Stanford and Stanback wrestling: While the Orange wrestling team’s string of dominance in the Big 8 Conference ended last week, the Stanford Chargers’ run continues. In front of a large crowd inside Charger Gymnasium, Stanford defeated Stanback 51-45 on Friday afternoon. The victory completed the Chargers’ 20th consecutive Orange-Person Athletic Conference championship and its 18th straight undefeated regular season. Earlier in January, the Chargers defeated the Bulldogs by one point at Stanback.
Five Stanford wrestlers completed undefeated seasons. Wyatt Hedrick scored a pin at 85 pounds. At 92 pounds, Kale Womble earned an 11-4 decision to give Stanford an 15-0 lead. Jared Hutchins pinned his opponent in 31 seconds at 108 pounds. Josh Cowan completed a perfect regular season with a pinfall victory in 2:00 at 115 pounds. At 134 pounds, Jace Womble earned a pin in 3:10.
Unlike the matchup on January 10, Stanford got off to a strong start, winning the first three matches. Luke Stitz earned a pin to open the match at 76 pounds. Wyatt Hedrick picked up a forfeit win at 86 pounds, which was followed by Kale Womble’s victory to put Stanford ahead 15-0.
Stanback’s Pierce Prescod, who won his match against Stanford in their initial meeting, scored a pin in 90 seconds on Friday. Then the Chargers reeled off consecutive pins from Hutchins and Cowan. The tightest match of the day came at 122 pounds, where Stanford’s Luke Nevius defeated Stanback’s Abinijah Lewis 9-7 in overtime.
Stanford’s Colton Jones claimed a 7-3 decision for a victory at 128 pounds.
For Stanback, Kaden Tatro earned a pin at 140 pounds in 2:20. Marcos Esparza squeezed out a 7-5 decision at 162 pounds. At 172 pounds, Joe O’Melia scored a pin in 20 seconds. Marcos McNeil picked up a forfeit win at 184 pounds. Stanback’s Carlos Vera de Lara pinned his opponent at 197 pounds in 2:00 minutes to reduce Stanford’s lead to 51-33.
At 222, Stanback’s Kellan McMullen won via forfeit. He completed his own perfect regular season at 11-0.
At 154 pounds, Stanford’s Sasha Van Praag earned a pin in 50 seconds, which turned out to be the final win of the day for the Chargers. The Chargers’ Luciano Grimaldo also earned a pin in 30 seconds. Colton Jones earned a 7-3 decision for the Chargers at 128 pounds.
The Orange-Person Athletic Conference Tournament will take place on Saturday.
On January 29, Stanback defeated Gravelly Hill 84-24. Among the winners for the Bulldogs: Flavio Jaramillo Esparza via pinfall (78 pounds), Gavin Stone (85 pounds), Tommy Heckler (92, via a forfeit), Prescod, Zoey Morendo (108 pounds), Oguntoyinbo, Ryan Rakouskas, Juan Estrada Parra (128, via pinfall), Edwin Hernandez Huerta (who finished the season at 9-2 at 134 pounds), Tatro (ended the year 12-0), Esparza (162, who claimed a forfeit win and is now 10-0), O’Meila (10-1 on the year), McNeil, and McMullen.
Gravelly Hill boys basketball: The Gravelly Hill Grizzles claimed the OPAC Northern Division championship by beating Northern Roxboro 46-28 in Person County last Thursday. Landon Dalehite led the Grizzlies with 23 points, a career-high. Kai Wade added 12. Sincere Hanner had five. Nathan Sorrells added four and Crawford Farmer had two. The Grizzlies will complete the regular season against McDougle on Tuesday in Efland, they play in the OPAC Championship game at a time to be determined.
Stanford girls basketball: The Lady Chargers defeated Southern Roxboro 30-19 in Hillsborough on January 28. Evelyn George led the Chargers with eleven points. Shannon Murphy added five. Katie Wolter and Dyreshia Farrish each had four. Olivia Jones scored three, and Samiya Baldwin scored two.
Stanford defeated Northern Roxboro 36-27 on January 30.