After winning the 3A Eastern Regional Dual Team Championship for the 2nd straight year, the Orange Wrestling team swept the Big 8 Conference Honors for the 2017-18 season.
In his first season at the helm, Orange’s Spenser Poteat was named the Big 8 Coach of the Year. Last year, Poteat replaced his mentor Bobby Shriner as head coach after Shriner coached Payton Wilson and Josiah Ramirez to individual state championship matches in their respective weight classes.
This season, Poteat led Orange to a 22-1 record, winning its tenth Eastern Regional Championship and its 16th consecutive conference championship. Like Shriner in his final season, Poteat led two Orange wrestlers to state championship matches at the Greensboro Coliseum.
After going 41-1 during the season, Orange senior Braden Homsey was named the Big 8 Wrestler of the Year. Homsey claimed the Big 8 Conference and 3-A Mideast Regional Championships at 220 pounds. He advanced to the 3A state championship match, where he fell to Weddington’s Tyrie Houghton, who finished 59-0 on the season. As a junior, Homsey went 38-14 with 22 pins. This season, Homsey led the team with 346 points scored and 28 pinfall victories.
After winning the 182-pound state championship, Orange’s Josiah Ramirez also was named All-Conference. Ramirez ended his Orange career 139-19 after winning the state title at the Greensboro Coliseum by pinning Terry Sanford’s Finley Allen in 3:59.
Seven other Orange grapplers made the All-Big 8 team:
Mitchell Askew: Finished the season 31-10 with 15 pins. In his final match for Orange, he won his 100th match at the 3A Mideast Regionals, completing a bout where he injured his left shoulder in the 2nd period. He still finished the bout to earn a decision victory, which proved to be his final one at Orange.
Gavin Wiggins: Finished the season 35-8 with ten pins. Clinched his 100th career win at the Mideast Regionals at Chapel Hill High with a 9-6 decision over Lydell Canady. Captured the 126 pound championship at the King of Kings Tournament in Charlotte. Also finished 2nd at 126 in the Eastern Alamance Eagle Classic On December 16th. Finished 3rd at the Tiger Holiday Championship and the Jim King Invitational.
Bailey Hawkins: Finished 4th in the state at 132 pounds after edging Northern Guilford’s Ethan King 4-3 in Greensboro. Qualified for the 3A State Tournament after a 38-9 season where he scored ten pins. Captured the 132-pound championship at the Jim King Invitational, as well as the Eastern Alamance Eagle Classic. Finished 2nd at the King of Kings Tournament in Charlotte. Ended career with a record of 141-45.
Levi Anderson: A junior, Anderson finished 3rd in the state at 138 pounds after a 2-0 win over Mason Fisher of Piedmont. Also finished 3rd in the Mideast Regionals. Went 32-6 on the season with ten pins. Finished 2nd in the King of Kings in Charlotte.
Avery Jenkins: Shuttling between 160 and 170 pounds, Jenkins went 33-10 with 20 pins. Qualified for the state tournament at 160 pounds after finishing 3rd at the Mideast Regionals. Finished runner-up at the Tiger Holiday Classic, where he lost a 7-2 decision in the championship match. Finished runner-up at the Eastern Alamance Eagle Classic and the Jim King Invitational.
Trey Jones: After an injury-plagued junior season, Jones fought back to go 26-8 in 2017-18. He earned 18 pins. The highlight of the season was coming in 2nd at the Tiger Holiday Classic. Finished 3rd at the Jim King Invitational and the King of Kings Tournament, and 5th at the Eastern Alamance Eagle Classic.
Daylen Alston: The Mideast Regional Heavyweight champion, Alston won his 100th career match at the Tiger Holiday Classic. He also won the heavyweight championship at the Eastern Alamance Eagle Classic in Mebane, as well as the heavyweight championship at the Jim King Invitational. Finished 2nd in the King off Kings Tournament in Charlotte and 4th in the Tiger Holiday Classic. Also tied for the team lead for fastest pin scored this season at seven seconds. Ends his Orange career with a record of 118-32.
In addition, two Cedar Ridge wrestlers were named all conference. Darius McLeod made the team at 132 pounds.
Making the squad as an at-large selection was Cedar Ridge’s Colin Davis, who qualified for the state tournament at 182 pounds. Davis finished sixth in the state, ending the season 22-9.