Girls wrestling regional champions highlight WNC Week 13 winter sports top performers
Here are the WNC athletes who have had big performances this week in winter sports.
This list is compiled from information provided to the Citizen Times (sports@citizentimes.com) or posted on MaxPreps or social media. It will be updated throughout the week.
Please encourage coaches to email submissions to sports@citizentimes.com.
Saturday
Wrestling
Cooper Foster, Avery County: With a victory over Robbinsville's Adair Panama in the 113-pound class at the 1A West Regional, Foster moved to 50-0 on the season.
Benjamin Jordan, Avery County: Jordan won the 132-pound class by decision at the 1A West Regional, moving to 47-1 this season.
Kenneth Pritz, Avery County: Pritz kept his undefeated record intact, winning the 1A West Regional in the 144-pound class by decision to move to 49-0.
Mason Bentley, Avery County: Bentley won the 1A West Regional in the 150-pound class by fall.
Cael Dunn, Avery County: Dunn moved to 52-0 on the year with a championship in the 175-pound class at the 1A West Regional.
Grayson Hoilman, Avery County: Hoilman became Avery County's sixth 1A West Regional champion, earning the title by fall in the 285-pound class.
Jaxon Turner, Brevard: Turner took the crown in the 165-pound class at the 2A West Regional, moving to 39-1 on the season.
Ray Laney, Brevard: Laney's win by fall in the 190-pound class at the 2A West Regional earned him a championship and moved his record to 36-1 on the year.
Gunner Marshall, East Henderson: Marshall earned a championship in the 126-pound class, winning by decision in the final of the 3A West Regional.
Max Shelton, Madison: Shelton won the 2A West Regional in the 175-pound class by fall.
Reese Meadows, North Henderson: Meadows claimed a 3A West Regional championship in the 215-pound class, moving his record to 49-1 on the season.
Kane Bryson, Pisgah: Bryson took first place in the 120-pound class at the 3A West Regional, winning by fall in 39 seconds.
Landon Pope, Pisgah: Pope won the 175-pound class at the 3A West Regional in a narrow 9-8 decision.
Jadyn Virgil, Polk County: Virgil is the 1A West Regional champion in the 215-pound class, winning by fall.
Alexis Panama, Robbinsville: Panama earned a championship in the 120-pound class at the 1A West Regional.
Kage Williams, Robbinsville: Williams won the 190-pound class at the 1A West Regional. His only career loss came by injury.
Connor Reese, Roberson: Reese won the 4A West Regional's 165-pound class with a 5-4 decision.
Itachi Duvernay, Roberson: Duvernay claimed a title in the 285-pound class at the 4A West Regional, winning by fall in the final in 49 seconds.
Friday
Boys basketball
Cameron Rattler, Andrews: Rattler tallied 29 points in the Wildcats' 66-57 win over Hayesville, adding eight rebounds.
Baker Buchanon, Brevard: Buchanon scored 28 points to lead Brevard to a 70-65 victory over Patton.
Tre Crite, Brevard: Crite added 24 points and seven rebounds to the Blue Devils' effort.
Jozohn Price, Christ School: Price led Christ School with 14 points in an 85-69 win over South Charlotte Thunder.
Caiden Brewer, East Henderson: Brewer recorded a triple-double in a 76-75 win over Pisgah: 37 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists.
Max McClure, Franklin: McClure's double-double with 26 points and 11 rebounds wasn't enough in Franklin's 61-51 loss to West Henderson.
Rylan Parkins, McDowell: Parkins scored 15 points to lead the Titans to a 62-38 victory over Asheville High.
Xander Wachacha, Murphy: The senior recorded 23 points and six assists in a high-scoring 84-69 win over Cherokee.
Zach Skogen, Murphy: Skogen tallied 22 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in the Bulldogs' win.
Asante Martin, Owen: Martin scored 30 points on 10-for-16 shooting, adding seven assists and helping the Warhorses down Avery County, 75-72.
Custer Prenger, Smoky Mountain: With 21 points and 20 rebounds, Prenger's double-double led the Mustangs to their first Mountain 7 Conference win, 73-54 over Tuscola.
Jed West, Tuscola: West contributed 25 points, six rebounds and six steals in a 73-54 loss to Smoky Mountain.
Jackson Lyda, West Henderson: Lyda scored 18 points and added six rebounds as the Falcons knocked off Franklin, 61-51.
