Madison wrestling earns 2A conference championship; 3 take top honors at year-end tourney

Johnny Casey, Asheville Citizen Times
·4 min read

NEWLAND - With its 45-36 win at home against Owen on Jan. 17, the Madison wrestling team earned the 2A Western Highlands conference regular season title.

The Patriots finished 15-6 (5-1 in conference) with its only conference loss coming to Avery, which won the split conference outright, while the Patriots took home the 2A title.

Madison was scheduled to participate in the state dual tournament Jan. 31, with the location to be determined, according to coach John Clark.

On Jan. 25, the team participated in the Western Highlands individual tournament at Avery High, finishing second in points behind Avery.

Clark said he was proud of senior wrestler Harley Ramsey, who as a freshman became the first female Madison wrestler to finish in the top three in a conference tournament after winning conference that year.

Ramsey placed fifth in the 106-pound weight division Jan. 25.

"Harley's had it tough because she's trying to work two jobs, go to school and wrestle," Clark said. "She's wrestled for us for six years, and been with me for 10 years. She had an older brother that wrestled for me and she was my bookkeeper in middle school."

According to her coach, Ramsey was suffering emotionally after hearing the news of Madison High principal David Robinson's death.

"Her family and his family are good friends," Clark said. "She was tore up pretty bad."

The NCHSAA will offer girls wrestling starting next year, the coach said.

Top finishers

Three senior Madison wrestlers won first place in their weight classes: J.J. Calloway in the 195-pound class, Payton Wallace in the 132-pound division and Alex Kerns in the 220-pound class.

Kerns was voted Most Outstanding Wrestler for the tournament.

Junior Madison wrestler Kyle Jamerson earned second place in the 152-lb. weight class at the Western Highlands 1A/2A Conference individual tournament Jan. 25 at Avery High School.
Junior Madison wrestler Kyle Jamerson earned second place in the 152-lb. weight class at the Western Highlands 1A/2A Conference individual tournament Jan. 25 at Avery High School.

Junior Kyle Jamerson placed second at 152 pounds.

Senior Tacoma "Taco" Reed placed third in the 126-pound division, while junior Danny Foley finished third at 170 pounds. Sophomore Mason Clubb also placed third in the heavyweight class (220 pounds and higher).

Senior Tacoma "Taco" Reed placed third in the 126-lb. division at the Western Highlands 1A/2A Conference individual wrestling tournament Jan. 25 in Newland.
Senior Tacoma "Taco" Reed placed third in the 126-lb. division at the Western Highlands 1A/2A Conference individual wrestling tournament Jan. 25 in Newland.

Sophomore Grayson Brigman placed fourth in the 138-pound division, while junior Bryan Hernandez placed fourth at 145 pounds.

Freshmen Tanner Blackwell (160 pounds) and Grayson Denton-Moygn (182 pounds) placed fourth.

Clark said he was excited about his team's performance overall.

"We've done really well," he said. "Overall we've had a really good year. We can't complain."

Madison senior wrestler Payton Wallace earned first place in the 132-lb. division Jan. 25 at the Western Highlands 1A/2A Conference individual tournament.
Madison senior wrestler Payton Wallace earned first place in the 132-lb. division Jan. 25 at the Western Highlands 1A/2A Conference individual tournament.

All-conference

As with many other teams currently, the Patriots are fighting to stay healthy.

"We're late in the season, and injuries have hurt us," Clark said. "We've lost our (primary) 113-pound wrestler, our 120-pound wrestler, our 138-pound wrestler and our 182-pound wrestler. We've had to use some backups, and some of the weight classes we just couldn't fill, and we had to forfeit. We've had to suck it up and get after it pretty good."

Despite the injuries, three Madison wrestlers were awarded all-conference honors: Kerns, Clark and Calloway.

Madison athletic director Rex Wells awards Madison senior Alex Kerns is awarded Most Outstanding Wrestler Jan. 25 at the Western Highlands 1A/2A Conference individual tournament.
Madison athletic director Rex Wells awards Madison senior Alex Kerns is awarded Most Outstanding Wrestler Jan. 25 at the Western Highlands 1A/2A Conference individual tournament.

The coach said Kerns' athletic ability has helped him carve out a path to success.

"Alex had wrestled for me in middle school and then came back in high school," he said. "He hadn't wrestled any in high school, and he waited until his senior year to come back."

The team's success is something Clark doesn't take for granted, though.

"I try to stay humble," he said. "I believe the Lord will get you for being ugly. We've still got a lot of wrestling to do. We're excited because we're in the state duals, but on the same token, when you get to that level you can't afford to give up forfeits. We'll see what we can do, but right now we're giving up 12 points (in forfeits) before we get started. We're going to have to get after it."

Madison's middle school team won the Western Highlands 1A/2A conference, finishing with a record of 12-2 (7-1) in conference. The team participated in the conference's individual tournament Jan. 28.

"We'd like to thank all of our parents that come out and support us, and help our wrestling program," Clark said.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Madison wrestling earns 2A conference championship