Murphy, Andrews compete in Robbinsville
The Murphy Bulldogs’ wresting team stayed busy last week with a duals event against Franklin and Hayesville on Friday, then they traveled to Robbinsville for a tournament Saturday.
Battle for the Belt
Murphy hosted their dual event Battle for the Belt on Friday. The Bulldogs kicked off their home duals by taking on Hayesville, losing 40-38.
Scoring six points by pinfall win were senior Luke Hyde, Daniel Chastain, Brody McFaddin, Branson Crocker and Camden Breazeale. Scoring six points for Murphy by forfeit win was senior Jake Miller. Josiah Niebla earned four points for the Dogs after getting a win by decision.
As the Dogs were celebrating Breazeale’s pin against Hayesville, they received a two-point penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. Without the penalty, the math would have been tied at 40. The match would have then gone to criteria for tie breaking, where Hayesville had a one-point advantage.
The Dogs won their dual against Franklin 42-36 to close out the night.
Scoring six points by pin for the Dogs were Niebla, Crocker and Catuto. Scoring six points by forfeit win were Miller, Chastain, McFaddin and Cook.
Prior to the boys wrestling, Lady Bulldog wrestler Ivy Werner got a win by pinfall.
Before the duals began, the Dogs honored their three seniors: Jake Miller, Heath Chastain and Luke Hyde.
Hayesville took home the belt after defeating Murphy and Franklin. Hayesville will get to keep the belt until the event next year.
Saturday tournament
Murphy and Andrews traveled to Robbinsville on Saturday for the James Orr Memorial Invitational Tournament.
The Dogs finished in 20th place after scoring 9.5 points and Andrews finished in 22 after scoring no points. Scoring for the Dogs were Miller and Cook.
Miller won his first-round matchup against Kenneth Waters of Cherryville High School by tech fall after scoring 15 points. He then lost to Adair Pananma of Robbinsville.
Then Miller defeated Raymond Lecker of West Henderson High School by fall. In his third-round matchup in the consolation bracket, Miller lost by injury default to Sullivan Cunningham of Swain County.
Cook lost by fall in his first-round match by fall to Bailen Somerville of Walhalla. He then won by forfeit to Lukas Pratt of Pigeon Forge High School to advance. Cook then lost to K’von Engram of West-Oak for his day to come to an end.
Despite not scoring any points Saturday, Chase Beasley of Andrews earned a win by no contest to get a spot in the 138-pound bracket, where he lost to by fall. He then lost again by fall in the first round of the consolation bracket.
Hayden Virtanen and Ford Ashe also had two matches in the tournament.
Virtanen lost by fall in the first round of the championship bracket. He then received a bye and advanced to the second round, where he lost by fall.
Ashe lost by fall in the first round of the championship bracket, then lost by fall in the first round of the consolation bracket.
On Saturday, Smoky Mountain Conference teams will head to Andrews for the SMC championship.