In the midst of exam break, the Cedar Ridge wrestling team finished up its Central Carolina Conference regular season schedule with its highest league finish since jumping to 3A in 2012.
Behind pins from freshman Lee Oguntoyinbo and Shea Spiller, the Red Wolves defeated Williams 45-27 on Wednesday at Red Wolves Arena. It was the final CCC match of the season for Cedar Ridge, who ensured a 3rd place finish with a 4-2 record.
Oguntoyinbo, competing at 132 pounds, pinned Xiomara Hernandez-Morales in 1:25. Oguntoyinbo improved to 17-9 with ten pins on the season. It was one of only five matches the entire evening that were contested. The other eleven were forfeits, including a double forfeit at 106 pounds.
At 152 pounds, Shea Spiller pinned Alex Solari in 3:30. It was Spiller’s fifth win of the season.
Edward Hernandez-Huerta, wrestling at 160 pounds, outlasted Jackson Goforth 13-10. Hernandesz-Huerta also has five wins this season.
Cedar Ridge junior Fernando Martinez earned a forfeit victory at 120 pounds, his 82nd career win. This season, Martinez is 27-7 with ten pins. Martinez is on track to become the first Cedar Ridge wrestler to record 100 career wins since Colin Davis, who graduated in 2018.
Jaylen Williams (113), Ryan Rakouskas (138), Justin Hartsell (145) and James Este Wittinger (182) also claimed forfeit wins for Cedar Ridge. The Red Wolves have an overall record of 14-14 on the season.
This weekend, Cedar Ridge will journey to Montgomery Central High School in Troy, NC for the Montgomery Duals. The Red Wolves will compete against Trinity, Thomasville, Richmond County and West Wilkes. Last week, Trinity faced off against the Red Wolves during a twi-match that also included Western Alamance. The Bulldogs defeated the Red Wolves 65-9.
Cedar Ridge put themselves in position to finish 3rd in the Central Carolina Conference with a 60-24 victory over Western Alamance at Red Wolves Arena on January 5.
Against the Warriors, Oguntoyinbo pinned Connor Soliz at 132 pounds. Spiller earned another pinfall win at 160 pounds over Kaine Bryant.
At 170 pounds, sophomore Kaden Tatro pinned Chaz May. Tatro currently leads the team with 29 wins on the season against only eight losses. Tatro, who also started on Cedar Ridge’s men’s lacrosse team last season, also leads the team with 22 pins.
James Este Wittinger earned a victory by disqualification over Dylan Teague at 182 pounds. At 195 pounds, Joe O’Melia pinned the Warriors’ Logan Barnes. O’Melia has 17 wins this season, eleven via pinfall.
At heavyweight, Louis Tedder pinned David Day. Tedder has 12 wins this season with seven pins.
Pierce Prescod (113), Martinez (120), Rakouskas (138), and Hartsell (152) all had forfeit wins for the Red Wolves against the Warriors.
While the Williams match was the final conference match of the season for Cedar Ridge, the Red Wolves will have another home meet. On Wednesday, the Red Wolves will face Dan River High School out of Ringgold, VA. On Janaury 22, the Red Wolves will compete in the Central Carolina Conference Tournament meet.
The 3A Mideast Regionals will be held at Union Pines High School in Cameron. Last season, Daina Pritchard of Cedar Ridge qualified for the 3A State Championships.