Avery County wrestling wins team championship, sets state record on 'overwhelming' day

GREENSBORO — Cael Dunn's teammates wouldn't tell him.

The 170-pound freshman was set to be the sixth and final Avery County wrestler to battle for a state championship Saturday evening, and he would be the only person in the Greensboro Coliseum who didn't know that he was wrestling for a state record. The prior five Vikings had all won, tying the most ever at an NCHSAA tournament.

Dunn's situation was the most extreme, but with the margins atop the 1A team standings razor-thin, all of his teammates had entered their matches attempting to keep the bigger picture out of mind, staying true to the spirit of the individual tournament.

Yet as time ticked down on Dunn's 1-0 win, his dad, Avery County coach Matthew Dunn, held six fingers to the sky. Not only was Cael Dunn the record-breaking sixth Viking 1A individual champion, the program had just won a sixth team title of the past four seasons.

"The sixth champion sets a new record, it was my son, and we're coming from behind in the team tournament. It was a little overwhelming," Matthew Dunn said. "Those matches took a toll out of me. I think something died in me during those matches, because I am exhausted. I'm just so proud and happy for these kids."

That mental drain is why the Vikings coaching staff wanted to be sure their wrestlers weren't thinking about the team race. Robbinsville (which beat Avery County for the regional title last week) entered the championship round five points ahead of the Vikings, who themselves had a five-point advantage over Uwharrie Charter (which beat Avery County for the dual state championship two weeks ago).

All three had a chance to come out on top, but the Vikings did their part to remove as much drama from the ending as possible.

"It wasn't really on our mind," 132-pound champion Grant Reece said. "We all wanted to get as many points as possible for the team, but at the end of the day, it's an individual tournament. ... It all came together, and it worked out."

Some of the wins were expected and proceeded according to plan — 120-pounder Benjamin Jordan's pin, 152-pounder Tristan Adams' decision, 195-pounder Seth Blackledge's pin — but others had tight battles.

Reece needed a late takedown to secure his title, and Cooper Foster held on for a 1-0 win at 106 pounds.

The first five wins raised the stakes even further for the toughest match of the six, with freshman Cael Dunn facing off against senior defending champion Grayson Roberts of Uwharrie Charter.

"Grant Reece came down there and looked at me, and he wouldn't tell me. I wanted him to tell me, but he wouldn't," Cael Dunn said. "Just keeping my mind right, stay on track. ... Having Seth Blackledge there with me was a huge help. Without him, I would've been down there having panic attacks."

Cael Dunn's second-period escape was the only point of the match. He didn't see his dad's celebration, so it wasn't until he was off the mat that he found out what he'd helped the team accomplish.

Three times in recent years, he'd watched from the stands as Avery County tied the record with five individual champions in what were supposed to be the program's best chances to get six.

Instead, it was the 2023 Vikings, who were replacing the core of wrestlers who'd started the dynasty, who saw their dual and regional streaks come to an end this month, who weren't even sure they would win the team championship until the final matches, that put themselves in the record books.

"It meant a lot, because the spotlight's been on us a lot for the past few years," Reece said. "After we've lost a couple we shouldn't have this year, it was really nice to get the spotlight back on us, win something big and make history again."

This story will be updated.

The Citizen Times provided live updates from the Greensboro Coliseum. See below for how the action unfolded, as well as for a list of all WNC podium finishers.

REGIONALS:Every WNC wrestling regional champion and state qualifier

DUAL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS:Avery County finishes as runner-up to Uwharrie Charter

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:Postseason storylines for WNC wrestling

NCHSAA wrestling state championship live updates

8:15 p.m.: A strong state championships for WNC, with 11 individual champions and Avery County winning the 1A team championship. The Vikings set a state record with six individual champions.

8:00 p.m.: STATE CHAMPION! Robbinsville's Kage Williams makes it three state championships in as many years. The 182-pounder is yet to lose a high school match on the mat and will look to join the four-timers club next year.

7:57 p.m.: STATE CHAMPION! Brevard junior Jaxon Turner avenges a regional final loss to Newton Conover's Jordan Henze with a 6-5 win for WNC's first non-1A win of the night.

7:55 p.m.: STATE CHAMPION! Avery County 170-pounder Cael Dunn caps a stellar freshman season with a 1-0 win over defending state champion Grayson Roberts of Uwharrie Charter. The Vikings go 6-for-6 in the championship session and win the team crown.

7:43 p.m.: Robbinsville's Turner Jackson drops a tough 3-1 match at 160 pounds. Barring penalties, Avery County has the team title sealed.

7:30 p.m.: STATE CHAMPION! Avery County's Tristan Adams repeats at 152 pounds, taking an 8-4 decision that puts the Vikings in good shape on the team race.

