MEBANE–It was a family affair for Spenser Poteat before Christmas.
At the Eagle Invitational in Mebane, Orange High, Poteat’s wrestling family, captured its first team championship since the Rumble in the Jungle Duals at Carrboro High last December.
Then there was his immediate family.
Poteat’s daughter, Kaleigh Poteat, won the 100 pound championship competing for Southeast Alamance at the Mebane Arts and Community Center on December 20. Poteat, a sophomore, captured her first individual championship by beating London Herglotz twice.
Needless to say, it was an emotional weekend for Poteat, now in his eighth season as Orange’s head coach.
Behind three individual champions, Orange finished at the top of the standings with 176 points to win the team championship. Sophomore Jordan Barbee repeated as 190 pound champion, pinning Christopher Schlid of Eastern Alamance in 39 seconds in the final. Not only did Barbee’s pin secure his second career individual championship, it secured the team championship for Orange, which finished with 176 points. Southeast Alamance finished second with 162 points. Northwest Guilford came in third at 131 points.
Barbee, who is 25-6 this season, scored pins in all four of his matches. Seeded #1, Barbee pinned Jamison Brown of Northwood in 42 seconds during the semifinals. In the opening round, Barbee finished off Jose Alva of Chatham Central in 48 seconds. Barbee pinned Xander Harbot of Overhills in 1:33 during the second round.
Barbee leads the team in wins.
“I’m excited for the guys,” Poteat said. “We’ve gradually been getting better all year. It’s exciting for these guys to come together as a team.”
Sophomore Markus Thomas, who was the leading rusher for the football team with 979 yards this fall, captured the 165 pound championship for his first career championship. Also the #1 seed, Thomas quickly disposed of David Pugh of Randleman in 1:22 in the final. Thomas earned a major decision over Sam Intsaine of Northern Guilford 15-4 in the semifinals. In the opening round, Thomas scored two takedowns in the opening minute and eventually pinned Jaden Jones of Cummings in 1:07. In the second round, Thomas pinned Griffin Dallesandro of Northwood in 26 seconds.
Thomas is 17-5 on the season.
After finishing runner-up in the 175 pounds tournament at the Eagle Invitational last year, junior Conner Harward won his first individual championship, as well.
Harward pinned Jorge Gomez of Chatham Central in 1:02 to claim the championship. Harward scored pins in all three of his matches. In the semifinals, he finished off Joshua Kusl of Durham School of the Arts in 3:06. Harward scored the only takedown of the match and earned the pin in the second period of Kusl was penalised for stalling. In the second round, Harward pinned Shane Mcllquham of Northern Guilford in 43 seconds. Harward is 17-8 on the season.
On Friday, Orange senior Logan Scarantino claimed his 100th career victory. The top seed in the 120 pound tournament, Scarantino pinned Lucas Nicolay of Overhills in 59 seconds to add his name to the lengthy list of Panther wrestlers to win 100 matches. Scarantino started as a freshman in the 2022-2023 season, which was the last time Orange won a conference championship.
John Belcher of Northwest Guilford defeated Scarantino in the 120 pound championship match 8-1.
Sophomore Renn Van Hoose nearly had a fourth individual championship for the Panthers. In the 132 pound tournament, Van Hoose pinned Carson Giannatti of Southeast Alamance in 29 seconds. In the championship match, Van Hoose led top-seeded Yurem Torres of Bartlett Yancey 8-6 going into the final period. Torres scored the final takedown to go ahead 9-8 with 49 seconds remaining in regulation and held on for the championship.
Orange sophomore Kolton Swineheart finished second at 150 pounds, his best-ever finish. Swineheart pinned Wilson Hinshaw of Chatham Central in 3:04 in the semifinals. In a back-and-forth final, Troy Crain of Southeast Alamance defeated Swineheart 12-9. Swineheart scored near fall points in the final minute of the first period before Crain earned a reversal to take a 7-6 lead.
