UPDATED: Jay M. Robinson wins SPC wrestling tournament

(The Jay M. Robinson wrestling team advanced Tuesday in the first and second rounds of the NCHSAA 3A dual-team playoffs.

The Bulldogs beat Ashbrook and West Henderson by identical 46-21 scores. Robinson is hosting the third- and fourth-round matches on Thursday. The Bulldogs wrestle North Gaston at 6 p.m. The winner of that match goes against either Fred T. Foard or Southwestern Randolph in a second match Thursday.

All four teams are league champions. Thursday’s winner advances to the state final, to be held at the Eastern champion’s school on Saturday.)

To no one’s surprise, the Jay M. Robinson wrestlers won the South Piedmont Conference tournament Saturday.

Competing at Hickory Ridge High School, the Bulldogs advanced eight individuals to the championship finals and won five of those bouts.

“It’s always a thrill,” said Garrison White, who reigned in the 126-pound class. “We’re always coming in here, see how good we can do, try to put as many people as we can in the finals. And that’s what we did today.”

Central Cabarrus sophomore Heath Gleaton (113) received the tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler honor. White was named SPC Wrestler of the Year.

White, a Northwestern University recruit, is a two-time defending NCHSAA 3A state champion and has won over 200 matches.

But he still gets a thrill.

“I was really pumped,” he said. “I was kind of nervous just because it was my last conference final. I was excited.”

Robinson’s Jonah Swinson (106), Jake Glunt (145), Kenan Robertson (152) and Nathan Tesh (170) joined White as individual champions.

Matthew Newman (120), Christian Morgan (132) and Ryan Johns (182) won titles for Mt. Pleasant.

Shane Lawless (160) gave Central Cabarrus two champions.

Northwest Cabarrus’ Benny Guadarrama (138), A.L. Brown’s Keechan Ware (195), Concord’s Craig Bailes (220) and Hickory Ridge’s Josh Chapman (285) also claimed SPC titles.

In his first season at Robinson, Jerome Davis was voted Coach of the Year by his peers.

“We expected to win it, but there’s no guarantees,” Davis said. “We had eight kids in the finals. We had a very good chance of winning all eight of those bouts.

“We had some young guys step up. Kyle Peterson at 220 got two big pins for us. Harrison Marchese got a pin at 182. Jordan Taylor came back and got third place at 195. That was huge. Tyler Gonzalez at 120 took fourth place. He won two matches and lost a heartbreaker for third. Everybody did their part, all 14 guys. It was a team effort. I’m very proud of them.”

Placing second were: A.L. Brown’s Avery Clinding (106), Richard White (113), Arley Flores (145) and Kyle Cauble (220); Mt. Pleasant’s Mitchell Robins (126), Blake Hooks (170), Tommy McCrimmon (195) and Joey Shepard (285); Robinson’s Hamilton Jones (132), Anthony Pfeiffer (138) and Rigo Robertson (160); Concord’s Matt Herring (120); Northwest’s Justin Monk (152); and Cox Mill’s Tanner Small (182).

Finishing third were: Concord’s Jack Simpson (126), Benjamin White (152), Ruben Jurado (160), Tom Simpson (182) and Austin Motsinger (285); Hickory Ridge’s Troy Gregor (113), Austin Helm (120) and Joey McCracken (145); Mt. Pleasant’s Heath Furr (106) and Robert Johns (138); A.L. Brown’s Robert Smith (170); Northwest’s Weston Murdock (132); Robinson’s Taylor (195) and Cox Mill’s Martin Galusha (220).

In team scoring, Robinson had 199 points. Mt. Pleasant was second with 167.5.

Concord placed third with 118, and A.L. Brown was fourth (106).

They were followed by Hickory Ridge (90), a tie between Cox Mill and Central (60) and Northwest (55).

Robinson and A.L. Brown compete Tuesday in the state dual-team playoffs. Robinson was state runnerup a year ago after winning the state title two years ago.

The playoffs continue Thursday and Saturday.

After that, it’s on to individual regionals and the state finals.

“There is definitely some pressure,” White said. “People expect me to come back and win a state title because that’s what I’ve done the previous two years. But I just use that to motivate me so that I get what needs to be done done.”

Said Davis: “He’s special, that’s for sure. He’s got it all. He’s quick. He’s smart. He’s a hard worker. Very tough on top. Hard to hold down. Good balance. He’s a good kid.”

On a good wrestling team.

CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

106: Jonah Swinson (JMR) d. Avery Clinding (ALB) 4-0

113: Heath Gleaton (CC) d. Richard White (ALB) 7-2

120: Matthew Newman (MP) major d. Matt Herring (Con) 15-2

126: Garrison White (JMR) p. Mitchell Robins (MP)

132: Christian Morgan (MP) major d. Hamilton Jones (JMR) 13-5

138: Benny Guadarrama (NWC) d. Anthony Pfeiffer (JMR) 4-2

145: Jake Glunt (JMR) d. Arley Flores (ALB) 11-7

152: Kenan Robertson (JMR) p. Justin Monk (NWC)

160: Shane Lawless (CC) d. Rigo Robertson (JMR) 6-4

170: Nathan Tesh (JMR) d. Blake Hooks (MP) 4-2

182: Ryan Johns (MP) p. Tanner Small (CM)

195: Keechan Ware (ALB) p. Tommy McCrimmon (MP)

220: Craig Bailes (Con) p. Kyle Cauble (ALB)

285: Josh Chapman (HR) p. Joey Shepard (MP)