With its sights set on a 14th consecutive conference championship, the Orange wrestling team made quick work of Cedar Ridge.
The Panthers, coming off its second consecutive team championship at the Jim King Invitational Tournament last Saturday, defeated the Red Wolves 75-6 at Cedar Ridge High on Thursday night.
At 126, Orange’s Mitchell Lopeman scored the first of nine Panther pins, defeating Cedar Ridge’s Alexander Morones in 1:00. Lopeman improved to 5-2 with his third pin of the season.
In the next match, Panthers junior Bailey Hawkins improved to 9-1 on the season by pinning Cedar Ridge’s Brody Young in 1:21. It was Hawkins’ eighth pin of the season.
Orange’s Charlie Fitzpatrick pinned Cedar Ridge’s Andrew Chrisco in 1:51. Fitzpatrick, coming off a 3rd place finish at the JKO, is now 10-1. He started the season with six straight victories by pinfall.
At 170, Josiah Ramirez maintained his undefeated record with his eleventh straight win of the season, pinning Seth McKee in 2:55. Ramirez now has eight pins this season.
Braden Homsey (182), Avery Jenkins (145), Jamar Davis (195), Daylan Alston (285) and Noah Davis (106) also notched pins for Orange, who improved to 8-0, 1-0 in the Big 8.
Payton Wilson, coming off his 220 pound championship at the JKO, earned a forfeit victory. At 113, Mitchell Askew earned a 6-4 decision over Darius McLeod.
On the positive side for Cedar Ridge, Colin Davis pinned Orange’s Zavi Hall in 3:57. Davis finished 3rd at 160 at the JKO on Saturday. He went 3-1 in the tournament, losing only to eventual champion, Middle Creek’s Skyler Hendricks.
On Saturday, Orange travels to Southern Guilford for the Southern Guilford Round Robin starting at 9AM. They face Northwood in a critical Big 8 conference match on Wednedsay at Orange.
Cedar Ridge travels to the Kernersville on Saturday for the Nick Sgroi Memorial Invitational, hosted by Bishop McGuiness High School. The meet starts at 9:30