High school wrestlers host tri-match; two win Great Smoky Mountain Grapple
Robbinsville – Anytime the Black Knights are fortunate enough to host a wrestling match, it’s the hottest ticket in town.
Known for its willingness to make long journeys just to face the best competition out there, Robbinsville (10-6) grappled on its home mats for the first time since Nov. 12 last week. Cherokee and Pisgah visited Graham County for a tri-match Dec. 18, with the Knights splitting the evening thanks to a 56-18 defeat over the Braves and a 52-16 loss to the Black Bears.
Wins against a depleted Cherokee line-up saw Lleyton Hooper (144 pounds) score a 17-2 technical fall over Jessie Catolster-Hernandez; Devin Hall (150) pin Kimo Sokol; Luke Green (165) earn a 12-3 majority nod on Trevor Hill-Ledford; Jonah Teesateskie (285) down Chanttin Tramper; Ethan Webster (126) pin Collin Sampson; and Loxston Hooper (132) run up an 18-3 technical against Jose Garcia.
Knox Orr (138), Braydon Lane (157), Parker Carpenter (106) and Skyler Anderson (113) each had their hands raised for Robbinsville via forfeit.
The Knights dropped the coveted “The Mill vs. The ‘Ville” trophy back to Pisgah after falling behind 40-0 before scoring its first victory in the dual. Anderson posted a 20-4 technical on Walker Henline, before Adair Panama (120) earned a 15-4 major against Christian Gibson. Later in the match, Loxston Hooper picked up a 7-3 decision over Kail Burnette and in the conclusion, Lleyton Hooper downed Turner Robb 16-5.
The Lady Knights (4-9) finished the evening in the same manner as their male counterparts, defeating Cherokee 42-12; but falling to Pisgah 42-24.
Cheyanne Geyer (152) pinned Lady Brave Nayaa Addo; while Latesha Orr (107) muscled Caidyn Teesateskie’s shoulders to the mat. Alexis Miller (114) flattened Kaidyn Walkingstick, before Julia Vazquez (120) pinned Eloise Frady.
Concluding the dual was back-to-back pinfall wins for Alexis El-Khouri (138) and Jacquline Gayosso (145), over respective opponents Sara Toineeta and Teela Ross. Madison Cable (126) won via forfeit.
Against the Lady Bears, El-Khouri scored Robbinsville’s lone victory in a 1-on-1 bout, as she pinned Samantha Cruz-Reyes. Cecelia Maney (235), Orr and Miller ran up the final tally by way of forfeit.
Great Grapple
Asheville – Skyler Anderson continued to exert his dominance at the individual level, winning the 113-pound weight class of the Great Smoky Mountain Grapple.
Held Friday and Saturday at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center in Asheville, the field simply had no answer for the senior buzzsaw. Anderson (27-2) cut down Northwest Guilford’s John Belcher in the opening round, via pinfall; cinched another pin in the quarterfinals, against North Henderson’s Anthony Martinez; shut out Avery County’s Alexandero Ical Tuil in the semifinals, 7-0; and saved the best for last by running up a 22-2 technical on Panther Creek’s Jesse Farnsworth to win the gold medal.
Panama (25-4) and Loxston Hooper (26-4) both advanced to the finals of their respective bracket, only to drop the championship bout. Lleyton Hooper (28-4) placed third.
Other Black Knights suiting up for the grapple were Webster (21-14), Hall (18-12) and Teesateskie (6-8).
Orr stood tall at the conclusion of the girls competition, taking the 107-pound class by storm. She pinned her way to the title, securing wins against North Buncombe’s Tori Ramsey; Swain County’s Jany Echeverria; and Panther Creek’s Eva Serrano.
Vazquez (8-17), El-Khouri (138), Gayosso (8-17), Geyer (12-13) and Maney (5-16) also competed for the Lady Knights.