In a busy week of wrestling, the Andrews and Murphy varsity teams were on the road.
Andrews traveled to Robbinsville on Saturday, while Murphy made two trips to Georgia for duals competition.
Cats in Robbinsville
The Andrews varsity team’s only event of the week was at the James Orr Memorial Wrestling Tournament in Robbinsville on Saturday. Three Wildcat wrestlers competed in the jam-packed tournament.
Chase Beasley earned a fourth-place finish in the 150-pound weight class. His day started with a pinfall win in the quarterfinals before he lost by pinfall in the semifinals.
In the consolation semifinals, he defeated Haden Hunt of Hayesville by a 15-0 technical fall to advance to the third-place match. Beasley lost that match by pinfall.
AJ Johnson started his day with a loss in the first round by pinfall. In the consolation second round, he lost again by pinfall.
Hayden Virtanen’s day started with a first-round loss by pinfall. He battled in the consolation second round, losing a 12-6 decision.
Dogs split at Rabun
Murphy kicked off the week by heading to Georgia to wrestle two duals. They competed against Rabun and Stephens counties.
The Dogs split the duals and earned a 48-26 win over Stephens County, but fell short 46-36 to Rabun County. Murphy started the dual against Stephens County with a loss, then got on the board with Anthony Catuto and Branson Crocker winning by pinfall.
Reese Haney and Weston Adams earned decision wins to earn the Dogs three points each. Reyden Galarza and Lucas Castell then got forfeit wins for more Bulldog points.
Braden Edwards picked up a pinfall win before Josiah Niebla and Tristatn Nicholson earned forfeit wins to help the Dogs secure their 48-26 win.
Murphy opened the dual against Rabun County with Crocker and Catuto earning pinfall wins. Adams and Galarza earned forfeit wins to earn more points for the Dogs.
The Dogs’ last two wins of the dual came as Edwards and Niebla earned pinfall victories. The dual ended with three straight Murphy losses as they fell to Rabun County.
Dogs dominate Fannin
With a 63-16 win, the Murphy boys varsity wrestling team dominated Fannin County, Ga., on the road Thursday. Lucas Castell started the dual with a forfeit win for the Dogs’ first six points.
Then Braden Edwards, Josiah Niebla, Brayden Gunter, Brody McFaddin, Brodi Haines, Anthony Catuto and Branson Crocker earned consecutive pinfall wins. Kane Gibson lost by pinfall before Reese Haney got 6-1 decision win.
Weston Adams and Reyden Galarza then got forfeit wins to wrap up the dual and secure Murphy’s win. In an extra match, Catuto earned a pinfall win after going up to the 175-pound weight class from his usual 165.
Up next
Andrews and Murphy will travel to Cherokee for the Smoky Mountain Conference individual tournament before the playoffs begin.