Orange junior Conner Harward took care of some unfinished business in Mebane last month. Last year, Harward reached the championship match of the 175 pound tournament at the Eagle Invitational. Harward would finish runner-up. On December 20, Harward returns to Mebane and left with the championship. Harward pinned Jorge Gomez Amador of Chatham Central in 1:02 to win his first individual championship as a Panther. His victory helped Orange win the Eagle Invitational team championship. In the quarterfinals, Harward pinned Shone McIlquham of Northwest Guilford in 43 seconds. In the semifinals, Harward pinned Joshua Kusi of Durham School of the Arts in 3:06. This season, Harward is 19-9. He is fourth on the team in wins. Harward is tied for fifth on the team with eleven pins. He has already surpassed his win total from last season, when he finished 18-18. At the Tiger Holiday Classic on December 21, Harward advanced to the quarterfinals when he defeated Landon Stinnett of Wheatmore 21-4 in a technical fall. Just before the Eagle Invitational, Harward pinned Alton Graham of South Granville in a Big 7 Conference match in Hillsborough. Orange defeated the Vikings 60-14 for its second conference win of the season. On Wednesday, Harward will return to action in a tri-meet at Durham School of the Arts, which will also feature the North Carolina School of Science and Math.
