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Mountaineer wrestling off to a busy start

tyler auffhammer, the mountaineer, waynesville, n.c.
·6 min read

Nov. 27—Tuscola's wrestling crew is off to a fast start in the 2023 season, competing in an open tournament, a home tri-meet and the first invitational of the season to start November.

So far, the team has won two duals and earned one weight-class championship and one third-place finish.

"We're competing very well. We're a true wrestling team this year; that's my big teaching point to the kids right now," said head coach Houston McCracken, now in his second season coaching the Mountaineer wrestlers. "All of the kids that are there want to be true wrestlers — it's something they love. There's a love for wrestling in our wrestling. There are a lot of things compared to last year that I've seen drastic improvements on as far as wrestling ability and things like that. A lot of it boils down to discipline."

McCracken said a big part of his wrestling program focuses on the whole person, not just the wrestler.

"I like to call them, 'Working to become a man.' Right now, we've got a lot of kids in the wrestling room who are slowly becoming a man — being responsible, taking care of everything outside of wrestling while also taking care of everything in wrestling," McCracken said.

This year's team is led by a number of other varsity returners who are leading by example, McCracken said.

"That is promising to see. They're working hard," he said. "It's been a tough start for Cooper and Ayden, but that's what's molds you into that championship mindset. We want to win them all, but when conference hits, we want to go win the conference, push into regionals and have a chance to become a state qualifier."

Tuscola's next match is a tri-dual on Nov. 30 at Hendersonville, followed by an individual tournament on Dec. 2 at East Henderson.

Ironman Open

Tuscola opened its season at the "Ironman Open" at Cherryville High School on Nov. 18.

"We had a pretty good showing. It was a long day, a tough day. We had five kids in the finals," McCracken said.

The highlight of the day was Tanner Boger winning the 106-pound weight class over James Charles of Lincolton (Fall 3:00).

The rest of the weight class results were:

* 113-Pound Cons. Semis: Liam McConaughy (Charlotte Latin School) over Michael Lettner (Tuscola) (Fall 1:52)

* 120-Pound Semifinals: Rylee Wesson (Lincolnton) over Aydan Mull (Tuscola) (Fall 4:37)

* 126-Pound Cons. Round 3: Joshua Thompson (A.C. Reynolds) over Micah Howard (Tuscola) (Sudden Victory No. 1 4-2)

* 138-Pound Cons. Semis: Cooper Williamson (Tuscola) over Marcus Lowery (Ashbrook) (Decision 11-4)

* 144-Pound Quarterfinals: Sai'd Uqdah (Shelby) over Kameron Frizzell (Tuscola) (Fall 2:52)

* 150-Pound Cons. Round 2: Marvin Carrillo (Shelby) over Davis Downs (Tuscola) (Decision 6-4)

* 157-Pound 3rd Place Match: Grant Clark (Charlotte Latin School) over Lucas Burress (Tuscola) (Fall 1:25)

* 165-Pound Cons. Semis: Chase Hillis (Tuscola) over Gabriel Robinson (Lincolnton) (Decision 7-1)

* 175-Pound Cons. Round 3: Joseph Plesh-Olenick (Shelby) over Travyn Gutierrez (Tuscola) (Medical Forfeit)

* 190-Pound Cons. Round 3: Manny Cruz (Shelby) over Benjamin Ulery (Tuscola) (Fall 2:20)

* 215-Pound Quarterfinals: Gavin Gholami (Lincolnton) over Charlie Greene (Tuscola) (Fall 1:08)

* 285-Pound Cons. Semis: Jonathan Moore (Ashbrook) over Bryce Causby (Tuscola) (Medical Forfeit)

Home tri-meet

Tuscola then swept Erwin and Swain County at a home tri-dual meet on Nov. 21.

"It was big for us. Got to lay the new mat down. We won both of those duals. I was really, really pleased from the Iron Man to the home opener for those who did get to wrestle," McCracken said.

Tuscola beat Erwin 54-19, then bested Swain County 42-31.

