Wolverines wrestlers continue title quest, double up Knights

One step closer.

That’s how Polk County Middle wrestling felt about its 60-30 home win Wednesday over Apple Valley, a matchup of the top two teams in the Blue Ridge Conference East Division.

The win bumped Polk Middle’s overall record to 10-0, including 6-0 in East Division matches. Polk now has a two-match lead over Apple Valley and Rugby in its quest to repeat as East Division champions.

How it happened: Apple Valley scored decisions in the first two matches, but Polk Middle took charge with a run of seven straight match wins, that surge kicked off by Liam Jackson at 92 pounds.

Polk then wrapped up the match in the middle weights, including Styler Blackwell’s third-period pin over Azlyn Villafranca in a hard-fought match in which Villafranca held the lead on points entering the final period. But Blackwell started the final period in the top position and quickly flipped Villafranca to secure the win.

Next up: Polk Middle will travel Monday to Hendersonville Middle for another East Division clash, the start of three straight road matches.

78: Shehon Finnigan (AV) d. Silas Amorell
85: Sofia Williams (AV) d. Gavin Waldbillig
92: Liam Jackson (PC) p. Cooper Morrow
100: Efrain Rivera (PC) p. Liam Williams
108: Brody Wolfe (PC) p. Avery Capps
115: Jaxtyn Virgil (PC) p. Zack Rector
122: Connor Ahlert (PC) p. Austin Brevard
128: Evan McCraw (PC) p. Aizlee Villafranca
134: Isaiah Staley (PC) d. Liam Dills
140: Logan Mason (AV) p. Chester Wilson
147: Scott Moore (PC) d. Logan Blakeley
154: Styler Blackwell (PC) p. Azlyn Villafranca
162: Zach McCraw (PC) p. Lazaro Reyes
172: Hector Johnson (AV) p. Henry Wright
182: Sawyer Huff (PC) p. Elijah Reeves
195: Double forfeit