Argueta’s runner-up finish headlines state tournament

GREENSBORO — Fourteen Yadkin Valley boys and girls wrestlers converged on the Greensboro Coliseum the weekend of Feb. 15-17 with hopes of North Carolina High School Athletic Association state championships and strong finishes to the season.

Despite coming up short of winning a state championship, every wrestler made the most of their final matches of the season.

Three wrestlers returned home with medals after their performances.

Johnatan Argueta headlined the area wrestlers with a 1A state runner-up finish at 285 pounds.

After a first period pin in the quarterfinals and a second-period pin the semifinals, the senior faced Robbinsville’s Koleson Dooley in the championship final on Saturday evening.

Dooley, who finished third in last weekend’s 1A West Regional, bested Argueta via a 3-1 decision.

While Argueta’s road to the finals was fairly direct, Ian Jones’ state championship run featured a few more turns.

The junior quickly found himself in the consolation bracket after a 6-4 decision to Thomasville’s Josue Gomez in the quarterfinals — his first match of the tournament.

But Jones rebounded with a pair of major decisions and then claimed a third-place finish at 120 pounds thanks to a second-period pin of Mitchell’s Bryson McFalls.

East Wilkes’ Tristan Alkire made it a trio of podium finishers as the senior claimed fourth while collecting a pair of wins.

After a loss in the semifinals, Alkire scored a second-period pin in the consolation semifinals; he nearly took third in the consolation finals, but dropped a 9-7 decision to Polk County’s Jadyn Virgil.

According to head wrestling coach Austin Bare, Alkire became the 19th Cardinal in program history to medal at the state championships. He’s also finished his prep career 10th in program history for wins.

Raul Lopez nearly joined Alkire in the consolation finals as he advanced to the consolation semis (also known as the blood round) after he rebounded with a 4-3 decision over Lejeune’s Joseph Miller in the first consolation.

Lopez dropped an 8-2 decision to Uwharrie Charter’s Caden Bond to end the junior’s run.

Wesley Willey — the Cardinals’ third state qualifier — lost in the first round of consolations.

Two girls joined East Wilkes’ boys at the state championships for the first time as a sanctioned-NCHSAA sport.

Jayden Hutchison etched her name in the program’s record books when the senior defeated R.J. Reynolds’ Arvriel Douthit in the first round with a third-period pin.

Abbi Stout also qualified for the state tournament and fell in the first round of consolations.

Denise Hernandez turned in an impressive performance for Elkin as the junior made the deepest run of the trio of girls wrestlers as she reached the third round of consolations.

Hernandez also won the most matches of the girls with two victories, which included an 8-6 sudden victory against Mallard Creek’s Brooke Jackson in the second consolation round.

Her run ended a round later as she dropped a 9-6 decision to Pisgah’s Treyleigh Miller.

In addition to Argueta, Jones and Alkire, three other grapplers reached the blood round, which included Alejandro Lopez.

The Elkin senior reached the championship semifinal but fell in the first period. Lopez’ run ended a round later to fellow Northwest 1A Conference opponent Alexis Nuevo, of Alleghany.

Fellow Buckin’ Elks Alejandro Diaz and James Steele lost in the first round of consolations at 106 and 165 pounds, respectively.

All told, there were five podium finishers between both the 1A and 2A tournaments (the top four land on the podium in 1A and the top six in 2A).

Forbush’s Alan Benitez quickly found himself in the consolation bracket after he lost by decision in the opening round at 106 pounds.

Benitez rebounded to win the next three matches, which included the last two via decisions to reached the consolation semis.

But the sophomore lost in overtime to Randleman’s Alex Raymundo to fall into the fifth place match. Benitez fell by pin in that match to Washington’s Sam Boltes in the following match.

Drake Parker joined his Falcon teammate on the podium after he finished sixth in the 120-pound class. Parker won the first two matches, but lost the next three.

Jose Pina-Velasquez fell in the first round of consolations at 113 pounds.

Notes: Starmount finished ninth in the 1A team standings with 38 points and East Wilkes finished in 21st with 11 points and Elkin was 27th with two points; fellow NW 1A schools Mount Airy (65 points) and Alleghany (38 points) took fourth and eighth, respectively. South Stokes took 15th with 19 points. Robbinsville won the 1A team championship with 124.5 points and Seaforth took the 2A team title with 136 points. Forbush finished tied for 30th with 17 points.

Local wrestling results

East Wilkes

1A 150 (Wesley Willey)

· Quarterfinal — Lorenzo Alston (Uwharrie Charter Academy) won by fall over Wesley Willey (East Wilkes) (Fall 0:28)

· Cons. Round 1 — Isaiah Mewborn (Pamlico County) won by fall over Wesley Willey (East Wilkes) (Fall 4:37)

1A 175 (Raul Lopez)

· Quarterfinal — Elijah Williams (Union Academy) won by decision over Raul Lopez (East Wilkes) (Dec 7-4)

· Cons. Round 1 — Raul Lopez (East Wilkes) won by decision over Joseph Miller (Lejeune) 30-11 (Dec 4-3)

· Cons. Semi — Caden Bond (Uwharrie Charter Academy) won by decision over Raul Lopez (East Wilkes) (Dec 8-2)

1A 215 (Tristan Alkire)

· Quarterfinal — Tristan Alkire (East Wilkes) won by fall over Taj Gabriel (Thomasville) (Fall 3:18)

· Semifinal — Jaden Maness (Uwharrie Charter Academy) won by fall over Tristan Alkire (East Wilkes) (Fall 3:11)

· Cons. Semi — Tristan Alkire (East Wilkes) won by fall over Kellen Ensley (Robbinsville) (Fall 3:48)

