Andrews – In their first home wrestling meet of the season, the Wildcats’ varsity wrestling team hosted both Murphy and Hayesville on Nov. 26.
Hayesville had the largest team at the dual, but that didn’t stop Andrews and Murphy from putting up a fight. The Wild West Duals started with Murphy taking on Hayesville.
The girls started the day as Murphy won 13-12. Murphy earned six points as Ivy Werner won by forfeit and Gianna Mayner defeated Amelia Manning. After a 12-12 tie, Murphy won on first takedown criteria.
Hayesville boys then took on Murphy and won the dual 60-22. Murphy’s first six points came from Weston Adams getting a win by forfeit.
Murphy then earned four points as Josiah Niebla defeated Evan Burke by a 15-4 majority decision. The Dogs then earned six more points as Brodi Haines defeated Brock Garrett by pinfall.
Their last six points came as Branson Crocker earned a pinfall win over Logan Querns.
A total of 12 of Hayesville’s 60 points came by forfeit wins. The Yellow Jackets’ first six points came when Hunter Hill defeated Murphy’s Reyden Galarza.
The rest of Hayesville’s points came by pinfall wins as the Jackets defeated the Dogs in the opening dual.
Andrews then took on Hayesville. The Jackets got the win 72-12.
Hayesville earned its first 36 points of the dual on forfeit wins. Andrews then earned their first points in the first weight class where both teams had wrestlers.
Chase Beasley defeated Braxten Gibson by pinfall to earn the Cats’ first points of the day. Hayden Virtanen then earned the Wildcats six more points with a pinfall victory.
In the third weight class where both teams had wrestlers, Andrews’ Chris Jackson lost by pinfall to Rayland Martinez. The remainder for Hayesville’s points came on forfeit wins.
The day closed out with a dual between Andrews and Murphy where Murphy got the 66-3 win.
The dual started with a double forfeit in the 120 and 126-pound weight classes. James Garrett, Braden Edwards and Brayden Gunter got forfeit wins to add to Murphy’s points total.
In the 150-pound weight class, Chase Beasley took on Josiah Niebla. In a hard-fought battle from both wrestlers, Beasley won a 10-7 decision to earn the Wildcats three points in the dual.
Murphy’s Brodi Haines and Branson Crocker got wins by forfeit. Jonathan Cowan of Murphy then took on Hayden Virtanen. In another battle, Cowan got the win by pinfall to earn the Dogs six more points.
After Murphy’s Braiden Martin got a win by forfeit, Reese Haney of Murphy took on Ford Ashe of Andrews. Haney got the win after a pinfall to earn the Dogs six points.
Reyden Galarza and Weston Adams earned Murphy its last 12 points to net the 66-3 score to win the dual.
The day ended with an exhibition match between Reese Haney of Murphy and Chris Jackson of Andrews. In Haney’s second match in a matter of minutes, he battled with Jackson and earned the pinfall victory.
Andrews will be back in action today as they head to Traveler’s Rest, S.C. They will also head to East Henderson on Saturday to compete.
Murphy will return to the mat Tuesday, when the Bulldogs host Rosman and Towns County, Ga., in duals competition.