Miller: Emory’s sixth-place showing something to build on for future

Pride. So much pride. That’s what Polk County head wrestling coach Phillip Miller felt about the state championsship meet performance of Chase Emory.

The Polk County sophomore returned from the state 2A meet in Greensboro with a sixth-place finish in the 138-pound weight class. Primarily wrestling seniors over the two days of the meet, including eventual state champion Brandon Reynolds of West Wilkes, Emory more than proved that he belonged among the state’s best in the event.

“I couldn’t be more proud,” Miller said. “His goal was to go down there and place, and he placed. It was a wonderful experience for him, and I couldn’t be prouder. All he wants to do is wrestle, and now he’s had a taste of it there and can build on that next season.”

Originally slated for three days, the meet wound up being compressed to two due to last week’s inclement weather. Emory won his opening match against Jacksonville Northside’s Douglas Bulla on Friday, then dropped an 8-2 decision to Reynolds in the championship quarterfinals, though Miller said Emory twice had possible takedowns negated for happening just outside the circle.

“He was in every match he wrestled,” Miller said. “Even if the score didn’t look like it, every match he had was close. He wasn’t outmatched by anyone he saw.”

A long wait for a consolation match on Friday night that never happened, instead shuffled to Saturday, meant that Emory didn’t leave Greensboro Coliseum until nearly midnight. He had to be back early Saturday morning to weigh in and prepare for his first consolation match, a 6-3 decision over Trinity’s Austin Minish.

Emory then came back Saturday afternoon to defeat Franklinton’s Jospeh Royster, 4-3, before falling to Thomasville’s Khyree Colson, 10-6. That dropped Emory into a match to decide fifth place with Bunker Hill’s Bernie Briley, which Briley won 6-2.

“Chase wrestled as hard as he could in every match,” Miller said. “It was his first time there, and he was able to see how everything is done and take it all in.

“He’ll work hard this offseason and continue working toward his goal of being a state champion.”