Regional wrestling roundup: Mooresville takes NCHSAA 4A Western Regional team title
Mooresville wrestlers won five weight class championships Saturday, lifting the Blue Devils to the team title in the 4A West Regional tournament at Mallard Creek.
Wrestlers across the state competed for spots in next weekend’s state tournaments.
The top four finishers from the regionals – West, Midwest, Mideast and East in 2A, 3A and 4A; and West and East in 1A – qualify for the state meet.
Joining Mooresville as a regional team champion was Bandys, which easily captured the 2A West honors.
The Blue Devils will send eight wrestlers to the state meet, while Hough and Mallard Creek each qualified six. Hough was second in the team standings, while Mallard Creek finished third.
Among highlights of the 4A West meet:
(bullet>Brothers Greg and Johnny Merriman won championships for Mooresville. Greg, a senior, improved to 37-1 on the season with a 57-second pin over Connor Reese of T.C. Roberson at 170 pounds. Johnny, a junior, took the 182-pound title with a 12-4 victory over Alexander Central’s Nate Dahlstrom.
<bullet>Mallard Creek senior Cameron Stinson improved his season record to 58-0 and won the 120-pound title. Stinson is seeking his third straight state championship, after winning in 2021 (106 pounds) and 2022 (113).
<bullet>Charlotte Catholic’s Joey Baisley scored on an escape with 18 seconds left in his match, scoring the only point in his 1-0 victory over Hough’s Jackson Rowling in the 126-pound finals.
<bullet>Alexander Jones of South Mecklenburg scored on an escape with 19 seconds left, clinching an 11-8 victory over Hough’s Bo Schiano in the 195-pound finals.
TEAM STANDINGS
(state qualifiers in parentheses)
Top 10: Mooresville (8) 204; Hough (6) 158; Mallard Creek (6) 148; Lake Norman (4) 94; A.C. Reynolds (4) 84; Alexander Central (4) 79; South Mecklenburg (5) 76.5; T.C. Roberson (2) 76; Charlotte Catholic (2) 72.5; South Iredell (3) 70.
Other area teams with state qualifiers: Olympic (2), Cuthbertson (2), Watauga (2), Providence (2), Chambers (1), Marvin Ridge (1).
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
106 pounds: Jace Barrier (Mooresville) pinned Ben Glaister (T.C. Roberson), 3:30.
113: Tiaj Thao (Lake Norman) pinned Dylan Drinkard (Mallard Creek), 1:17.
120: Cameron Stinson (Mallard Creek) pinned Gavin Ferguson (Cuthbertson), 1:40.
126: Joey Baisley (Charlotte Catholic) def. Jackson Rowling (Hough), 1-0.
132: Brant Fajerman (Hough) def. Eli Murray (Lake Norman), 6-3.
138: Tyler Caldwell (Hough) def. Aidan Moose (South Iredell), 19-4.
145: Santiago Ruiz Diaz (Providence) def. Austin Emmert (Mooresville), 7-4.
152: Davis Freeze (Mooresville) pinned Palmer Smith (Watauga), 2:30.
160: Elijah Brown (A.C. Reynolds) def. Daniel Ferrman (Marvin Ridge), 10-0.
170: Greg Merriman (Mooresville) pinned Connor Reese (T.C. Roberson), 0:57.
182: Johnny Merriman (Mooresville) def. Nate Dahlstrom (Alexander Central), 12-4.
195: Alexander Jones (South Mecklenburg) def. Bo Schiano (Hough), 11-8.
220: Ray Watson (Mooresville) def. Hayden Haynes (McDowell), 5-1.
285: Chandler Allen (Mallard Creek) def. Benjamin Rogers (A.C. Reynolds), forfeit.
4A Midwest Regional
Northwest Guilford took team honors in this meet, at Piedmont High, with Hickory Ridge and the host Panthers finished second and third.
All three schools qualified seven wrestlers for the state tournament.
Two defending state champions won regional titles Saturday – Piedmont’s Noah Cauble at 113 pounds (he won at 106 last year) and Porter Ridge 285-pounder Nathan Carnes (he won at 220 last year).
TOP TEAM FINISHERS
Northwest Guilford (7 state qualifiers) 182; Hickory Ridge (7) 146; Piedmont (7) 138; Cox Mill (5) 114; Weddington (4) 114; Porter Ridge (4) 113.5; A.L. Brown (4) 86.
AREA CHAMPIONS
113 pounds: Noah Cauble (Piedmont); 126: Cooper Davis (Cox Mill); 145: Colt Campbell (Hickory Ridge); 170: Bennett DiCarlo (Weddington); 195: Tom Brooker (Hickory Ridge); 220: Sam Cowher (Cox Mill); 285: Nathan Carnes (Porter Ridge).
2A Midwest Regional
Mount Pleasant wrestlers won four weight-class championships, but Bandys qualified a meet-high nine wrestlers for next week’s state tournament and won the team title in this regional, at Walkerstown High.
Bandys took three weight-class titles.
Mount Pleasant will send six wrestlers to the state meet.
TOP TEAM FINISHERS
Bandys (9 state qualifiers) 221.5; Mount Pleasant (6) 150; Surry Central (5) 136; North Surry (4) 125; East Gaston (4) 114.