Girls basketball
Ryann Hernandez, Asheville School: Hernandez tallied 21 points to lead the Blues past Hickory Christian Academy 64-15.
Marley Jones, Avery County: The freshman led the Vikings with 19 points in a 77-25 win over Owen.
Whitney Rogers, Cherokee: Rogers' 25 points led the Braves in a 90-29 win over Murphy. She added three steals.
Mallory Peck, Hayesville: Peck recorded a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double in a 61-24 win over Andrews.
Kensly Stewart, McDowell: Stewart scored 20 points to lead the Titans past Asheville High, 81-36.
Khloe Joyner, McDowell: Joyner added 15 points in the Titans' win.
Aubrey Gilliland, North Buncombe: Gilliland scored 14 points and added five rebounds as the Black Hawks downed the Jets, 52-39.
Peyton Whitson, North Buncombe: Whitson added 14 points for North Buncombe.
Marlee Hicks, Swain County: Hicks tallied 22 points in her team's 75-67 loss to Robbinsville.
Aubrie Wachacha, Robbinsville: Behind Wachacha's 22 points, Robbinsville downed Swain County 75-67.
Alissa Cheek, Rosman: Cheek recorded 18 points, paving the way for Rosman's 59-39 win over Mitchell.
Swim and dive
Joshua Poche, Brevard: Poche finished his 200-yard freestyle in 1:50.00, giving the sophomore a fourth-place finish at the boys 1A/2A State NCHSAA Championships. Poche also finished in fifth in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 55.71.
Julia Sherrill, Brevard: The sophomore placed on the podium in the 100-yard breaststroke with a third-place time of 1:09.00, following up her finish in fourth place in the 100-yard freestyle at the girls 1A/2A State NCHSAA Championships with a time of 53.22.
Lily Fender, Mountain Heritage: Fender narrowly earned a second-place finish at the girls 1A/2A State NCHSAA Championships with a 1:00.13 time in the 100-yard backstroke.
Taylor Goodwin, Roberson: Goodwin finished in sixth in the 500-yard backstroke, swimming a time of 4:59.74 at the girls 4A State NCHSAA Championship.
Thursday
Swim and dive
Violet Florian, Erwin: With a personal-best time of 1:04.39, Florian finished seventh at the girls 3A State NCHSAA Championships in the 100-yard backstroke.
Luke Gonzales, Pisgah: Gonzales swam a time of 21.76 in the 50-yard freestyle, finishing second at the boys 3A State NCHSAA Championships. He finished third in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 47.58.
Girls basketball
Lily Everette, Carolina Day: Everette scored 14 of her team's 26 points in a 26-24 win over Statesville Christian. She also recorded 16 rebounds for a double-double.
Dvdaya Swimmer, Cherokee: Swimmer scored 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting while adding five assists in a 98-32 win over Hiwassee Dam.
Whitney Rogers, Cherokee: Rogers added 14 points with four steals and two assists.
Wednesday
Boys basketball
Miki Gacic, Asheville School: Gacic's 17 points led the Blues to a 57-48 defeat of Rabun Gap-Nacoochee.
Max McClure, Franklin: McClure followed up his record-setting performance with 26 points in a win over Swain County, 71-63.
Jaurice Ledbetter, McDowell: Ledbetter scored 15 points, the most for the Titans in a 72-55 win over Hibriten.
Girls basketball
Ryann Hernandez, Asheville School: Hernandez recorded 22 points and six rebounds in a 72-47 loss to Rabun Gap-Nacoochee.
Avery Moffitt, Franklin: Moffitt tallied 13 points and 10 rebounds, but her double-double wasn't enough in a 54-51 loss to Swain County.
Kensly Stewart, McDowell: Stewart scored 20 points to lift McDowell over Hibriten, 49-39.
Tuesday
Boys basketball
Logan Trantham, Enka: Trantham led the Jets with 38 points, but Enka couldn't keep pace with McDowell in a 97-78 loss.
Max McClure, Franklin: McClure set a school record by scoring 47 points against Smoky Mountain in an 82-60 victory.
Kyson Rinnert, McDowell: Rinnert led a trio of 20-point scorers, putting up 22 points in a 97-78 offensive showdown against Enka.
Rylan Parkins, McDowell: Parkins added 21 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks for the Titans in the victory.