7:30 p.m.: Pisgah junior Xander Hill can't quite generate enough offense against Foard's Brayden Mejia, falling 6-4.

7:30 p.m.: Hendersonville senior Dennis Waters takes a tech fall at the hands of now-four-time state champion Jeremiah Price (Surry Central) at 2A 152.

7:15 p.m.: Hendersonville senior Walker Mains drops the 2A 145-pound bout 12-5. Both wrestlers struggled to finish takedowns in that one.

6:53 p.m.: STATE CHAMPION! Another dramatic finish to a Grant Reece state championship match, and the Avery County junior comes out on top for the second consecutive year. A takedown in the final seconds secures a 4-3 win at 132 pounds.

6:15 p.m.: We take a break for podiums. Avery County did has done what it needed to so far, but it will be won or lost in the second half.6:10 p.m.: Enka senior Isaiah Morrison loses 14-7 in the 3A 126-pound championship. a frenetic and even first period, but Charleston Baglio (Central Cabarrus) was in control from there.

5:59 p.m. East Henderson's Gunner Marshall scores an early takedown but can't add to it, losing 8-2 at 3A 120 pounds.5:54 p.m.: STATE CHAMPION! Benjamin Jordan doing what he does. A second-period pin gives the Avery County 120-pounder two state championships entering his senior year.

5:39 p.m.: STATE CHAMPION! Robbinsville junior Alexis Panama goes back-to-back with a second-period pin at 113 pounds, earning crucial bonus points for the Black Knights.

5:35 p.m.: STATE CHAMPION! Avery County sophomore Cooper Foster's second-period escape is the only point he needs against Uwharrie Charter's Ethan Hines, winning his maiden state title 1-0.

5:20 p.m.: STATE CHAMPION! Swain County heavyweight Tyce Neadeau goes from third place last year to state champion in his senior season with a routine 11-6 win.5:00 p.m.: STATE CHAMPION! Robbinsville junior Koleson Dooley is in control throughout a 5-3 win at 220 pounds.

4:52 p.m.: Brevard's Ray Laney comes up just short against defending champion Owen Clark (Newton Conover) in 2A. Was within a point late but falls 5-3.

4:45 p.m.: STATE CHAMPION! Avery County's Seth Blackledge wins at 195 with a first-period pin, bookending his career with state titles. Big points in the team race, too.4:35 p.m.: We will begin shortly at 195 pounds.

4:15 p.m.: The parade of champions has concluded, and warm-ups are underway.

3:25 p.m.: Entering the championship round, Robbinsville leads Avery County by five points and Uwharrie Charter by 10 points in the 1A team standings. The Vikings have six wrestlers in the championship finals, while the Black Knights and Eagles have five apiece.

WNC state champions

1A 106: Cooper Foster (Avery County)

1A 113: Alexis Panama (Robbinsville)

1A 120: Benjamin Jordan (Avery County)

1A 132: Grant Reece (Avery County)

1A 152: Tristan Adams (Avery County)

1A 170: Cael Dunn (Avery County)

2A 170: Jaxon Turner (Brevard)

1A 182: Kage Williams (Robbinsville)

1A 195: Seth Blackledge (Avery County)

1A 220: Koleson Dooley (Robbinsville)

1A 285: Tyce Neadeau (Swain County)

WNC wrestling state championship placers

4A 132: Job Brown (Reynolds), 6th

4A 160: Elijah Brown (Reynolds), 3rd

3A 120: Gunner Marshall (East Henderson), 2nd

3A 126: Isaiah Morrison (Enka), 2nd

3A 126: Damon Landreth (West Henderson), 3rd

3A 138: Noah Tocaben (Enka), 3rd

3A 152: Xander Hill (Pisgah), 2nd

3A 160: Keith Rhodarmer (Enka), 4th

3A 182: Landon Pope (Pisgah), 3rd

2A 145: Walker Mains (Hendersonville), 2nd

2A 152: Dennis Waters (Hendersonville), 2nd

2A 160: Kyle Jamerson (Madison), 6th

2A 182: Jadyn Virgil (Polk County), 6th

2A 195: Ray Laney (Brevard), 2nd

2A 195: Alex Maximov (Hendersonville), 4th

1A 106: Adair Panama (Robbinsville), 4th

1A 113: Kale Stephenson (Swain County), 4th

1A 120: Loxston Hooper (Robbinsville), 3rd

1A 145: Willie Riddle (Robbinsville), 2nd

1A 160: Turner Jackson (Robbinsville), 2nd

1A 182: Darius Saunooke (Swain County), 2nd

1A 220: Blake Sain (Swain County), 4th

1A 285: Jacob Teesateskie (Robbinsville), 4th

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Avery County wrestling wins NCHSAA championship, sets state record