· 3rd Place Match — Jadyn Virgil (Polk County) won by decision over Tristan Alkire (East Wilkes) (Dec 9-7)

Open 152 (Jayden Hutchison)

· Champ. Round 1 — Jayden Hutchison (East Wilkes) won by fall over Arvriel Douthit (R.J. Reynolds) (Fall 5:34)

· Quarterfinal — Sophia Sutton (Swansboro) won by fall over Jayden Hutchison (East Wilkes) (Fall 4:27)

· Cons. Round 2 — Jymeia Nobles (Goldsboro) won by fall over Jayden Hutchison (East Wilkes) (Fall 2:35)

Open 235 Abbi Stout

· Champ. Round 1 — Wyntergale Oxendine (Lumberton) won by fall over Abbi Stout (East Wilkes) (Fall 0:33)

· Cons. Round 1 — Alana Daugherty (West Cabarrus) won by fall over Abbi Stout (East Wilkes) (Fall 1:48)

Elkin

Open 114 (Denise Hernandez)

· Champ. Round 1 — Betty Huntley (East Rutherford) won by fall over Denise Hernandez (Elkin) (Fall 1:29)

· Cons. Round 1 — Denise Hernandez (Elkin) won by fall over Kate Simpson (Bunn) (Fall 3:43)

· Cons. Round 2 — Denise Hernandez (Elkin) won in sudden victory — 1 over Brooke Jackson (Mallard Creek) (SV-1 8-6)

· Cons. Round 3 — Treyleigh Miller (Pisgah) won by decision over Denise Hernandez (Elkin) (Dec 9-6)

1A 106 (Alejandro Diaz)

· Quarterfinal — Holton Quincy (North East Carolina Prep School) won by fall over Alejandro Diaz (Elkin) (Fall 1:36)

· Cons. Round 1 — Jack Curlee (South Stanly) won by major decision over Alejandro Diaz (Elkin) (MD 12-3)

1A 150 (Alejandro Lopez)

· Quarterfinal — Alejandro Lopez (Elkin) won by decision over Isaiah Mewborn (Pamlico County) (Dec 10-6)

· Semifinal — Lorenzo Alston (Uwharrie Charter Academy) 43-0 won by fall over Alejandro Lopez (Elkin) 36-9 (Fall 1:56)

· Cons. Semi — Alexis Nuevo (Alleghany) 45-15 won by fall over Alejandro Lopez (Elkin) 36-9 (Fall 1:39)

1A 165 (James Steele)

· Quarterfinal — Cohen Jennings (South Stokes) won by decision over James Steele (Elkin) (Dec 8-5)

· Cons. Round 1 — Kaleb Davis (Rosewood) won by decision over James Steele (Elkin) (Dec 5-3)

Starmount

1A 120 (Ian Jones)

· Quarterfinal — Josue Gomez (Thomasville) won by decision over Ian Jones (Starmount) (Dec 6-4)

· Cons. Round 1 — Ian Jones (Starmount) won by major decision over Brayden Holmes (Rosewood) (MD 8-0)

· Cons. Semi — Ian Jones (Starmount) won by major decision over Christian Harris (Albemarle) 31-6 (MD 12-3)

· 3rd Place Match — Ian Jones (Starmount) won by fall over Bryson Mcfalls (Mitchell) 37-14 (Fall 4:10)

1A 285 (Johnatan Argueta)

· Quarterfinal — Johnatan Argueta (Starmount) won by fall over Devonte Harrison (Uwharrie Charter Academy) (Fall 1:14)

· Semifinal — Johnatan Argueta (Starmount) won by fall over Caleb Hovis (Cherryville) (Fall 3:06)

· 1st Place Match — Koleson Dooley (Robbinsville) won by decision over Johnatan Argueta (Starmount) (Dec 3-1)

Forbush

2A 106 (Alan Benitez)

· Champ. Round 1 — Alex Raymundo (Randleman) won by decision over Alan Benitez (Forbush) (Dec 12-6)

· Cons. Round 1 — Alan Benitez (Forbush) won by fall over Wesley Fountain (SouthWest Edgecombe) (Fall 1:36)

· Cons. Round 2 — Alan Benitez (Forbush) won by decision over Joseph Maples (South Lenoir) (Dec 7-2)

· Cons. Round 3 — Alan Benitez (Forbush) won by decision over Aiden Burkholder (Trinity) (Dec 7-0)

· Cons. Semi — Alex Raymundo (Randleman) won in overtime over Alan Benitez (Forbush) (OT 11-6)

· 5th Place Match — Sam Boltes (Washington) won by fall over Alan Benitez (Forbush) (Fall 1:46)

2A 113 (Jose Pina Velasquez)

· Champ. Round 1 — Isaiah Pittman (Newton-Conover) won by fall over Jose Pina-Velasquez (Forbush) (Fall 0:55)

· Cons. Round 1 — Brandon Mann (South Granville) won by decision over Jose Pina-Velasquez (Forbush) (Dec 15-9)

2A 120 (Drake Parker)

· Champ. Round 1 — Drake Parker (Forbush) won by fall over Jamesion Wesley (West Craven) (Fall 0:53)

· Quarterfinal — Drake Parker (Forbush) won by decision over Fernando Teniente (West Caldwell) (Dec 11-10)

· Semifinal — Josh Miller (Seaforth) won by fall over Drake Parker (Forbush) (Fall 2:56)

· Cons. Semi — Phoenix Michaud (Newton-Conover) won by fall over Drake Parker (Forbush) (Fall 0:40)

· 5th Place Match — Kaden Shoup (Burns) won by fall over Drake Parker (Forbush) (Fall 1:35)