North boasts four wrestling champs
Published 11:56 am Monday, December 30, 2024
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By Brian Pitts
Enterprise Record
North Davie’s wrestling team only managed a 4-9 record in dual-team matches because it had too many empty spots in the lineup. But when you take away the weight classes where coach Jamey Holt had to forfeit, then we’re talking about an extremely talented team.
North produced four champions in the Tri-County Conference Tournament at Mooresville on Dec. 14. That was four more than Ellis and South Davie had between them.
Hailey Thao, the sister of Davie star Tiaj Thao, was just phenomenal for a sixth grader. After receiving a first-round bye at 76, she pinned in the semifinals and got a major decision in the finals to cap a perfect season at 15-0.
“She is so fun to coach,” Holt said. “She is sweet as she can be and always happy, but when she puts that headgear on and it’s time to walk on the mat … sometimes you just sit there and become a fan. Her technique is so good. She is physical. Some of those boys, bless their heart, they didn’t know what they were getting into when they wrestled with her.”
Two more Wildcats completed perfect seasons. Eighth-grader Peyton Jordan steamrolled to the 175 title, pinning all three opponents in the first period to wrap up a 14-0 record.
“We counted it up and in three matches he wrestled a total of 82 seconds,” Holt said. “He’s athletic for his size and he gets in good possessions. If guys want to upper body and throw him, he knows how to work the throw in his favor. That’s what happened for the most part in all three matches.”
Sawyer Hall was equally impressive at 144, pinning both guys in the first period to put the finishing touches on a 16-0 season. It was quite a comeback for an eighth grader who missed all of last year with an injury.
“He could’ve cut some weight and won it at 138, he could’ve won at 144 and he could’ve bumped up and probably won it at 150,” Holt said. “He plays football and baseball, but I think he’s really starting to like wrestling, too.”
Mason Sheppard entered the tournament with three losses. In the season opener, the eighth grader bumped up to heavyweight and suffered a setback against China Grove. He fell twice at 215 to Ellis’ Henry Butler, although there was no shame in that.
But in the tournament, Sheppard bowed up and knocked off the undefeated Butler in the semifinals and recorded his third pin of the day in the 215 final to go out with an 11-3 mark.
“We felt like when we wrestled (Butler) the second time, Mason may have outwrestled him for the most part,” Holt said. “We just got put on our back, gave up seven points and lost 11-7. We kept telling Mason all week just believe you can wrestle with him, and he did. He got a reversal, took him straight to his back and ended up pinning him.”
Seventh-grader Chris Gonzalez (90) and eighth-grader Paxton Broadus (113) helped North finish fourth out of 10 teams and ahead of its county rivals by going 3-1 and taking third place in their respective weight classes.
North got 2-2 efforts from Brennen Mason (98) and Connor Gannon (106). Getting one win each were Skyler Nunley (126) and Karson Nunn (190).
Ellis
Ellis put three guys in the finals, but all three settled for runner-ups. Eighth-grader Jaxon Gay got a tech fall and a pin to carry a 13-0 record into the 83-pound championship match, where he was pinned by Erwin’s Jeg Merrifield, an utterly talented sixth grader who went 16-0.
Connor McNeil finished second at 150. When Brodie Newman recorded back-to-back pins at 250, he carried a spotless record into the heavyweight final. He was pinned to finish with an 11-1 record.
Three Jaguars were consolation champions. Ayden Davis (3-1 at 106), Vincent Clements (2-1 at 165) and Colby Mason (3-1 at 175) all finished third. Clements and Mason closed their eighth-grade campaigns with 13-2 and 12-4 records, respectively.
Ellis coach Brian Murphy received 2-2 showings from Butler (215) and Mason Barnes (120). Greyson Daughtry (90) and Austin Eggers (98) both went 1-2.
South Davie
Coach Russell Hilton’s top finishers were Colten Beck (90) and Rico Evans (98). Both seventh graders had two pins before falling in the finals, and both finished with 13-2 records.
Evans’ loss was to West Rowan star Caleb Lor, a seventh grader who went 17-0.
Seventh-grader Harris Wagstaff went 2-1 to claim third at 138. Cameron Billenstein (76) and Jason Voss (165) both went 2-2. Going 1-2 were Brayden Davis (175) and Kaden Howell (83).
The team scoring: Erwin 273, Mooresville 185, West Rowan 169, North Davie 149, China Grove 137.5, Ellis 116, South Davie 75, North Rowan 37, Southeast 27, Selma Burke 26.