Eli Elliot, McDowell: Elliot contributed 20 points to the win.
Asante Martin, Owen: Martin totaled 20 points and added five assists, but Owen fell 74-64 to NCSSM: Morganton.
Eli Lewkowicz, Owen: The junior added 19 points and six assists for the Warhorses.
Dominick Messer, Pisgah: Messer scored a career-high 30 points to lead the Bears to a seventh-straight win over rival Tuscola, 76-63.
Donovan Carpenter, Robbinsville: Carpenter's 19 points pushed the Black Knights to a 65-51 win over Hayesville, moving to 6-2 in Smoky Mountain Conference play.
Jed West, Tuscola: West recorded 21 points in Tuscola's rivalry loss against Pisgah, 76-63.
Girls basketball
Ansley Fuchs, Asheville Christian Academy: Fuchs tallied 15 points and four rebounds in the Lions' loss to Rabun Gap-Nacoochee, 69-32.
McKenzie Woods, Blue Ridge Early College: The sophomore tallied a double-double with 25 points and 15 rebounds, but the Bobcats fell 41-29 against Nantahala.
Dvdaya Swimmer, Cherokee: Swimmer tallied 20 points, five assists and four steals, guiding the Braves to an 82-19 win over Swain County.
Whitney Rogers, Cherokee: Rogers added 19 points, four steals and two assists in Cherokee's win.
Audrey Pressley, Franklin: The freshman's 19 points helped lead Franklin to a comeback victory over Smoky Mountain, 56-50.
Ava Shook, Hayesville: Shook made five 3-pointers and finished with 24 points in Hayesville's 45-38 win over Robbinsville. The Yellow Jackets moved to 6-2 in Smoky Mountain Conference play.
Khloe Joyner, McDowell: Joyner paced the Titans with 15 points and 10 rebounds, recording a double-double in a 68-39 win over Enka.
Dot Mills, Pisgah: Mills tallied 17 points, six rebounds, four assists and five steals as Pisgah rolled to a win over Tuscola, 64-32.
Kylie Carrington, Roberson: With 20 points, Carrington led the effort for Roberson, but the Rams fell to Asheville High 41-31.
Lexi Powell, Rosman: Powell's 24 points led the Tigers to a 60-42 win over Draughn.
Monday
Girls basketball
Lily Everette, Carolina Day: Everette recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds while adding six steals in a 46-27 defeat of Shining Rock.
Saturday
Girls wrestling
Sydney Mark, Asheville High: Mark won the 120-pound class at the women's West Regional Championships, including pins against the next three finishers.
Morgan Repasky, McDowell: Repasky dominated the 100-pound class at the women's West Regional Championships, winning all four matches by fall on her way to a first-place finish.
Franshesca Morales, North Henderson: Morales' first-place finish in the 185-pound class at the women's West Regional Championships helped North Henderson win a regional championship.
Ariana Flores, North Henderson: Flores won a regional championship in the 235-pound class, moving her record to 36-2 on the season.
Marisa Cole, Rosman: Cole finished in first in the 126-pound class at the women's West Regional Championships, improving her record to 22-2 on the year.
Tasia Neadeau, Swain County: Neadeau earned a first-place finish in the 132-pound class at the West Regional Championships. Swain County finished second as a team.
Lylah Cogdill, Swain County: Cogdill joined her teammate with a first-place finish of her own in the 138-pound class. Cogdill improved her record to 37-1 this season.
Boys wrestling
AVERY COUNTY WRESTLING: State duals runner-up Avery County wrestling turns focus to retaining individuals crown
Cooper Foster, Avery County: Foster won by fall in the 113-pound class at the 1A Dual Team State Championship, keeping his 52-0 record unblemished, but Avery County fell to Uwharrie Charter Academy for the second-straight year.
Benjamin Jordan, Avery County: Jordan, the No. 2 ranked wrestler in his class in the state, moved to 48-1 on the season with his win in the 126-pound class.
Grant Reece, Avery County: Reece won his match in the 132-pound class by fall in 54 seconds.
Kenneth Pritz, Avery County: Pritz moved to 50-0 on the season with his victory by fall in the 138-pound class.
Grayson Hoilman, Avery County: Hoilman opened up the dual with a win by decision, 9-4, in the 285-pound class.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: WNC Week 13 top performers: Seven wrestlers win girls regional titles
