Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Brennan Worrell, top, works against Avery County’s King Orvosh in a 120-pound match last year in the Class 1A dual team state finals. (Randolph Record)
Uwharrie Charter Academy and Trinity wrestling teams will begin their quests to repeat as dual team state champions with home meets Saturday.
UCA, the top seed in Class 1A East Region and the Piedmont Athletic Conference champion, is home against Lakewood. The winner meets either Union Academy or Albemarle in the second round.
Trinity begins Class 2A competition as the top seed in the West Region, facing Brevard and then, if it wins, the survivor between Madison and West Davidson. (More on Trinity: www.randolphrecord.com/trinity-wrestlers-eye-another-team-title)
The first and second rounds are held Saturday, with winners in each pod going to the regional semifinals and finals Wednesday. The state title meets are set for Feb. 8 in Greensboro.
Eastern Randolph is the seventh seed in Class 1A East, going to North East Carolina Prep in Tarboro to meet 10th-seeded Chatham Central. Second-seeded North East Carolina Prep and No. 15 seed Neuse Charter also meet in the first round in that pod.
Wheatmore is in Class 2A West as the 13th seed and an opening assignment against fourth-seeded and host Eden Morehead. Fifth-seeded North Wilkes and 12th-seeded Lincolnton also will be at that site.
“We’re getting there,” Wheatmore coach Kyle Spencer said, realizing every point will be critical. “It’s going to be tough. We have to have our guys who typically may get pinned, stay off their back so that gives us a chance to win.”
Asheboro is in the field as the No. 15 seed in Class 3A West, going to second-seeded and host St. Stephens for the first round. Also in that bracket are seventh-seeded South Point and 10th-seeded Greensboro Dudley. (More on Asheboro: www,randolphrecord.com/its-hard-to-pin-down-new-asheboro-wrestling-coach)
“If we can get into the (state) duals, that would be something for this team,” Asheboro coach Cliff Thompson said earlier this season.
This week’s results
UCA wrapped up the regular season by whipping Southwestern Randolph 71-6 on Monday.
Trinity finished with Monday’s 61-15 victory against Eastern Randolph on Monday.
Wednesday night at Wheatmore, the Warriors went 2-1 in non-conference competition. They blew out Bishop McGuinness 84-0 and topped Greensboro Page 66-9 before falling to Greensboro Grimsley by 49-23. Greensboro Grimsley is in the Class 4A state bracket.
Nolan Hammonds, Spencer Moore, Dominic Hittepole and Noah Browning were all 3-0 for Wheatmore.
