Robbinsville goes 3-1 in dual action
Newton – There is no level of competition that has conquered Kage Williams this season.
Now at a healthy 25-0, Williams continued his quest to have another wing constructed at his homestead Saturday, collecting the Most Outstanding Wrestler distinction at the annual Fred T. Foard Tournament – which carried the moniker “Foard Tough” this year – in Newton.
Williams casually pinned Mt. Pleasant’s Ayden Smith; Hough’s Giancarlo Evans; and Avery County’s Seth Blackledge to attain the 182-pound gold medal at the event.
So what exactly is the secret to his success? Much like when he has an opponent cradled and hands locked, good luck prying the gameplan from his grip.
“I’ve just been sticking to the gameplan, getting after it and having fun,” Williams said.
Williams – who won the 182-pound, 1A state championship his freshman year, before leaping up a weight class and clinching the 195-pound 1A crown last season – was the only Robbinsville wrestler to reach the top of the podium in Newton.
Both Adair (106 pounds) and Alexis (113) Panama took second in their respective brackets, while Loxston Hooper (120) and Turner Jackson (170) finished third.
Lleyton Hooper (132), Willie Riddle (145), Nick Anderson (152), Zach Seay (160) and Koleson Dooley (220) also competed at the tournament.
Collectively, the Black Knights placed third in the 16-team event, scoring 116.5 points. The host school won the tournament, with 199.5 points.
Classic competition
Hickory – Robbinsville’s depth allowed the Knights to branch off and take another squad to the nearby Maiden Christmas Classic at Hickory High School.
Robbinsville took fifth at the tournament, securing 119 team points. Maiden High tallied 144 points to win the event.
Individually, Ethan Webster (120) was the Knights’ highest placer at the classic. Both Skyler Anderson (113) and Devin Hall (145) claimed third place, while Jeremiah Phillips (160) taking fourth.
Also jogging onto the mat in a Robbinsville singlet was Mason Phillips (126), Bobby Moore (132), Jesse Williams (138), Murphy Shanahan (170) and Kellen Ensley (220).
Quad fun
Franklin – The Knights began the hectic week with a trip to Franklin on Dec. 13, tangling with the hosting Panthers, Pisgah and Tuscola in a quad dual.
Robbinsville (13-2) easily took down Franklin 70-6 and Tuscola 60-18, but fell in a hard-fought 41-29 loss to the Black Bears.
Much as it played out the first time the two programs clashed, the Knights benefitted greatly from forfeits against a tiny Panthers roster. Loxston Hooper, Christian Phillips (132), Moore, Riddle, Williams, Adair and Alexis Panama all had their hands raised via forfeit.
Bouts that took place saw Webster pin James Browning; Hall scoring a 1-0 nod over Chase Browning; Jeremiah Phillips besting Jeffry Casale, in an 11-0 majority decision; Kyler Branham posting a 3-2 win against Josh McGaha; and Owen Blevins (285) defeating Javery Herrera via pinfall.
Loxston Hooper’s 13-4, majority decision against Pisgah’s Jacob Cruz-Reyes jumpstarted the dual with the Bears. Avery Phillips fell in a 4-0 decision to Matthew Mehaffey, before Moore bested Tyson Silver 3-0 in the 138-pound bout.
Riddle took down Jason McClellan 13-4, before Xander Hill pinned Robbinsville’s Nick Anderson. Jeremiah Phillips corralled the six points back for the Black Knights by pinning Levi Early, while Jackson scored a 9-0 majority nod against Jaxon Bautista.
Branham then fell 9-1 to Landon Pope, before Williams mowed down Luca Francis. Tytus Bridges won a forfeit at 220 for Pisgah, before Blevins was disqualified in the heavyweight bout against Eli Frizzell. Adair Panama next pinned Kail Burnette for Robbinsville’s final triumph of the dual, as Anderson (113) and Alexis Panama (120) dropped their bouts via pinfall to respective advertise Christian Gibson and Kane Bryson.
Against the Mountaineers, Anderson earned a 3-0 win over Aydan Mull; Alexis Panama, Avery Phillips, Jackson, Williams, Blevins and Adair Panama all pinned their opponents; Christian Phillips and Branham both prevailed via forfeit; Hall was deemed the winner after Lucas Burress was disqualified; and Jeremiah Phillips defeated Chase Hills in a 5-1 decision.
Robbinsville then fanned the Hayesville Yellow Jackets at home Tuesday, 76-0. Individual results were not available by press time.