The Jim King/Orange Invitational is a staple during the opening weekend of December at Orange High School.
During a time of transition for the Orange wrestling team, the Panthers still crowned two individual champions on Saturday. At 126 pounds, junior Braden Crawford captured his first JKO championship.
In the most competitive championship match of a lengthy day, Orange senior Andre Hill earned his first JKO title at 170 pounds.
Crawford, whose sister Josie recently won a regional championship in volleyball for Orange, pinned Tiaj Thao of Davie County in the 126 pound championship match. Thao, the top-seed with a 11-0 record going into the final, shot in for the opening takedown. Crawford eluded Thao and gained his side, then pushed off his legs to put Thao on his back. Crawford scored the pin in 1:00.
Crawford, who is now 8-0 on the season, pinned East Chapel Hill’s Jackie Crozier of East Chapel Hill in 3:16 in the second round. In the quarterfinals, Crawford defeated Connor Herbert of Hough 7-2. Following a scoreless first period, Crawford gained three back points on a near fall to take a 6-2 lead midway through the third period. In the semifinals, Crawford held off Tremayne McNeely of Eastern Guilford 5-1. Crawford scored a takedown with 14 seconds remaining in the first period and never trailed again.
Hill, an offensive lineman for the Orange football team, had a hotly contested final against Giancarlo Evans of Hough. Evans led 2-1 at the end of the first period. On the coin toss to start the second period, Evans elected to start from the bottom. Hill struggled the entire period to gain the escape point to tie the match. Hill broke free, but Evans wrapped his arm around his leg to maintain contact. At first, the officials ruled Hill had not escaped, but changed course at the end of the period.
With things all square at 2-2 to begin the third, Evans got an escape. Hill gained Evans back with 1:04 remaining to take the lead, then held on for all he was worth to keep Evans from escaping. Hill’s grip was strong enough to gain the win 4-3. Hill, who was seeded #3, is 10-0.
In a tight team race, Eastern Guilford won the team title on the penultimate match of a long second day. In the 215 pound championship match, Xavier Wilson pinned Jiwaun Flemming of Pine Forest in 2:47 to earn the Wildcats six points.
Davie County could have tied the Wildcats in the final championship match of the day. At heavyweight, the War Eagles’ Ryder Strickland defeated Eastern Guilford’s Christopher Riley 3-1 in sudden victory, while only gave Davie County three points. Eastern Guilford won the team title with 264 points, while the War Eagles finished with 261.
Orange senior Jared Hutchins, who qualified for the state championships last year, finished 2nd at 138 pounds. Hutchins defeated Andrew Davis of Davie County 16-7, Jackson Rowling of Hough took a big lead early in the championship match, then held on to defeat Hutchins 6-4.
Hutchins pinned Cedell Alexander of Northern Durham in 2;50 of the second round. Hutchins scored a major decision over Andrew Matters of Cary 11-1 in the quarterfinals.
At 106 pounds, Orange senior Chris Winstead finished fifth, the only other Panther to place. Facing Tyron Grant of Pine Forest in the fifth place match, Winstead blocked a shot in the second period. He pinned Grant at 1:14.
The JKO also had a women’s event this year. Ava Lytle of Orange finished highest in the female tournament. She came in 2nd at 126 pounds. Alfa Dominguez of Cary won the final over Lytle 3-1 in the championship. At 165 pounds, Kode Phillips of Orange finished in fifth place. Millbrook was the women’s team championship with 137 points, barely holding off Wake County rival Cary, who had 134 points.