The stakes were never higher for a night of wrestling inside Red Wolf Gymnasium.
Through the quirk of winter weather and reclassification, the 5A State Dual Team Wrestling Eastern Regional semifinals, regional championship and the state championship would all be determined in one night in Hillsborough.
It all happened last Wednesday and the result was a darkhorse emerging as a state champion.
West Rowan defeated Croatan 38-30 in the 5A State Championship match. The Falcons, from Mt. Ulla, North Carolina, defeated Eastern Regional champion Croatan 38-30 to claim its first state dual team wrestling championship.
Trailing 18-3 after four matches, the Falcons claimed seven straight matches to take control. At 120 pound, Bryson Wilhelm pinned Casey Hoeft in 37 seconds. Mason Truman and Oliver Perry claimed decision wins at 126 and 132 pounds, respectively. Chris Gaither, James Stephens, Andrew Taylor all claimed consecutive pinfall wins, followed by a tech fall victory by Puavheej Lor 17-0 at 157 pounds.
After beating Currituck County and Atkins in the opening two round, Cedar Ridge’s run in the state tournament ended in the regional semifinals. Person defeated the Red Wolves 35-32, clinching the match in the 12th of 13 matches. At 132 pounds, Julian Combs defeated Cedar Ridge senior Mikey O’Melia 10-8.
Person led the entire match, starting with Gabe Cameron beating Damian Carbajal via tech fall 17-2. Jose Rios claimed the first win for Cedar Ridge in a 7-1 decision over Person’s Micah Newman at 190 pounds.
Ryan Streicher and Nathan Biere claimed pinfall wins for Person at 215 and heavyweight, respectively, to vault the Rockets ahead 17-3.
Alejandro Briones and Landon Kemp picked up Cedar Ridge’s only pinfall victories. At 106 pounds, Juan Jaramillo defeated Person’s Ryan Wilson 11-5. Favio Jaramillo, just days after winning the 113-pound 5A Eastern Regional championship, scored a major decision over Aydon Dymes.
Croatan defeated Person 38-32 in a dual match that came to the final bout. At 175 pounds, Maxwell Allen pinned Person’s Micah Newman in 42 seconds.
It was the first time ever that Person advanced to a regional final.
West Rowan defeated East Rowan 46-36 in the Western Regional semifinals. The Falcons forfeited the final three matches after storming out to a 46-18 lead.
The Falcons came from behind to defeat Enka 38-34 in the Western Regional Semifinal match. The Elks lead 34-29 with two matches remaining. At 165 pounds, Evan Paustian pinned Liam Mallory in 53 seconds to put the Falcons ahead 35-34. In the final match, Holland Wellman defeated Tyler Nielsen 5-2 to earn the first regional title in team history.
