The Avery High School (AHS) wrestling squad opened its regular season schedule with a dual meet in Jefferson on Friday, Dec. 3, against Ashe County High School (ACHS). AHS fought hard during the dual, but the Huskies were too strong to defeat on its home mat as the Vikings fell by a 69-6 match score.
In its lone victory of the meet, Viking senior Brock Yackey picked up where he left off a season ago. Moving up to the 145-pound weight class this season, Yackey earned a second-period pinfall victory over ACHS’s Jacob Caffey.
A trio of Vikings battled hard, but fell in matches by decision. At the 119-pound weight class, Harley Rash lost in a narrow 6-4 decision against Jake St. German. At 160 pounds, returning state qualifier C.J. Vance lost a tight 4-0 decision to ACHS’s Dylan Lewis, while at 171 pounds, Luke Price battled but lost an 8-3 decision to Blake Huffman.
On Saturday, Dec. 4, the Vikings traveled to Miller’s Creek for the West Wilkes Invitational Tournament. It was a solid showing for a quartet of AHS wrestlers who each placed in the top four in their respective weight classes during the event.
In the 125-pound weight class, Jacob McKinney brought home a fourth-place finish, as he won matches overNorth Surry ’s Dakota Key by pin and West Davidson’s Sebastian Shanner by a 5-0 decision.
In the 135-pound classification, Devin Buchanan brought home fourth place as well, defeating Surry Central’s Rico Martinez by a narrow 8-7 decision and winning by second period pinfall over West Wilkes wrestler Casey Lewis.
In its lone victory of the meet, Viking senior Brock Yackey picked up where he left off a season ago. Moving up to the 145-pound weight class this season, Yackey earned a second-period pinfall victory over ACHS’s Jacob Caffey.
A trio of Vikings battled hard, but fell in matches by decision. At the 119-pound weight class, Harley Rash lost in a narrow 6-4 decision against Jake St. German. At 160 pounds, returning state qualifier C.J. Vance lost a tight 4-0 decision to ACHS’s Dylan Lewis, while at 171 pounds, Luke Price battled but lost an 8-3 decision to Blake Huffman.
On Saturday, Dec. 4, the Vikings traveled to Miller’s Creek for the West Wilkes Invitational Tournament. It was a solid showing for a quartet of AHS wrestlers who each placed in the top four in their respective weight classes during the event.
In the 125-pound weight class, Jacob McKinney brought home a fourth-place finish, as he won matches over
In the 135-pound classification, Devin Buchanan brought home fourth place as well, defeating Surry Central’s Rico Martinez by a narrow 8-7 decision and winning by second period pinfall over West Wilkes wrestler Casey Lewis.
The best finishes of the day for the Big Red were turned in by familiar faces, as seniors Yackey (145 pounds) and Vance (160 pounds) earned runner-up medals for their efforts.
Yackey received a first-round bye, then defeated West Davidson’s Jacob Robertson with a second period pin before falling in the championship final.
Vance won his first two matches of the tournament by pinfall over wrestlers from West Davidson and Surry Central, but lost by forfeit in the championship match.
The Vikings was scheduled to host Watauga and Mountain Heritage in a tri-match Tuesday, Dec. 7, but the match was postponed by inclement weather. The Big Red will travel this Saturday, Dec. 11, to
