Black Knights returning immense talent pool
* Robbinsville wrestling season preview
Robbinsville – Anyone wishing to embark in a match against the Black Knights would be wise to pack a lunch ahead of time.
There is no better way to state what lies ahead for Robbinsville’s opponents on the mat this season, as five state champions return and the roster is stacked from top to bottom with a dangerous combination of experience and precision.
As head coach Todd Odom puts it, each starting grappler should be on the podium at a tournament.
“Unquestionably, we’ve had some really talented teams throughout the years,” Odom said. “The 2008 team was extremely talented and we made the state semifinals that year. We had another team in 2013 – with Zack Orr, Irvin Portugal and Kade Guffey – that was really talented. Obviously in 2017, we were talented, and we won a state title.
“But truthfully – and it’s absolutely no disrespect to the people that came before this group – but arguably, from top to bottom, this is the most talented team that we’re ever going to put out on the mat. There’s no debate.”
Back for his 18th season as the head coach at Robbinsville, Odom certainly has a vast lineup of past successors to draw the conclusion from. And with high school wrestling in North Carolina back in its normal slot on the calendar – the N.C. High School Athletic Association pushed back the season to the very end of the 2020-21 slate due to COVID concerns – the Knights look to pick up right where they left off a mere five months ago.
“We weren’t able to go to our App State camp this year; the timeline kind of squeezed us down too much. The kids needed a break,” Odom said. “They didn’t have less than a month off and they were already starting football again. I feel like camp is a big part of making us better and reiterating those techniques for things that we match up well with App State – philosophically – on.
“With us, social distancing is impossible. In a year where we had to worry about that, it brought an anxiety level to the team. We were hopeful we didn’t get shut down, and we always worried about the chance of an outbreak. We were COVID-free last year and that was a blessing. Hopefully, we can march on through this season and not have any issues.”
Going through the roster of starters, it’s easy to see why Robbinsville’s reputation precedes itself.
Aynsley Fink (106 pounds) won the 1A state women’s championship last year and qualified for the men’s tournament in the 113-pound weight class. Jayden Nowell (132) captured the state crown in the 126-pound division last season, while also eclipsing 100 career wins.
Jaret Panama (152) is described by Odom as “electric on his feet,” while Jacob Hall (170) “turned a corner last year” and should see a great deal of success during his senior campaign.
Adding to the depth, Kyle Fink (182) is a two-time state champion at 195 pounds, while Kage Williams (195) brought home the 182-pound title last season.
Ben Wachacha (220) sent shockwaves through the 1A classification – by capturing his first state crown last season – and Carlos Wesley (285) took third in his weight class June 26.
Also back is Willie Riddle (152), who Odom is expecting a lot from this season. Making their varsity debuts are freshmen Skyler Anderson, Mason Phillips, Juan Rios, Murphy Shanahan, Ethan Webster and Jesse Williams. Sophomores on the team are Koleson Dooley, Bruce Helms, Alexis Panama, Avery Phillips, Christian Phillips and Caden Sawyer.
New to the team’s ranks are Logan Hyde and Zane Lucksavage, both respective transfers from Murphy and Hayesville and state qualifiers last year.
“We had five state champions, six placers and seven qualifiers on the boys side last year,” Odom said. “In any given year, that would win the state tournament. But without wrestle-backs and other kids that were seeded, we had some great wrestlers that were left at the house.
“When you have 3-4 kids that can get in the finals of virtually any tournament they’re going to wrestle in – or at least qualify or place – then you’ve got a good tournament team. So as far as a tournament or dual team, I think we’re equally as dangerous. We’ve got a shot at winning them both.
“It’s going to be a great year for Robbinsville wrestling.”
Starting on top
The Knights began their quest for a dual-team title Nov. 17, drubbing the visiting Mitchell Mountaineers 72-6.
Scoring pinfalls for Robbinsville were Aynsley Fink, Mason Phillips (113), Panama, Avery Phillips, Riddle, Williams and Dooley. Nowell, Lucksavage, Hall, Kyle Fink and Wachacha each had their hands raised via forfeit.
A trek to South Caldwell High School in Hudson followed Saturday, which ended with Robbinsville placing third overall in the Dekota Smith Invitational, posting 128 team points.
Kyle Fink won the 182-pound bracket, pinning Avery County’s Seth Blackledge in the finals. Wachacha also brought home first-place rewards in the 220-pound weight class, knocking off McDowell’s Collin Campbell for the victory.
Hyde (126) and Lucksavage (138) finished second in their respective brackets, while Aynsley Fink (106) and Panama (120) both placed fourth.