Wildcats win first state dual meet in program’s history.
Mount Airy – It has been a season full of accomplishments for the Andrews high school wrestling program, but the year isn’t over quite yet.
The Wildcats will have 10 athletes competing at the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1A Western Regional competition in Avery County this coming weekend.
After a program-high third-place finish at the Smoky Mountain Conference Championships, the Wildcats earned a spot in the NCHSAA’s 1A State Dual Meet competition for the first time in the program’s history, matching up against Bradford Preparitory School in the opening round of the competition.
“It’s almost 100 percent on the kids,” Andrews wrestling coach Colby White said of the milestone. “We’re just putting kids in the position to win and they’re going out there and winning.”
On Feb. 4, the Wildcats traveled to Avery County High School and picked up a 48-36 win against Bradford Prep.
Shane Hammonds, Cade Vaughn, Jeremiah Miller, George Page, Samuel Wood, Jimmy Miller, Ethan Neal and Nick Graham all contributed wins for Andrews in the meet and helped the Cats advance to the second round.
Andrews would go on to fall 59-12 in the second round to Avery County, the eventual winners of the 1A State Title.
White says that no matter the outcome of the regional competition, the hope is that the Cats’ successful season is a stepping stone to bigger and better things.
“That’s always the plan,” White said. “We’re all juniors this season so every starter that we had this year will be back bigger and stronger next year.”