The numbers tell the story of dominance: 242 team points. Six individual champions. Nine finalists. A fourth consecutive conference tournament team title.
Polk County Middle’s wrestling team didn’t just win Friday’s Blue Ridge Conference Individual Tournament at Pisgah High School in Canton – the Wolverines rewrote their own record book in the process.
The 242 team points marked the highest total in program history for a conference tournament. The six individual champions set a new program record, while the nine finalists tied the mark. And for the fourth straight year, Polk County Middle swept both the dual team and tournament team titles, continuing its remarkable run.
Get PolkSports delivered to your inbox
Sign up for our free newsletter →
The tournament ran late into Friday night before concluding.
Eric Ramirez (98), Evan Taylor (83), Jax Gosnell (132), Josh Odel (106), Oakley McDowell (138) and Rhys Jackson (120) each claimed individual championships for the Wolverines. Jackson won his second consecutive conference title, defeating Hendersonville’s Colton Griffith by major decision, Waynesville’s Silas Reece by decision and Apple Valley’s Alex Alvarez by pin.
Ramirez dominated his weight class with a technical fall and major decision before claiming a 7-2 decision in the finals. Taylor won by technical fall and pin before defeating Rugby’s James Bishop 10-4 in the championship match.
Gosnell advanced via injury default before pinning Waynesville’s Maxwell Hogan and defeating Bethel’s Malachi Johnson 9-0 by major decision in the finals. Odel earned two pins to claim his title, while McDowell pinned all three opponents on his way to the championship.
Tiernan Hanna (90), Trenholm McMinn (150) and Ellis Searcy (76) each placed second. Hanna defeated Brevard’s Parker Abrams 5-4 and pinned Rugby’s Kade Wilson before falling in the finals. McMinn won by decision and pin before losing a 7-5 decision to Waynesville’s Will Phillips in the championship match. Searcy advanced with a technical fall and major decision before falling in the finals.
Gabe Nelon (215), Landon Plylar (250) and James Logan (157) each finished third. Nelon rebounded from an opening-round loss to win three consecutive matches, including two pins. Plylar bounced back from a semifinal loss with two victories, including a pin. Logan won three consecutive consolation matches to claim third place.
Coalden Cehan (113) placed fourth after winning by technical fall in the opening round, falling in the semifinals, claiming a dramatic 25-22 sudden victory decision in the consolation semifinals and losing in the third-place match.
Isaac Whitley (144) also competed for the Wolverines.
Polk County Middle scored 242 points to outdistance runner-up Bethel Middle (151). Waynesville Middle finished third with 135.5 points, followed by Apple Valley (117.5), Flat Rock Middle (113), Macon Middle (112), Brevard Middle (99.5), Canton Middle (95.5), Rugby Middle (84), Hendersonville Middle (55), Madison Middle (49) and Smoky Mountain Middle (3).
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
76 – Ellis Searcy (2nd place) Ellis Searcy tech. fall Christian Cutshaw (AV), 15-0; Ellis Searcy maj. dec. Brayden Robinson (C), 24-12; Ty Sorrells (Bet) p. Ellis Searcy
83 – Evan Taylor (1st place) Evan Taylor tech. fall Ryker Warlick (W), 20-5; Evan Taylor p. Abram Johnson (Be); Evan Taylor d. James Bishop (R), 10-4
90 – Tiernan Hanna (2nd place) Tiernan Hanna d. Parker Abrams (Br), 5-4; Tiernan Hanna p. Kade Wilson (R); Landon Cody (Mad) p. Tiernan Hanna
98 – Eric Ramirez (1st place) Eric Ramirez tech. fall John Wheatley, 17-1; Eric Ramirez maj. dec. Camden Gash, 9-1; Eric Ramirez d. Corbin Floyd, 7-2
106 – Josh Odel (1st place) Josh Odel p. Brent Newcomer (AV); Josh Odel p. Micah Bullard (Br)
113 – Coalden Cehan (4th place) Coalden Cehan tech. fall Braydon Webb (R), 17-1; Trevor Frank (FR) p. Coalden Cehan; Coalden Cehan d. Carter Clark, 25-22 (sudden victory); Seth Stoltzfus (Bre) p. Coalden Cehan
120 – Rhys Jackson (1st place) Rhys Jackson maj. dec. Colton Griffith (H), 14-2; Rhys Jackson d. Silas Reece (W), 6-0; Rhys Jackson p. Alex Alvarez (AV)
132 – Jax Gosnell (1st place) Jax Gosnell injury default Ayden Guido (AV); Jax Gosnell p. Maxwell Hogan (W); Jax Gosnell maj. dec. Malachi Johnson (Bet), 9-0
138 – Oakley McDowell (1st place) Oakley McDowell p. Xander McPeters (H); Oakley McDowell p. Hudysn Carver (W); Oakley McDowell p. Avett Bishop (FR)
144 – Isaac Whitley Isaac Whitley p. Ceejay Riley (C); Leif Crider (W) p. Isaac Whitley; Holden Roger (FR) maj. dec. Isaac Whitley, 11-1
150 – Trenholm McMinn (2nd place) Trenholm McMinn d. Danny Martinez (FR), 4-3; Trenholm McMinn p. Noah Loyns (R); Will Phillips (W) d. Trenholm McMinn, 7-5
157 – James Logan (3rd place) James Logan p. Taten Jenkins (SM); Rayden Webb (W) p. James Logan; James Logan p. Hunter Allard (FR); James Logan p. Max Hernandez (AV)
215 – Gabe Nelon (3rd place) Colton Saick (AV) d. Gabe Nelon, 12-6; Gabe Nelon p. Fernando Leon (H); Gabe Nelon p. Dominic Whiteside (FR); Gabe Nelon d. Cooper Parrott (W), 12-6
250 – Landon Plylar (3rd place) Landon Plylar p. Jeremiah Thompson (Mad); Cameron Morris (R) p. Landon Plylar; Landon Plylar p. Brayden Holden (Bre); Landon Plylar p. Rodolfo Raya (W)
