As the Orange Wrestling team enters 2018, once again they appear to be the team to beat for the 3A Eastern Regional Team Championship, and possibly the entire state.
In its final meet of 2017, Orange swept all five matches in the West Stanly Open in Oaksboro on Saturday morning. A day that started with a 5:20AM bus ride ended with Orange remaining undefeated at 14-0 after five victories on Saturday.
Bailey Hawkins was named the Most Valuable Wrestler of the tournament following five victories, three by pinfall. In his final match of the day, Hawkins pulled out a 10-9 overtime victory over Mount Pleasant’s Dalton Milner.
Hawkins, who is now 26-4 on the season, started the day by pinning Central Davidson’s Brandon Goodnough in 1:57. In the following match against West Stanly, Hawkins pinned Kyle Black in 1:05. Following a forfeit win over Albermarle, Hawkins opened the match against Parkwood by pinning James Oliviero in 2:20.
Hawkins has ten pinfall victories this season.
The most competive deal match of the day came in the finale when the Panthers defeated Mount Pleasant 53-23. The Tigers took the opening five points with a technical fall at 138, but Orange assumed command after pins by Levi Anderson at 145 in 1:01 and Mario Manduiano in 1:34. Avery Penkins, coming off a 2nd place finish at the Tiger Holiday Classic, scored a technical falll 15-0 over Garrett McManus. Trey Jones pinned Pleasant’s Garrett Overbay at 4:56, while Josiah Ramirez remained undefeated on the season by pinning Nate Isenhour in 4:43. Braden Homsey, coming off a championship at the Tiger at 195, pinned Eli Gibson in :34.
At heavyweight, Daylan Alston edged Dustin Barnhardt 3-2 for his 101st career victory. Mitchell Askew pinned Travis Barley in 1:09 at 113.
Orange also defeated Central Davidson 59-18, West Stanly 64-6, Albermarle 71-6 and Parkwood 72-6.
Alston also earned five victories for the Panthers on Saturday. He pinned Central Davidson’s Anthony Chavis in just eight seconds, the fastest victory of Alston’s career. Alston also decisioned West Stalney’s Jessie Furr 7-2; pinned Albermarle’s Daylan Turner in :41 and pinned Parkwood’s Vareun Isaacs in :31.
Coming off his Tiger Holiday Individual Championship at 182 pounds, Josiah Ramirez remained undefeated on the season with four wins to improve to 28-0. Ramirez pinned Albermarle’s Montavius Hall in :33 and received forfeits against West Stanly and Parkwood.
At 195, Braden Homsey maintained his undefeated record with two victories to push his overall mark to 26-0. In addition to his pin of Hall, Homsey scored a forfeit win against West Stanly.
Gavin Wiggins had five victories on the day at 126. In addition to three forfeits, Wiggins defeated Central Davidson’s Drake Cullens by major decision 18-3. In his next match, Wiggins pinned West Stanly’s Korbin McNeill.
Mitchell Askew went 4-1 on the day at 113, as did Manduiano at 152 to improve to 22-13.
Orange returns to conference action on Wednesday at Northwood, who nearly defeated the Panthers in 2015. Action starts at 6 in Pittsboro.