Greensboro – Behind a trifecta of individual state championships – as well as a pair of third-place finishers – Robbinsville capped its historic 50th Anniversary season in resounding fashion Saturday.
The Black Knights racked up 118.5 team points to collect its second individual-tournament team championship inside Greensboro's First Horizon Coliseum, edging second-place Rosewood (113). The victory sealed a banner week for Robbinsville of three championships in seven days - including two state titles in a five-day span.
Devin Hall (144) won his first state championship, shutting out East Wilkes' Collin White to capture the gold. His bout kicked off the finals round Saturday evening.
In the next competition, Lleyton Hooper (150) fell in his quest for a title to Pamlico County's Isaiah Mewborn, 9-3.
Robbinsville wrapped up the team championship in its later bouts, when Adair Panama won his second-straight, 120-pound championship by outlasting Rosewood's Isaiah Mazura 4-2; and Loxston Hooper (138) sealed the deal with a 37-second pin over Rosewood's Shane Mangroo. It was Loxston's second-consecutive title, as well.
Adair Panama (120) and Loxston Hooper (132) are still set to compete for a state crown.
Robbinsville captured the 1A/2A Western Regional Traditional Championship on Feb. 14 at North Rowan; and mowed over both Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy and South Davidson on Feb. 17 to secure the program's second dual-team state title.
Other competitors
The Black Knights qualified 10 for the showcase. All six Black Knights in wrestle-backs not only grappled for a spot on the podium, but helped aid Robbinsville in its quest for an individual team championship.
Bobby Moore (157) won his 100th career bout in the consolation semifinals Saturday afternoon, pinning Lejeune's De'Shaun Goodbolt at 3:56. Moore went on to place third in the 1A/2A classification, after earning a 17-8 nod over Elkin's Enrique Lopez.
Jerimiah Phillips (165) also claimed third in his weight class, following respective victories over Rosewood's Marcos Jimenez (a 7-2 decision) and Central Carolina Academy's Jean-Marie Murry (2:17).
Brayden Lane (190) pinned Jonathan Salas-Agullera in the consolation semifinals, but fell to Bradford Preparatory Academy's Reuben Zufall in 1:31 to place fourth overall.
Ayden Conley (126) won his consolation opener Saturday morning against Lejeune's Brendan Sullivan (a 5-0 decision), but dropped his semifinal pairing to Alleghany's Christopher Nuevo, 8-6. Zander Lucksavage (132) also toppled his consolation-quarterfinal opponent – South Stokes' Sawyer Sullivan, in an 8-0 decision – before enduring a pinfall loss at the 4:14 mark to Mitchell's Erris Crone.
Christian Koeller (215) dropped his consolation-bracket debut Saturday to Avery County's Maverick Mora, 4-2.
Lady Knights
Myah Winfrey made history for Robbinsville's girls wrestling team Friday, becoming the first grappler to place in women's-only competition during the 1A-4A tournament in Greensboro. Winfrey place third in the 145-pound weight class.
Alexis El-Khouri (132) and Shayla Dominguez (235) also competed for the Lady Knights.
Look for more expanded coverage on all competitors in the Feb. 26 edition of The Star.