‘The Ville’ crowns 4 regional champions at Western tourney
Cherryville – It is a tradition that will never get old: Robbinsville wrestling will be well-represented at this year’s traditional state tournament.
Of the 12 grapplers from “The Ville” who qualified for the two-day regional competition – which was held Friday and Saturday at Cherryville – seven punched a ticket to battle for a 1A championship on the floor of the Greensboro Coliseum this weekend: Skyler Anderson, Adair Panama, Loxston Hooper, Lleyton Hooper, Devin Hall, Kellen Ensley and Jonah Teesateskie.
As icing on the cake, Anderson, Panama and the Hooper twins successfully conquered their respective weight classes to stand atop the podium Saturday evening.
Anderson (106 pounds, 43-2) pinned Bradford Preparatory Academy’s Dean Huffstetler (19-8) in 1:51 and scored a 10-1 majority decision against Mountain Island Charter’s Ryan Johnson (44-8) to reach the finals, where he prevailed in overtime, 3-2, in what could have been a state finals preview against Avery County’s Alexandro Ical Tuil (36-8).
Panama (113, 47-4) downed Rosman’s Michael Scott (22-15) in just 1:08, before scoring consecutive technical falls against Swain County’s Sully Cunningham (42-11), 21-5; and Mount Airy’s Justice Collins (26-4), 21-3.
Loxston Hooper (132, 49-6) began his path to a regional title with a pin on Hayesville’s Kaden Harbuck (8-16) in 1:37. He ran up an 18-2 technical against Avery County’s Aiden Hart (26-14), before scoring another pin versus Bradford Prep’s Seth Hasty (19-7) in 1:22. In the finals, Loxston ended things early thanks to a 12-2 majority decision against Polk County’s Brody Wolfe (33-8).
Lleyton Hooper (144, 53-5) took care of Cherryville’s John Hedgpeth (12-29), with a pinfall at 2:36; Polk County’s Conner Ahlert (32-22), thanks to a 17-2 tech; Alleghany’s Cooper Parlier (36-13), via 6-2 decision; and Avery County’s Mason Bentley (38-7), in another potential state finals preview: a 7-4 overtime triumph.
Robbinsville’s heavyweights fell just short of regional gold, as Ensley (215, 20-3) and Teesateskie (285, 24-11) both reached the finals of the tournament. Hall (150, 39-18) placed third in his weight class.
Also competing for Robbinsville was Ethan Webster (120, 35-26), Ayden Conley (126, 14-10), Luke Green (165, 20-19) and Christian Koeller (190, 16-14).
The Black Knights finished third in the team race, scoring 181½ points. Polk County was second, with 188½; Mount Airy won the 1A regional team championship by collecting 237½.
The 1A individual tournament will be held Saturday-Monday. Lady Knight Alexis El-Khouri (132, 24-13) will also compete as part of the girls state championship.