Cherokee's John Roper (top) works on a pin during a match in the 1A West Regional Individual Wrestling Tournament held last weekend at Alleghany High School. Roper qualified for state with a 4th place finish. (Photo courtesy of Kathy Littlejohn)
Source: Kathy Littlejohn
Three wrestlers from Cherokee High School are on their way to state. Christian Crowe, John Roper and Tavi Rivera advanced to the 1A State Championship by placing at the 1A West Regional Individual Wrestling Tournament held at Alleghany High School on Feb. 19-20.
A total of 30 schools participated in the regional tournament which featured the top 16 wrestlers in the region from each weight class.
Crowe (24-2 season record) took second place in the tournament’s heavyweight division. Rivera (21-9) took fourth place in the 152lb. division and Roper (30-5) took fourth place in the 171lb. division.
Will Bird (26-12) came into the tournament seeded fourth in the 189lb. division but had to withdrawn due to an injury. Justice Littlejohn just missed qualifying for state in the 215lb. division as he took fifth place.
Christian Crowe poses with the Silver Medal he earned at the Regional Tournament.
Other Cherokee wrestlers participating included: Troy Hartline (17-5) in the 103lb. division, Billy Brady (7-17) in the 119lb. division, Cain Oocumma (22-11) in the 125lb. division and Robert Washington (24-12) in the 145lb. division.
The 1A State Individual Wrestling Tournament is scheduled for Feb. 26-27 at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, NC.