Other area teams with state qualifiers: West Stanly (3); Lincoln Charter (2); Salisbury (1); Monroe (1); Jay M. Robinson (1); Anson County (1).
AREA CHAMPIONS
113 pounds: Noah Cauble (Piedmont); 126: Cooper Davis (Cox Mill); 145: Colt Campbell (Hickory Ridge); 170: Bennett DiCarlo (Weddington); 195: Tom Brooker (Hickory Ridge); 220: Sam Cowher (Cox Mill); 285: Nathan Carnes (Porter Ridge).
3A West Regional
Fred T. Foard won six weight class championships and coasted to the team championship in the 3A West Regional, at Pisgah High in Canton.
The Tigers finished with 229.5 points – 111 more than second-place Pisgah. Foard will send nine wrestlers to the state meet.
The Sly brothers, from Stuart Cramer, captured championships. Bently, a freshman, ran his season record to 47-3 by winning at 120 pounds. And Charlie, a senior, improved to 49-2 by taking the 132-pound title.
TOP TEAM FINISHERS
Fred T. Foard (9 state qualifiers) 229.5; Pisgah (6) 138.5; Enka (6) 125.5; North Gaston (5) 111.5; Stuart Cramer (4) 108.5.
Other area teams with state qualifiers: Hibriten (5); Ashe County (3); Kings Mountain (3); St. Stephens (1).
AREA CHAMPIONS
106 pounds: George Coleman (Fred T. Foard); 120: Bently Shy (Stuart Cramer); 132: Charlie Sly (Stuart Cramer); 145: Brock Carey (Fred T. Foard); 152: Brayden Mejia (Fred T. Foard); 160: Matt Karagias (Stuart Cramer); 170: Zane Birtchet (Fred T. Foard); 182: Andrew Kehoe (St. Stephens); 195: Dylan Smith (Fred T. Foard); 220: Colby Mace (Fred T. Foard); 285: Elijah Amaya (Hibriten).
3A Midwest Regional
West Rowan put on a dominating performance in this meet, at North Davidson High, by qualifying 12 of its 14 wrestlers for the state meet. The Falcons had only one champion but piled up points with second- third- and fourth-place finishes.
A pair of Central Cabarrus brothers won weight class championships, with junior Charleston Baglio winning at 126 pounds and Jackson Baglio, a senior, taking the 132 title. Jackson Baglio is 43-0 this season, while his younger brother is 42-2.
TOP TEAM FINISHERS
West Rowan (12 state qualifiers) 241; Dudley (5) 145; Central Cabarrus (3) 100.5; Asheboro (4) 95; North Iredell (3) 94.
Other area teams with state qualifiers: Parkwood (3); Concord (3); Central Academy (3); South Rowan (2); East Rowan (2); Jesse Carson (2); Statesville (2); West Mecklenburg 1.
AREA CHAMPIONS
113 pounds: Noah Cauble (Piedmont); 126: Cooper Davis (Cox Mill); 145: Colt Campbell (Hickory Ridge); 170: Bennett DiCarlo (Weddington); 195: Tom Brooker (Hickory Ridge); 220: Sam Cowher (Cox Mill); 285: Nathan Carnes (Porter Ridge).
2A West Regional
Mount Pleasant won four weight class championships, but the Tigers finished well behind West Regional champion Bandys.
Competing at Walkertown High, Bandys outpointed Mount Pleasant 221.5-150. Bandys will send nine wrestlers to the state meet.
TOP TEAM FINISHERS
Bandys (9 state qualifiers) 221.5; Mount Pleasant (6) 150; Surry Central (5) 136; North Surry (4) 125; East Gaston (4) 114.
Other area teams with state qualifiers: West Stanly (3); Lincoln Charter (2); Salisbury (1); Monroe (1);
AREA CHAMPIONS
106 pounds: Cameron Gue (Mount Pleasant); 113: Seth Almond (Mount Pleasant); 126: Josh Hammac (Mount Pleasant); 132: David McEachern (Mount Pleasant); 138: Will Nix (Bandys); 145: Hunter Digh (East Gaston); 160: Ian Moore (Bandys); 170: Elias Martines (Jay M. Robinson); 195: Zack Evans (Bandys).
1A West Regional
Robbinsville qualified 10 wrestlers for the state meet and edged out Avery County for the 1A West regional title, at Mitchell County High.
TOP TEAM FINISHERS
Robbinsville (10 state qualifiers) 224.5; Avery County (8), 213; Swain County (6) 154.5; Mount Airy (3) 114.5; Alleghany (3), 107.5.
Other area teams with state qualifiers: Cherryville (5); Bradford Prep (3); Mountain Island Charter (1); Union Academy (1); Corvian Community (1); Thomas Jefferson Academy (1); Bessemer City (1)
AREA CHAMPIONS
106 pounds Cooper Foster (Avery County); 120: Benjamin Jordan (Avery County); 126: Mason Bentley (Avery); 132: Grant Reece (Avery County); 132: Grant Reece (Avery County); 152: Tristan Adams (Avery County); 170: Cael Dunn (Avery County); 195: Seth Blackledge (Avery).
Steve Lyttle on Twitter: @slyttle
This story was originally published February 11, 2023 at 8:35 PM.