Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Brennan Worrell prepares to pin Union Academy’s Nehemiah Parker during a Class 1A second-round meet Saturday. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record)
Uwharrie Charter Academy and Trinity wrestling teams began their quests to repeat as dual team state champions with two home victories apiece Saturday.
UCA, the top seed in Class 1A East Region and the Piedmont Athletic Conference champion, and Trinity, the No. 1 seed for Class 2-A in the West Region, cruised in the opening rounds.
If they win regional semifinals and finals Wednesday night, they’ll be headed to state finals Saturday at the coliseum fieldhouse in Greensboro – Class 1A at noon, Class 2A at 3 p.m.
UCA trounced Lakewood 78-6 by picking up nine forfeits, while Caleb Saldana (126 pounds), Michael Hardie (138), Travis Nobles (150) and Michael Shropshire (215) recorded pins.
The Eagles didn’t drop a match against Union Academy with pins recorded by Andrew White (120), Saldana (126), Brennan Worrell (132), Rick Riccardella (138), Brandon Jordan (144), Nobles (150) and Lorenzo Alston (157) and a technical fall for Aiden Foster (165). The rest of the bouts were forfeited.
UCA is home for the regional rounds Wednesday night, taking on fourth-seeded South Davidson and, if it advances, either second-seeded North East Carolina Prep or third-seeded Rosewood in the final.
Also in Class 1A, Eastern Randolph defeated Chatham Central 59-21 with pins from Hayden Payne (175), Joshua Watson (113), Lucas Kennedy (120), David Lambright (126), Trevor Young (144) and Brayden Tedder (165) and a technical fall from Jamie Crabtree (138).
In a 55-18 second-round loss to North East Carolina Prep, Eastern Randolph’s winners were Payne with a pin and Peyton Loflin and Lambright via forfeits.
Trinity defeated Brevard 62-6 with pins from Aiden Burkholder (106), Stephen Cross (113), Kayden Hess (126), Jayden Henry (138), Jaden Allred (144), Lawson Coltrane (165) and Joseph Trahan (285) along with major decisions for Simeon Hammett (132) and Zane Schloemer (150).
In defeating Madison 66-18, Allred and Coltrane recorded pins amid an array of forfeits.
Trinity meets fourth-seeded Eden Morehead at Newton-Conover on Wednesday. If the Bulldogs win, they tangle with second-seeded Newton-Conover or third-seeded Rutherfordton-Spindale Central in the regional final.
Also in Class 2A, Eden Morehead defeated 13th–seeded Wheatmore 41-33 in the first round. Wheatmore’s winners were Johnathan Kelly (215) by decision, Terry Gillespie (120), Ayden Sumners (126) and Spencer Moore (157) with pins and Dominic Hittepole (175) and Noah Browning (190) via forfeits.
In Class 3-A, No. 15 seed Asheboro lost 57-19 at St. Stephens despite victories from Esteban Santos (106) by major decision, Berik Bigelow (132) by decision and Oscar Zelaya (126) and Adam Curry (157) with pins.
