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Three Mustang wrestlers win titles at Robbinsville tourney
Three Smoky Mountain wrestlers won championships in their weight class at the James Orr Memorial Tournament held Saturday in Robbinsville.
Nick Woodard (140), Brendan Ferguson (160) and T.J. Bradley (215) came away with titles for the Mustangs, who placed fourth among 10 teams and were just a point out of third.
Coach Tom Sargent said it was the best team effort of the year.
"This tournament had a lot of good teams and some very competitive individuals," he said. "To have three champs was very gratifying, and I was very proud of our overall effort."
Ferguson pinned his first two opponents then won by technical fall in the championship match.
"He only had two points scored against him in all three matches," Sargent said. "He really dominated and is on pace as he gets ready for the upcoming conference and regional tournaments."
Bradley had a relatively easy time in his first two matches before running into a tough opponent from Greenback, Tenn., in the finals.
"T.J. wrestled smart in the championship match," the coach said. "He got ahead and didn't make mistakes in the final period. We think he suffered a partial broken nose in the final 45 seconds on a head butt that wasn't called. After a time out, T.J. got himself under control and went on to win. I was proud of his effort and his self control after the head butt. His conditioning won the match."
The coach called Woodard's victory the day's biggest success story.
"Nick had been down the past month both physically and mentally," Sargent said. "He had strep throat and was just not giving his best effort both in the mat room and at matches. He and I talked last week and decided it was time to wake up and finish his senior season strong."
Woodard's first two matches were fairly easy, but the finals presented an opponent from Polk, who was a state qualifier a year ago.
"I told Nick the boy was stronger than him, but if he could take him into the third period Nick's conditioning would win," the coach said. "Nick wrestled a great match and won in a double overtime thriller."
Sargent said he was pleased with the young wrestlers, especially Jordan McDonald at 125.
"Jordan along with Joey Cox (119), Cory Vickery (103), John McCord (125), Ray Mojica (152) and Taylor Rodes (135) are all first year wrestlers and just continue to improve this week," the coach said. "Jordan has really come alive the past two weeks at practice and all the pieces have started to come together."
McDonald fell behind 9-4 against an opponent from Robbinsville who had a 12-3 record. However, he recovered to record a pin in the third period, Sargent said.
The Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament is planned for Saturday at Enka.
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