Jacket Wrestlers go to State Championships

Submitted photo Jeff Updike wrestled well, but lost both matches.

After the best showing ever for Hayesville wrestlers at the West Regional, three HHS wrestlers headed to the State Championships in Winston- Salem's Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Although we didn't have any state placers it is clear that our wrestlers are able to compete at the State Tournament competition level.

Senior, Justin Guffey advance in the tournament with a first period pin over JD Cunningham of First Flight High School in the consolation first round. Guffey moved on in the 119-pound weight class to the second round of consolation matches but he lost hard fought match 4-6 in overtime to Taylor Barber of West Lincoln High School. The loss ended Justin's three-year wrestling career at Hayesville with a record of 74 wins and 41 losses.

Jeff Updike a Hayesville junior wrestled well, but lost both of his state championship matches. His first loss came to Nick Abertson Of Mount Pleasant High School. Albertson went on to place 2nd in the 135-pound weight class. Updike's second match was a hard fought 5-4 decision loss to Alex Kubacki of Orange High School. Kubacki scored on a last second escape to take the close decision. He went on to place 6th in the weight class.

Submitted photo Justin Guffey advanced in first tounament, he lost the second round in a hard fough match.

Sophomore, Tyler Marocux qualified for the North Carolina State Championships for the second year, but he aggravated an injured muscle in his loss to Philip Mueller of Louisburg High School. Tyler could not continue to wrestle in the tournament and was force to default.

It is clear that Hayesville wrestlers have moved to a level where they are competitive at the state tournament level of competition. Wrestling fans can expect a state placer from HHS soon.

Championship First Round:

119 Chris Johnson, Orange High School decision Justin Guffey 7-1

125 Philip Muller, Louisburg tech fall Tyler Marcoux 16-0

135 Nick Albertson, Mount Pleasant pin Jeff Updike 3:46

Consolation First Round:

119 Justin Guffey pin JD Cunningham, First Flight 1:54

Submitted photo Tyler Marocux was forced to default due to an injured muscle.

135 Alex Kubacki, Orange High School decision Jeff Updike 5-4

Consolation Second Round:

Taylor Barber, West Lincoln High School decision Justin Guffey 6-4OT

Smoky Mountain Conference State Placers:

112 lbs Weston Haney, Robbinsville 1st place STATE CHAMPOIN

215 lbs Chandler Turpin, Robbinsville 2nd place

103 lbs Erik Messick, Robbinsville 3rd place

145 lbs Zach Whitman, Rosman 5th place

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