HENDERSONVILLE – The idea of Polk County winning a conference championship might have seemed a bit foreign to Wolverine wrestlers competing Tuesday at Hendersonville.
After all, none were alive the last time such an event happened.
Polk County’s 22-year wait to hang another wrestling conference championship banner is over. The Wolverines clinched at least a share of the Western Highlands Conference regular-season crown in sweeping Mountain Heritage, Madison and Hendersonville during a quint match in Hendersonville.
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The Wolverines can secure sole possession of the league crown by defeating Owen in next week’s regular-season finale. Polk is one match ahead of Hendersonville in the conference standings courtesy of Tuesday’s win, the Bearcats retaining second place thanks to a thrilling 42-41 win over Madison to conclude Tuesday’s schedule.
That’s the victory that head coach Mark Emory covets – completing an undefeated pass through the WHC and not having to share the school’s first league title since 2004 with anyone.
“I want it for the team,” Emory said. “I want them to be the first team to win it in 22 years.”
On a night where Zalen McCraw became Polk County’s all-time winningest wrestler and Styler Blackwell earned his 100th career win, the Wolverines matter-of-factly handled their three league opponents. Mountain Heritage only had two wrestlers for its match, so no worries there. But Madison and Hendersonville figured to test Polk County, both entering the evening without a conference loss.
The Wolverines handled both challenges, jumping out to large leads each time, including taking the first six matches against Hendersonville.
“We wrestled OK,” Emory said. “It wasn’t our best night, but it definitely wasn’t our worst night.
“They work hard. I put them through a lot. That’s what I told them before we got off the bus – none of these teams have gone through what you all have gone through.”
Polk County’s lone female wrestler, senior Grace Settles, also got to compete and earned wins over Hendersonville’s Eliza Rice and Madison’s Sophia VanBumble. All in all, it proved a stellar night for Wolverine wrestling, though Emory noted that much work remains to be done.
“We’ve got to get ready for regionals and state,” Emory said. “That’s our big goal. This is just one step toward that goal.”
POLK COUNTY 71, MOUNTAIN HERITAGE 6
106: Silas Amorelli (PC) by forfeit
113: Double Forfeit
120: Jayden Pons (PC) by forfeit
126: Amon Villarreal (PC) tech. fall Mattias Kelley, 15-0
132: Liam Jackson (PC) by forfeit
138: Max Fraiser (MH) p. Conner Ahlert (4:48)
144: Riley Morgan (PC) by forfeit
150: Brody Wolfe (PC) by forfeit
157: Zachary McCraw (PC) by forfeit
165: Zalen McCraw (PC) by forfeit
175: Carson Bell (PC) by forfeit
190: Styler Blackwell (PC) by forfeit
215: Isaiah Staley (PC) by forfeit
285: Tanner McKinney (PC) by forfeit
POLK COUNTY 53, MADISON 23
113: Double Forfeit
120: Jayden Pons (PC) p. LA Sesena (5:15)
126: Amon Villarreal (PC) by forfeit
132: Alexander Cecil (M) tech. fall Liam Jackson, 16-1
138: Conner Ahlert (PC) by forfeit
144: Jaxtyn Virgil (PC) p. Tenoch Palafox (1:09)
150: Brody Wolfe (PC) p. Rylan Lisenbee (1:07)
157: Colton Jessup (M) p. Zachary McCraw (3:49)
165: Carson Bell (PC) by forfeit
175: Zalen McCraw (PC) tech. fall Judson Beaver, 18-1
190: Styler Blackwell (PC) p. Hunter Martin (0:24)
215: Max Shelton (M) p. Isaiah Staley (0:58)
285: Tanner McKinney (PC) p. Peyton Jessup (5:32)
106: Clay Jamerson (M) p. Silas Amorelli (2:33)
POLK COUNTY 55, HENDERSONVILLE 20
120: Jayden Pons (PC) by forfeit
126: Amon Villarreal (PC) tech. fall Leland Carroll, 16-0
132: Liam Jackson (PC) maj. dec. Keegan Becher, 12-4
138: Conner Ahlert (PC) tech. fall Ezra Wood, 16-1
144: Jaxtyn Virgil (PC) p. Cole Novak (1:20)
150: Brody Wolfe (PC) p. Eli Guerra (1:20)
157: Brendan Lewis (H) d. Zachary McCraw, 12-6
165: Zalen McCraw (PC) medical forfeit
175: Carson Bell (PC) by forfeit
190: Styler Blackwell (PC) p. Brian Maximov (0:38)
215: Kevin Saldana (H) tech. fall Isaiah Staley, 19-3
285: Luke Westbrook (H) p. Tanner McKinney (4:00)
106: Silas Amorelli (PC) by forfeit
113: Wyatt Funke (H) by forfeit
