for Robbinsville were as follows:
* Adair Panama (106); pinned Cunningham in the second period;
* Alexis Panama (113); pinned Stephenson in the third period;
* Loxston Hooper (120); pinned Swain County’s Andrae Aguilera in the first period;
* Christian Phillips (126); pinned Murphy’s Luke Hyde in the second period;
* Bobby Moore (132); pinned Murphy’s Ashton Raxter in the first period;
* Willie Riddle (145); pinned Hayesville’s Gage Mitchell in the second period;
* Blake Powers (152); pinned Murphy’s Mason Cook in the third period;
* Turner Jackson (170); defeated Sutton via 4-3 decision;
* Kage Williams (182); pinned Murphy’s Robert Decision in the first period;
* Koleson Dooley (220); prevailed against Sain in a 3-2 ultimate tiebreaker.
Seeding for the 2022-23 N.C. High School Athletic Association’s dual-team brackets will be held today.
The first and second rounds will be held at the higher seed Saturday.
Check The Graham Star’s Facebook or Twitter accounts (@thegrahamstar) today for updates on Robbinsville’s seeding as well as its first- and second-round outcomes.