WINSTON-SALEM
Oliver wins 2 titles at state
Murphy junior Jordan Oliver added two more state championships to her growing collection, taking first in both the 55-meter wheelchair dash and wheelchair shot put at the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1A/2A Indoor Track State Championships at the JDL Fast Track on Saturday.
Oliver’s time of 23.36 in the 55-meter dash was a new personal best, and her shot put throw of 7 feet, 5¾ inches was enough to claim gold. Oliver had previously won two state championships, taking first place last year in the 55-meter wheelchair dash at the indoor state meet, then again in the 100-meter wheelchair dash at the outdoor state meet.
Murphy sophomore Gabby Lloyd also competed in the meet, finishing ninth in the shot put in her state debut. In the team race, Swain County won its second straight girls championship, while East Burke took home the boys trophy.
BAKERSVILLE
Wrestling on to state
Murphy freshman Luke Hyde qualified to compete in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1A Wrestling State championship Friday in Greensboro. The top four wrestlers in each weight class qualify for the state tournament, and Hyde finished fourth in the 126-pound weight class.
He started regionals with a first-round pin against Swain County’s Jason Maffett, then won a 9-2 decision against Union Academy’s Matthew Walsh. After being pinned by Robbinsville’s Lleyton Hooper, he defeated Bradford Prep’s Chaise Watson with a second-round pin to advance to the third-place match and punch his ticket to the state championship.
In the third-place match, he was pinned by Alleghany’s Eli Thomas in the first round. Hyde’s older brother, Logan, competed in the state championship for Murphy in 2021 and Robbinsville last year.
The Bulldogs sent nine wrestlers to regions, and six besides Hyde won matches. Jake Miller (106) won two, while Dalton Farmer (113), Trevon Luther (145), Dominic Kessel (170), Gabe Chastain (182) and Nathan Shaw (195) won one.
HAYESVILLE
Rotary golf tourney set
The Rotary Club of Murphy’s Tournament of Champions will take place Saturday, June 10, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Chatuge Shores Golf Club.
Registration will begin at 8 a.m., with the first tee at 9 a.m. The first-place team will receive $650, second place will receive $400 and third place will receive $250.
PREP SCHEDULE
Thursday
Basketball: Little Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament Championship
Girls – Highlands/Nantahala vs. Hiwassee Dam/Blue Ridge, 5:30 p.m.
Boys – Hiwassee Dam/Nantahala vs. Highlands/Blue Ridge, 7 p.m.
Friday
Basketball: Big SMC Conference Tournament
Girls – Cherokee/Swain County vs. Robbinsville/Murphy, 6 p.m.
Boys – Robbinsville/Hayesville vs. Murphy/Swain County, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday
Basketball: N.C. High School Athletic Association 1A playoffs first round (teams TBA)
PREP RESULTS
Feb. 7
Boys basketball: Hiwassee Dam 87, Nantahala 47
Andrews 63, Hayesville 43
Murphy 82, Cherokee 77
Girls basketball: Hiwassee Dam 74, Nantahala 33
Hayesville 44, Andrews 26
Cherokee 62, Murphy 39
Feb. 9
Boys basketball: Hiwassee Dam 92, Blue Ridge 32
Highlands 77, Nantahala 41
Girls basketball: Hiwassee Dam 87, Blue Ridge 69
Highlands 45, Nantahala 29
Feb. 10
Boys basketball: Big SMC Tournament, first round
#3 Swain County 51,
#6 Andrews 48
Girls basketball: Big SMC Tournament, first round
#3 Murphy 82,
#6 Andrews 57
Compiled by Sports Writer Justin Fitzgerald.
