Robbinsville wrestling crowns 3 state champs
Greensboro – The 31st, the 32nd and 33rd individual state wrestling champions in Robbinsville wrestling history had one thing on their minds when they jogged onto the floor of the First Horizon Coliseum: vindication.
Each of them were visibly emotional when they got it.
Skyler Anderson, Adair Panama and Loxston Hooper were one-third of the Black Knights who competed at last year's 1A traditional championship. The latter two made it to the state finals, but came up short; Anderson finished third in his bracket.
Not this time. The young men can now add the title "state wrestling champion" to their resumes after winning the respective 106-, 113- and 132-pound crowns Monday evening.
The only senior to win it all this year for Robbinsville, Anderson (46-2) cruised past South Davidson's Aydan Bassett (34-9) in the quarterfinals, thanks to a 28-10 technical fall, before dropping Mount Airy's Angel Olalde (19-2) in an 8-2 decision.
To wrap up the gold medal, Anderson gutted out a 5-3 decision victory over Avery County's Alexandero Ical Tuil (38-9). His final two opponents were foes he faced in the consolation bracket last year: Tuil in the consolation semis, and Olalde in the third-place bout.
A junior, Panama (50-4) pinned South Stanly's Brody Baird (22-15) at the 1:47 mark of the quarterfinals, before shutting out Uwharrie Charter Academy's Paxton Kearns (46-7) in a 12-0 majority decision. His title-clinching outcome was also a 5-3 decision, which came against North East Carolina Preparatory Academy's Holton Quincy (52-2).
Another junior, Hooper (52-6) was laser-focused on a championship. He bested N.C. Leadership Academy's Cooper Wingate (49-6) in the quarterfinals, via a 16-3 majority decision, then knocked off Thomasville's Dontae Smith (39-10) in the semifinals, 9-3.
After a late rally to force overtime, Hooper scored a takedown against a visibly exhausted Stephen Ribustello (32-3), leaving the Tarboro grappler in a daze as Hooper relished in his triumph in the middle of the mat.
Other Knights compete
All told, eight Robbinsville wrestling made the trek to Greensboro this year.
Jonah Teesateskie (285 pounds, 26-13) dropped his opening bout to Pamlico County's Jacquin Kirkman after being pinned at 2:54, but made an impressive run to the third-place finals in response.
Teesateskie defeated Cherryville's Ahmir Starr (14-13) in a 5-2 decision and Elkin's William Santos (29-16) in overtime, 8-1, before falling in overtime to North East Carolina Prep's Daniel Silver (42-12) at the 1:32 mark.
Lleyton Hooper (144, 54-7) easily beat Northside's Rylan Paul (28-7) in the quarterfinals, thanks to an 18-3 technical fall; but fell victim to a 10-2 majority decision loss against Mount Airy's Joseph Jones (44-3) in the semifinals. Hooper was then eliminated in the consolation semifinals when he fell 4-2 against Uwharrie Charter's Brandon Jordan (31-9).
Kellen Ensley (215, 21-5) lost in the quarterfinals to Rosewood's Nick Wade, via 9-4 decision, before picking up a 4-3, overtime, consolation victory against Allegheny's Dylan Phipps (28-12). His tournament run concluded in the next round during a tough pinfall loss at 1:54 against Draughn's Connor Brinkley (44-8).
Making his state-tournament debut, Devin Hall (150, 39-20) suffered a pair of pinfall losses to South Davidson's Mason Leonard (26-5) and Chatham Central's Carson Williams.
Robbinsville placed fourth in the team championship race, recording 70 points. Mount Airy won the 1A team title with 147.5 points.
Lady Knight Alexis El-Khouri (132, 25-15) became the second female in Robbinsville history to compete at the state individual tournament – and the first to wrestle exclusively in the women's bracket.
She won her opening bout over Butler's Alyssa Rubidoux (21-12) with a pinfall at 2:16, but lost in the same fashion to Dixon's Anabel Rodriguez (39-5) at 2:58. El-Khouri was eliminated from the tournament when she was pinned by Hoke County's Kierra Rush (35-6) at 4:35.