The cliche “wrestle like it’s your last match” isn’t a cliche for several Orange and Cedar Ridge wrestlers this weekend.
For most of them, these are their final days as a wrestler. For several seniors, their goal of winning a state championship is still intact after the first day of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3A State Championships at the Greensboro Coliseum.
On Thursday night, Orange senior Levi Anderson pinned Kristian Jones of Greensboro Dudley in 32 seconds to advance to the state quarterfinals at 145 pounds. It was another match where Anderson didn’t go the distance. Last weekend, Anderson won the 3A Mideast Regional Championship by winning four matches. Three of the victories were by pinfall and the other was by injury default. On Friday, Anderson faces sophomore Yoel Del Rio of North Brunswick in the quarterfinals. Del Rio, the #2 seed from the East Region, is a sophomore who defeated Stephen Baynard of West Henderson 7-1 on Thursday.
Also advancing to the quarterfinals is Cedar Ridge’s Darius McLeod, who claimed his 98th career victory on Thursday night. McLeod, in a thriller, won a sudden victory over Zach Winterstein of Clayton 7-5 to advance to the quarterfinals of the 132 pound division. McLeod battled through three overtimes with Winterstein without a winner being declared. McLeod scored the takedown in the fourth period to advance. On Friday, he will face Heath Gonyer of Northern Guilford. McLeod is now 34-10 on the season.
Orange’s Avery Jenkins won convincingly in his opening match of the 170 pound tournament. Jenkins defeated Midwest Regional Champion Sam Voncannon 11-2, earning a major decision to advance to the state quarterfinals. Voncannon came into the match 49-3. On Friday, Jenkins will face Easton Griffin of West Caldwell. Two of the four regional champions in the 170 pound bracket lost in the opening round.
Orange senior Gavin Wiggins won his opening round match, as well. Wiggins defeated Jacob Yim of Marvin Ridge 8-5 to move on to the state quarterfinals. On Friday, Wiggins will take on a familiar face in Piedmont’s Bailey Wicker. Last year, Wiggins faced Wicker when Orange faced Piedmont in the 3A Dual Team State Championship match.
Two other Orange wrestlers lost in their opening round matches on Thursday. At 113 pounds, Orange’s Kessell Summers dropped an 11-9 decision to West Carteret’s Sam Johnson. Summers will start action in the consolation round on Friday against Tanner Glock of Sun Valley.
At 182 pounds, Chandler Harward lost to North Brunswick’s Bryan Arago 13-1. Harward, a senior who didn’t break into the starting lineup until this season, faces Jack Wilton of Sun Valley in the consolation round on Friday.
Jeff, Thanks for the thorough update. Jersey