Cherokee’s Tavi Rivera (right) wrestles John Garret, of Murphy, in the Smoky Mountain Conference championship on Saturday, Feb. 9. Rivera won the match, the conference championship at 160lbs. and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler. (DENISE WALKINGSTICK/One Feather contributor)
The Cherokee Braves varsity wrestling team took second place at the Smoky Mountain Conference championships held at Hayesville on Saturday, Feb. 9. Robbinsville won the team championship with 165pts followed by Cherokee 148.5, Murphy 128, Swain 120.5, Rosman 83 and Hayesville 67.5.
A total of five EBCI tribal members won individual weight division championships including: Levi Swearengin (Cherokee, 126lb.), Jaron Bradley (Cherokee, 145lb.), Tavi Rivera (Cherokee, 160lb.), Spencer McCoy (Robbinsville, 195lb.), and Jacob Wildcatt (Swain, 285lb.).
Rivera, who holds the record for most wins in Cherokee High School history, was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler. He was also named the Conference Co-Wrestler of the Year along with Swain’s Sean Webb who won the 138lb. division.
Cherokee and Robbinsville advance to the North Carolina 1A State Dual Team Championships at East Surry High School on Tuesday, Feb. 12. Cherokee is set to take on East Surry and Robbinsville is pitted against Chatham Central. The winners of those matches meet in the finals.
Individual results are as follows:
106lb.: 1st – Irvin Portugal (Robb), 2nd – Michael George (Ch), 3nd – Ethan Orr (Rosman)
113lb.: 1st – Zack Orr (Robb), 2nd – Clint McCall (Rosman), 3rd – Ethan Swearengin (Ch)
120lb.: 1st – Graham Allen (Swain), 2nd – Steven Bair (Hayes), 3rd – Tristan Praytor (Rosman)
126lb.: 1st – Levi Swearengin (Ch), 2nd – Kade Guffey (Robb), 3rd – John Miller (Swain)
132lb.: 1st – Breyer Owen (Rosman), 2nd – Russell Bigmeat (Swain), 3rd – Lane Millsaps (Robb)
138lb.: 1st – Sean Webb (Swain), 2nd – Paul Roche (Hayesville), 3rd – Eddie Wiley (Murphy)
145lb.: 1st – Jaron Bradley (Ch), 2nd – Drew Smith (Murphy), 3rd – Corey Locklear (Robb)
152lb.: 1st – Joey Cable (Robb), 2nd – Graham Swain (Murphy), 3rd – Josh Danielson (Hayes)
160lb.: 1st – Tavi Rivera (Ch), 2nd – John Garrett (Murphy), 3rd – Jacob Matheson (Hayes)
170lb.: 1st – Nathan Craig (Robb), 2nd – Dorian Walkingstick (Ch), 3rd – Bailey Beaver (Murphy)
182lb.: 1st – Malachi Beaver (Murphy), 2nd – Creed Lovin (Robb), 3rd – Nate Sellers (Swain)
195lb.: 1st – Spencer McCoy (Robb), 2nd – Cody Howard (Murphy), 3rd – Nate Southards (Swain)
220lb.: 1st – Brandon Stiles (Murphy), 2nd – Will Ferguson (Swain), 3rd – Mike Garrison (Robb)
285lb.: 1st – Jacob Wildcatt (Swain), 2nd – Michael Montelongo (Ch), 3rd – Andres Villagomez (Rosman)
Individual Cherokee results are as follows:
- Michael George, 106lb., 2nd place
– Pinned Ethan Orr (Rosman) at :41
– Lost by technical fall (15-0) to Irvin Portugal (Robb)
- Ethan Swearengin, 113lb., 3rd place
– Lost by decision (7-1) to Clint McCall (Rosman)
- Sidnie Yanez, 120lb.
– Pinned by Tristin Praytor (Rosman) at :27
– Pinned by Dustin Garret (Murphy) at 3:43
- Levi Swearengin, 126lb., 1st place
– Pinned Logan Beard (Hayes) at 4:20
– Won by decision (7-4) over Kade Guffey (Robb)
- Austin Padilla, 132lb.
– Lost decision (6-0) to Breyer Owen (Rosman)
– Pinned Seth Morgan (Murphy) at 2:21
– Lost decision (8-4) to Lane Milsaps (Robb)
- Tyler Brown, 138lb.
– Pinned by Sean Webb (Swain) at :15
– Pinned by Eddie Wiley, III (Murphy) at 3:23
- Jaron Bradley, 145lb., 1st place
– Pinned Corey Locklear (Robb) at 4:42
– Pinned Drew Smith (Murphy) at :52
- Tavi Rivera, 160lb., 1st place
– Won by technical fall (18-3) over Jacob Matheson (Hayes)
– Pinned John Garret (Murphy) at 3:37
- Dorian Walkingstick, 170lb., 2nd place
– Pinned Bailey Beaver (Murphy) at :59
– Pinned Kane Owensby (Rosman) at 1:27
– Lost decision (5-0) to Nathan Craig (Robb)
- Raymond Taylor, 220lb.
– Pinned by Brandon Stiles (Murphy) at 3:17
– Pinned Stephen Jones (Hayes) at :39
- Michael Montelongo, 285lb., 2nd place
– Pinned Andres Villagomez (Rosman) at 1:15
– Pinned Toby Hedrick (Robb) at :15
– Pinned by Jacob Wildcatt (Swain) at 5:07
– ONE FEATHER STAFF REPORT
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