UCA freshman collects girls’ wrestling state title

GREENSBORO — It turned out that Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Riley White shouldn’t have had anything to be afraid about.

The freshman 132-pounder took care of business and became the Class 1A-4A state champion in the girls’ division of the state tournament Friday night at First Horizon Coliseum.

“It was scary,” White said. “I don’t do great under pressure when the spotlight is on me.”

White completed an unbeaten season by defeating Heide Trask’s Lauren Hall by 6-3 in the final.

White, who was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler for Class 1A-4A, was composed during the match and afterward.

“She told me, ‘I don’t know how to celebrate,’ ” coach Hayden Waddell said.

There was celebrating in the stands, though, with a group of UCA boys’ wrestlers whooping it up to show their appreciation for White’s achievement.

That response was appropriate for various reasons.

“I love my teammates,” White said. “They’re amazing.”

One of those teammates is her brother, who by Saturday secured a third-place finish in the boys’ tournament.

Those guys are also her training partners.

“Riley wrestles the boys all the time,” Waddell said. “There’s no way she’s not getting better.”

White posted a 37-0 record. She led Hall 6-0 in the final before completing the task.

Earlier, she pinned Newton-Conover’s Abigail Martinez in the first period and then defeated Brevard’s Malie Turner 5-0.

Class 6A

Asheboro’s Alaina Scherer was the runner-up at 235 pounds.

She lost in the finals to White Oak’s Malea Vinson, who recorded a pin with four seconds remaining.

Scherer and Vinson were tied at 2-2 late in the second period prior it going awry for the Blue Comets junior. Vinson recorded back points.

To begin the third period, Scherer started on the bottom and couldn’t escape.

“Being on bottom was something on wanted to work on,” said Wes Scherer, the wrestler’s father and coach.

Scherer, who didn’t compete this season until January, finished with a 15-3 record.

Scherer controlled Harnett Central’s Tamysha Austin before securing a pin in 3:03. It was similar in the semifinals with a dominating performance against Northern Nash’s Cara Brake before a pint in 2:26.