Robbinsville wrestling takes down Rams; 3 grapplers win tournament brackets
Candler – Robbinsville’s wrestling program set up shop at Enka High School last week and, in the tradition of the holiday season, carved up the competition.
A dual against the T.C. Roberson Rams on Nov. 22 yielded a 57-22 win for Robbinsville (4-0), while three Black Knights attained championship status within the following day’s Jet Invitational: Adair Panama (106 pounds) and Loxston Hooper (126) – both freshmen – along with perennial contender Kage Williams (195).
Panama’s road to victory went through Hickory Ridge’s Brady Donovan, via 18-5 majority decision; T.L. Hanna (S.C.)’s Lex Abernathy, by way of second-round pin; and West Forsyth’s Anthony Zahn in the finals, in a 4-3 decision.
To reach the top of the 126-pound bracket, Loxston pinned Hickory Ridge’s Zachary Costantino in a scant 20 seconds; Enka’s Jesse Smith, in an 11-3 majority decision; and back-to-back pinfalls over West Forsyth’s David Dempsey and T.L. Hanna’s Hagen Moon.
Williams barely broke a sweat, pinning his way to the mountaintop. In succession, the two-time state champion mowed down Enka’s Zion DeVore, Wheatmore’s Noah Browning and Hickory Ridge’s Kyle Perry.
Willie Riddle (152) placed third in his division, while Skyler Anderson (113) took fourth. Also competing for Robbinsville were Ethan Webster (120), Lleyton Hooper (132), Bobby Moore (138), Jeremiah Phillips (160) and Turner Jackson (170).
As a unit, Robbinsville posted 128 team points, finishing seventh in the 13-team field. Fred T. Foard (213.5) won the tournament.
In a showcase of roster depth, Robbinsville also fielded a team to wrestle in the junior-varsity bracket. Alexis Panama (120A), Juan Rios (138), Nick Anderson (152A) and Zach Seay (152B) all won their respective weight classes, while Mason Phillips (120B) finished second and Jesse Williams (132C) took third. Bracey Wilson also competed at 285 for the JV Knights.
Robbinsville took fifth in the JV competition with 123 points. West Forsyth accumulated a whopping team score of 406 to pick up the win.
Neutral battle
The Black Knights entered the invitational fresh off a convincing dual victory over T.C. Roberson the previous evening. The Rams jumped to a 12-0 advantage in the early going, thanks to a forfeit at 220 pounds and Itachi Duvernay pinning Owen Blevins at 285.
In response, Robbinsville pulled ahead on the strength of Adair Panama and Anderson pins, a Webster forfeit victory, and both Loxston and Lleyton Hooper scoring pinfalls. The 30-0 run was broken when Moore dropped a 17-7 majority decision to Arden Gittings, but the Knights pulled away with the dual victory after Devin Hall (145) picked up a 9-2 decision nod over Cooper Gray; Riddle prevailed against Daviane Preister, via pinball; and Jeremiah Phillips was awarded a forfeit at 160 pounds.
Jackson was then pinned by Connor Reese, before Williams won via forfeit and Kyler Branham (195) finished the match with a pinfall win for Robbinsville, against Jonah Warren.
The Knights welcomed Franklin for a dual at Robbinsville Elementary School after press time Wednesday, before traveling to compete in a quad match at Cherryville on Friday and returning to Enka on Tuesday for a head-to-head dual against the Jets.