Cherokee’s Anthony Toineeta (top) is shown wrestling Robbinsville’s Brady Lovin in the semifinal match in the 145lb division at the SMC Championships on Saturday, Jan. 30. Toineeta won the match and went on to win the entire division. (Photo courtesy of Sean Brooks)
By AMBLE SMOKER
ONE FEATHER STAFF
ROBBINSVILLE – Less than a week after a marque victory and claiming the number-one ranking in the west by Retro Rankings, Cherokee’s Anthony Toineeta squared off against Rosman’s Tanner Whitman in a rematch to determine the top wrestler in the 145lbs division of the Smoky Mountain Conference on Saturday, Jan. 30.
Toineeta earned a first-round bye based on his performance during the season. He pinned Robbinsville’s Brady Lovin at the 1:33 mark of the first round in the semi-finals. Then, he emerged victorious after building a 5-1 lead and held off a hard charging Whitman in the final seconds of the Smoky Mountain Conference championships. Afterwards, he was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler in the SMC Tournament.
Cherokee’s Jonah Burnhisel, from the 113lbs division, took second place. After a first-round bye, he pinned Rosman’s Shaylan Fisher with 20 seconds left in the semi-final round. He would face eventual SMC tournament winner Arlus Orr from Robbinsville in the finals.
Lloyd Mitchell, also representing Cherokee, took second place in the 182lbs division after defeating Robbinsville’s Freddy Romero in the semi-finals by a 9-5 decision. He would finish as a runner-up to Swain’s Caleb Woodard.
Other notable Braves finishes included Xander Brady in the 195lbs division who finished fourth and Dakota Ward from the 285lbs division who also finished fourth.
Cherokee Wrestlers:
113: Jonah Burnhisel (Cherokee) – Second Place
Quarterfinals – Jonah Burnhisel (Cherokee) received a bye Semifinals – Jonah Burnhisel (Cherokee) over Shaylan Fisher (Rosman) (Fall 5:40) 1st Place Match – Arlus Orr (Robbinsville) over Jonah Burnhisel (Cherokee) (Fall 0:45)
138: Sam Sneed (Cherokee)
Quarterfinals – William Ogle Smair (Swain County) over Sam Sneed (Cherokee) (Fall 1:03) Cons. Round 1 – Sam Sneed (Cherokee) received a bye Cons. Semis – Dustin Garret (Murphy) over Sam Sneed (Cherokee) (TF 17-2 0:00)
145: Anthony Toineeta (Cherokee) First Place
Quarterfinals – Anthony Toineeta (Cherokee) received a bye Semifinals – Anthony Toineeta (Cherokee) over Brady Lovin (Robbinsville) (Fall 1:33) 1st Place Match – Anthony Toineeta (Cherokee) over Tanner Whitman (Rosman) (Dec 5-1)
152: Xavier Locust (Cherokee)
Quarterfinals – Aaron O`Connell (Hiwassee Dam) over Xavier Locust (Cherokee) (Fall 5:32) Cons. Round 1 – Xavier Locust (Cherokee) received a bye Cons. Semis – Payne Anderson (Robbinsville) over Xavier Locust (Cherokee) (Fall 5:27)
170: Andrew Griffin (Cherokee)
Quarterfinals – Austin Lovin (Robbinsville) over Andrew Griffin (Cherokee) (Fall 1:34) Cons. Round 1 – Andrew Griffin (Cherokee) received a bye Cons. Semis – Russell Swangim (Rosman) over Andrew Griffin (Cherokee) (Fall 0:23)
182: Lloyd Mitchell (Cherokee) – Second Place
Quarterfinals – Lloyd Mitchell (Cherokee) received a bye Semifinals – Lloyd Mitchell (Cherokee) over Freddy Romero (Robbinsville) (Dec 9-5) 1st Place Match – Caleb Woodard (Swain County) over Lloyd Mitchell (Cherokee) (Fall 1:42)
195: Xander Brady (Cherokee) – Fourth Place
Quarterfinals – Xander Brady (Cherokee) over Blake Sawyer (Robbinsville) (Fall 1:57) Semifinals – Jacob Matheson (Hayesville) over Xander Brady (Cherokee) (Fall 3:41) Cons. Semis – Xander Brady (Cherokee) received a bye 3rd Place Match – William Paul (Swain County) over Xander Brady (Cherokee) (Fall 3:20)
285: Dakota Ward (Cherokee) – Fourth Place
Quarterfinals – Corbin Wildcatt (Swain County) over Dakota Ward (Cherokee) (Fall 1:16) Cons. Round 1 – Dakota Ward (Cherokee) received a bye Cons. Semis – Dakota Ward (Cherokee) over Cody Gibson (Hiwassee Dam) (Fall 2:11) 3rd Place Match – Toby Hedrick (Robbinsville) over Dakota Ward (Cherokee) (Fall 2:31)