Results for Erwin dual:

* 106 Pounds: Tanner Boger (Tuscola) via Forfeit

* 113 Pounds: Michael Lettner (Tuscola) via Forfeit

* 120 Pounds: Aydan Mull (Tuscola) via Forfeit

* 126 Pounds: Micah Howard (Tuscola) over Tyson Brockwell (Clyde A. Erwin) (Fall 5:00)

* 132 Pounds: Parker Plekan (Clyde A. Erwin) over Wyatt Ferguson (Tuscola) (Major Decision 9-0)

* 138 Pounds: Cooper Williamson (Tuscola) over Trevor Tedder (Clyde A. Erwin) (Fall 3:45)

* 144 Pounds: Kameron Frizzell (Tuscola) over Wyll Jacoby (Clyde A. Erwin) (Fall 5:00)

* 150 Pounds: Tanner Brockwell (Clyde A. Erwin) over Huntley Cogburn (Tuscola) (Fall 3:00)

* 157 Pounds: Lucas Burress (Tuscola) over Sawyer Cromer (Clyde A. Erwin) (Fall 3:40)

* 165 Pounds: Chase Hillis (Tuscola) over Bryson Plemmons (Clyde A. Erwin) (Fall 5:00)

* 175 Pounds: Haziel Marcial-Rodriguez (Clyde A. Erwin) over Davis Downs (Tuscola) (Decision 3-0)

* 190 Pounds: Benjamin Ulery (Tuscola) over Branson O'Mary (Clyde A. Erwin) (Decision 5-3)

* 215 Pounds: Diego Alonso (Clyde A. Erwin) over Charlie Greene (Tuscola) (Medical Forfeit)

* 285 Pounds: Bryce Causby (Tuscola) over Jake McAbee (Clyde A. Erwin) (Decision 3-0)

Result for Swain County dual:

* 106 Pounds: Tanner Boger (Tuscola) over Derek Gunter (Swain County) (Fall 1:15)

* 113 Pounds: Aydan Mull (Tuscola) via Forfeit

* 120 Pounds: Aydan Mull (Tuscola) over Noah Rowe (Swain County) (Fall 2:48)

* 126 Pounds: Sully Cunningham (Swain County) over Micah Howard (Tuscola) (Fall 2:56)

* 132 Pounds: Kale Stephenson (Swain County) over Wyatt Ferguson (Tuscola) (Fall 1:53)

* 144 Pounds: James Stroman (Swain County) over Kameron Frizzell (Tuscola) (Decision 7-2)

* 138 Pounds: Cooper Williamson (Tuscola) over Shawn Durham (Swain County) (Technical Fall 17-2 4:48)

* 150 Pounds: Huntley Cogburn (Tuscola) over Kale Walkingstick (Swain County) (Decision 3-0)

* 157 Pounds: Lucas Burress (Tuscola) over William Tanner Moore (Swain County) (Fall 1:43)

* 165 Pounds: Chase Hillis (Tuscola) over James Arch (Swain County) (Major Decision 12-0)

* 175 Pounds: Clay Seagle (Swain County) over Davis Downs (Tuscola) (Major Decision 8-0)

* 190 Pounds: Xaidyn Wynn (Swain County) over Benjamin Ulery (Tuscola) (Fall 0:59)

* 215 Pounds: Sam Owle (Swain County) over Charlie Greene (Tuscola) (Fall 1:10)

* 285 Pounds: Bryce Causby (Tuscola) via Forfeit

Enka Invitational

The Mountaineers capped a busy four days with an appearance at the Enka Invitational on Nov. 22. Tuscola finished 11th with 61 points. Hickory Ridge was first with 170, Fred T. Foard second with 149 and Piedmont third with 146.

"Turn right around to go to the Enka on Wednesday for about 10 hours of wrestling. We had a lot fifth place kids, and then I put most of the young guys on the JV side," McCracken said.

The junior varsity wrestlers had four 1st placers, a second placer and a 4th placer.

"Overall, it was a really good day. To start the year, we're showing really good improvement. We've got to keep competing and getting better each and every day."

Enka Invitational Results:

* 106-Pound 5th Place Match: Tanner Boger (Tuscola) over Jackson Scanlon (T.L. Hanna) (Decision 4-0)

* 120-Pound 5th Place Match: Aydan Mull (Tuscola) over Macallister Collins (Piedmont) (Major Decision 12-3)

* 138-Pound 5th Place Match: Cooper Williamson (Tuscola) over Jesse Smith (Enka) (Injury)

* 157-Pound 3rd Place Match: Jacob Hall (Hickory Ridge) over Lucas Burress (Tuscola) (Fall 2:37)

* 165-Pound 5th Place Match: Chase Hillis (Tuscola) over Bryson Plemmons (Clyde A. Erwin) (Decision 5-1)

* Heavyweight 3rd Place Match: Alex Caldwell (Tuscola) over Matthew Gonzalez (Hickory Ridge) (Fall 1:46)