The Avery wrestling team returned to the mat last week for a dual meet on Thursday in Viking Gym against rival Watauga, while on Saturday team members traveled to Tuscola High School in Waynesville to participate in the NEO Invitational Tournament.Avery came up short in Thursday’s match against the Pioneers by a final match score of 48-22.
Picking up victories in the matchup were Brock Yackey by a 10-4 decision at 125 pounds, Forrest Sickler by 12-9 decision at 135 pounds, and Anthony Varacalli by 9-1 major decision victory at 145 pounds. Bennett Sweat (103 lbs.) and Jose Munoz (152 lbs.) each earned match victories via forfeit.
“We had some of our experienced guys who were unable to come away with wins. Most of our younger kids didn’t fare so well as they had a more experienced club. They fought hard and they are starting to learn, and part of that learning curve will be felt in these early dual meets,” Avery head wrestling coach Stacey Clark commented following the matches.
On Saturday morning a total of seven Viking wrestlers rode to Tuscola High School to compete in the NEO Invitational Tournament. The Vikings were without a number of their experienced grapplers due to prior commitments.
“A number of our kids had other events going on which they had to take care of over wrestling. We had the ACT going on over the weekend as well as Driver’s Ed finals. This was an individual tournament, so if there was one to be missed, this was probably the best one to have a number of kids unavailable,” Coach Clark added.
At 119 pounds, Brock Yackey earned a first period pinfall victory over Jack Elliott of McDowell High School in his second of four total matches. Bennett Sweat was victorious in two of his four matches on the day in the 103 pound weight class, defeating Tanner Piper of Franklin High School by a narrow 9-8 decision, and also defeated Polk County’s Anthony Sage by a first period pinfall. “Bennett is really well and starting to show great improvement in his wrestling,” the coach said.
A pair of Big Red grapplers earned three match victories. In the 135 pound class, Forrest Sickler lost his first two matches, but bounced back strongly to win his final three matches, upending McDowell’s Jeremy Buchanan by pinfall, defeating Franklin’s Cody Wake by a 17-13 decision, and picking up a first period pinfall win over Swain’s Robert Duplack. “Forrest had two convincing wins and is beginning to wrestle very aggressively. With this type of competition being similar to what we will face at Regionals, I think this was a really good weekend for him,” Coach Clark explained.
The other Avery wrestler with three wins during the day was Jacob McKinney, who placed third overall at 112 pounds. McKinney won his first two matches by pin, but was defeated by Jason Bottoms of host Tuscola. McKinney ended his day on a high note, however, defeating Swain’s Austin Curfice with a pinfall in 55 seconds.
“Jacob was the surprise of the tournament for us. He had three pins and beat some wrestlers from some pretty good schools. His only loss came to a very tough wrestler, and I believe he is really coming on and has improved greatly in recent weeks and vastly from last year,” the coach explained.
The Vikings return to the mat on Wednesday to take on Draughn High School in a make-up from a previously postponed match. The team was also scheduled to take on Mountain Heritage, but due to end-of-semester exams at the school Heritage had to reschedule, making Wednesday’s event only one dual at Viking Gym. Avery is then scheduled to travel to Fred T. Foard for another Saturday tournament event.
