The Smoky Mountain Conference held wrestling duals championships last week, with the boys competing in Murphy and the girls wrestling in Robbinsville.
Andrews and Murphy boys hit the mats Saturday, while the Murphy girls competed Thursday.
In overall points, the Murphy boys came in second and Andrews sixth.
Murphy girls
The Lady Bulldogs competed in five duals matches Thursday, winning only one due to a smaller team size. Andrews does not have a girls team this season, so the Lady Wildcats were not at the event.
Up first for the Dogs was Cherokee, where the Lady Braves won 66-6. In the four matches that were wrestled, Ivy Werner picked up six points for the Dogs with a pinfall win. Kyndle Garrett, Gianna Mayner and Sara Drew all lost their matches.
Murphy then faced Hayesville and lost in a close dual 19-18. Only one match was wrestled, as the other weight classes were forfeits.
Drew lost to Fara Ammons of Hayesville to give the Lady Yellow Jackets the dual win.
The Lady Dogs then faced the host Lady Black Knights and lost 48-12. Murphy’s 12 points came as Werner and Drew got forfeit wins.
The Lady Dogs then fell to Swain County 66-6. Their six points came as Drew got a pinfall win.
Murphy closed out the day by defeating Rosman 19-18. Werner, Garett and Mayner got forfeit wins while Rosman also had three wrestlers get forfeit wins.
Murphy won the dual on criteria.
Andrews boys
It was a tough day for the Wildcats, who went 0-6 in their duals. Despite falling in all six duals, as individuals they had some bright moments.
Against Cherokee, the Wildcats lost 69-12. Their 12 points came as Chase Beasley and AJ Johnson got forfeit wins.
In the dual against Hayesville, the Cats lost 72-3. Their three points came as Beasley won a 4-1 decision over Hayden Hunt.
Andrews then lost 75-6 to Robbinsville. The Cats’ six points came as Chris Jackson got a forfeit win.
It was close against Rosman, but the Tigers won the dual 36-24. Andrews’ 24 points came as Beasley and Hayden Virtanen got pinfall wins, while Johnson and Ford Ashe got forfeit wins.
In the dual against Swain County, Andrews lost 54-18. Andrews’ 18 points came as Beasley and Virtanen earned pinfall wins, while Johnson got a forfeit.
Murphy boys
In a close, hard-fought dual, the Dogs lost to Cherokee 41-38.
Earning points by pinfall victory for the Dogs were Braden Edwards, Josiah Niebla and Anthony Catuto. James Garrett earned three points on a 10-6 decision win, while Aiden Murphy earned five points on a 20-4 technical fall win.
The Dogs defeated Hayesville 46-36. Earning points with pinfall wins for the Dogs were Weston Adams, Lucas Castell, Aiden Murphy, Branson Crocker, and Kane Gibson.
The Dogs got two technical fall wins for five points each as Josiah Niebla got a 17-1 tech fall and Brody McFaddin got a 17-0 tech fall win. Anthony Catuto earned their lone forfeit win.
Murphy lost to Robbinsville 57-18. Earning points for the Dogs were Brodi Haines and Weston Adams by pinfall win, and Reese Haney with a forfeit.
The Dogs defeated Rosman 65-18. Rosman’s 18 points came on a forfeit and two pinfall wins.
Murphy’s 65 points came on four pinfall wins by Josiah Niebla, Jake Messer, Brody McFaddin and Kane Gibson. Anthony Catuto earned a 22-4 technical fall against highly ranked Samuel Curtis of Rosman.
Murphy’s remaining points were won by forfeit.
The Dogs defeated Swain County 48-27. Murphy earned points by pinfall wins from Braden Edwards, Aiden Murphy, Branson Crocker and Reese Haney. Their other points came on forfeits.
Cats, Dogs dual
In the final dual of the day, Murphy defeated Andrews 66-9. After a forfeit win and six points to Murphy, the wrestlers took the mat for two back-to-back matches.
In the 150-pound weight class, Beasley of Andrews defeated Jeremiah Bateman of Murphy by pinfall. Then in the 157-pound division, Brodi Haines of Murphy defeated Johnson of Andrews by pinfall.
After forfeit wins earned Murphy points, there was a heavyweight contest.
In a battle of two strong wrestlers, Chris Jackson of Andrews defeated Reese Haney of Murphy by a 17-10 decision for three Wildcat points.
The dual ended with more forfeit wins and points for Murphy to net the final 66-9 score for the Bulldogs’ win.