Polk County had two finalists Saturday and placed 11th as a team in the 2024 Elizabeth Barry Memorial Clash in the Creek wrestling tourney at Mallard Creek in Charlotte.
The Wolverines competed against 39 other teams from multiple states in the two-day event. Hickory Ridge won the team title, edging out Indian Land (S.C.) and Trinity.
Polk County didn’t field a full team, but enjoyed success with its limited group. Efrain Rivera reached the 120-pound final, where he dropped a 14-8 decision to Hickory Ridge’s Jacob Dusche, while Zalen McCraw advanced to the 175-pound final before losing by technical fall to Hickory Ridge’s Colton Campbell.
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The Wolverines had one other placer, Amon Villarreal, who took fifth at 126 pounds.
Next up for Polk County will be the Carolina Clash Super Duals, set for Dec. 27-28 at Tryon International Equestrian Center.
120
Champ. Round 1 – Efrain Rivera (PC) p. Colby Harris (West Cabarrus) (Fall 0:46)
Champ. Round 2 – Efrain Rivera tech. fall Koen Hsu (Myers Park), 20-2
Quarterfinal – Efrain Rivera tech. fall Landon Logan (A.L. Brown), 17-2
Semifinal – Efrain Rivera p. Zane Garcia (Northwestern) (Fall 6:19)
1st Place Match – Jacob Dusche (Hickory Ridge) d. Efrain Rivera, 14-8
126
Champ. Round 1 – Amon Villarreal (PC) p. Ja`Den Morrison (West Charlotte) (Fall 2:33)
Champ. Round 2 – Amon Villarreal p. Elijah Christenbury (North Gaston) (Fall 5:01)
Quarterfinal – Amon Villarreal won in sudden victory – 1 over Thomas Hutchinson (Rock Hill) (SV-1 4-1)
Semifinal – Kyle Simpson (Parkwood) p. Amon Villarreal (Fall 1:44)
Cons. Semi – Josiah Fogarty (Indian Land) d. Amon Villarreal, 9-3
5th Place Match – Amon Villarreal d. Thomas Hutchinson (Rock Hill), 9-2
132
Champ. Round 1 – Brody Wolfe (PC) p. Dennis Matthews (East Mecklenburg) (Fall 1:43)
Champ. Round 2 – Brody Wolfe p. Thomas James (Myers Park) (Fall 2:17)
Quarterfinal – Maddox Cheek (Porter Ridge) d. Brody Wolfe, 7-6
Cons. Round 4 – Simeon Hamett (Trinity) d. Brody Wolfe, 5-1
138
Champ. Round 1 – Jaxtyn Virgil (PC) won by forfeit over Adan Kiing (Richmond Senior)
Champ. Round 2 – Weston Norton (East Mecklenburg) p. Jaxtyn Virgil (Fall 3:10)
Cons. Round 2 – Jaxtyn Virgil p. Hartley Smith (Cox Mill) (Fall 2:16)
Cons. Round 3 – Jaxtyn Virgil p. Rodrigo Grimaldo (Porter Ridge) (Fall 0:37)
Cons. Round 4 – Jaxtyn Virgil d. Jayden Henry (Trinity), 14-9
Cons. Round 5 – James White (Northwestern) p. Jaxtyn Virgil (Fall 1:14)
144
Champ. Round 1 – Michael Kepler (Weddington) d. Conner Ahlert (PC), 6-0
Cons. Round 1 – Conner Ahlert p. Alex Hill (Charlotte Catholic) (Fall 2:00)
Cons. Round 2 – Omari Pendergrass (Chester) p. Conner Ahlert (Fall 2:59)
150
Champ. Round 1 – Ngus Ward (Metrolina Christian Academy) maj. dec. Jacob Ed (PC), 8-0
Cons. Round 1 – Jacob Ed p. Robert Jackson (Parkwood) (Fall 2:22)
Cons. Round 2 – Jacob Ed maj. dec. Kashawn Busby (Rock Hill), 15-1
Cons. Round 3 – Stephen Buie (Cox Mill) d. Jacob Ed, 13-6
157
Champ. Round 1 – Misael Rivera (Glenn) p. Carson Bell (PC) (Fall 3:23)
Cons. Round 2 – Christopher Georgiev (Cox Mill) maj. dec. Carson Bell, 16-6
165
Champ. Round 2 – Styler Blackwell (PC) p. Kyler McCotter (Metrolina Christian Academy) (Fall 1:19)
Quarterfinal – Drew Teeter (Mooresville) p. Styler Blackwell (Fall 3:43)
Cons. Round 4 – Tucker Farabee (A.L. Brown) won by medical forfeit over Styler Blackwell
175
Champ. Round 2 – Zalen McCraw (PC) p. Jackson O`Donoghue (East Mecklenburg) (Fall 4:42)
Quarterfinal – Zalen McCraw maj. dec. Michael Bloomfield (Butler), 16-4
Semifinal – Zalen McCraw p. Brock Alexander (Metrolina Christian Academy) (Fall 1:24)
1st Place Match – Colton Campbell (Hickory Ridge) tech. fall Zalen McCraw, 21-6
