ONE FEATHER STAFF REPORT
Cherokee's Tavi Rivera (left) took 4th place in the 152lb. weight class at the 1A Wrestling Individual Tournament this past weekend in Greensboro. (Photos courtesy of Tonya Toineeta)
The Cherokee varsity wrestling team sent three to the 1A State Finals in Greensboro, NC this past weekend. Christian Crowe (285lb.), John Roper (171lb.) and Tavi Rivera (152lb.) all lost in the state quarterfinals, but Rivera came away with a 4th place overall finish in his weight class.
Rivera was pinned at the 1:47 mark by eventual state runner-up Damond Kelly-Spencer of Albemarle in his 152lb. quarterfinal match. He went 2-1 in the consolation bracket by winning decisions over Xavier Best of Pamlico and David Lamb of Dixon. He lost by technical fall to Collin Eichhorn of Bishop McGuinness in the battle for third place in the state.
Crowe was pinned by Matthew Chappell of West Montgomery at the 1:49 mark in their 285lb. quarterfinal match. He split two consolation matches following the quarterfinal as he won a decision over Alex Craze of Murphy and then lost a decision to Martin Garcia of Alleghany.
Cherokee wrestler Christian Crowe (left) in action in the 285lb. division.
Roper lost by decision to eventual state champion Carson Joyce of Chatham Central in their 171lb. quarterfinal match. He lost his consolation match by majority decision to Gene Guilyard of Bishop McGuinness.
The Smoky Mountain Conference was well represented at the 1A State Finals with Jesse Beaver of Murphy defeating Kelly-Spencer by majority decision to win the 152lb. state championship. Four other conference wrestlers made it to the state finals and ended up state runner-ups including: Chandler Gooch (135lb.) of Murphy who lost a majority decision to Shelton Sales of Chatham Central, Erick Messick (140lb.) of Robbinsville who was pinned at the 0:56 mark by Chance Smitch of North Carolina School of Science and Math, Kyle Ramey (145lb.) of Rosman who was pinned at the 1:04 mark by Shane Brinn of Manteo, and Corey Greene (160lb.) of Swain who lost a decision to Aaron Rabin of Elkin.
