Larry Griffin
lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com
Five Maroon Devils wrestlers qualified last weekend to compete at the NCHSAA Individual State Wrestling Championship this weekend, and Coach Adam Jaimez said the team “competed to the best of our abilities.”
“It was a disappointment because you’d like to get all your guys through, but that’s not how it works,” he said. “1A West is probably one of the hardest regions—it’s an absolute meat grinder. If you’re fortunate to come out of there, you’re likely to stand on the podium at the end of the season.”
The Maroon Devils placed sixth as a team overall last weekend at the individual duals taking place at Robbinsville High School.
Meanwhile the Lady Devils were second at the girl’s Individual Western Regionals held at North Henderson High School the previous week on Friday, Feb. 2 and Saturday, Feb. 3.
Despite his wish for more, Jaimez didn’t want to come off unappreciative of the hard work the Devils have done – he said other places hadn’t gotten as many wins and said Swain was coming “from a place of gratitude.”
This week, the Maroon and Lady Devils will compete in the Individual State Championships in Greensboro, with the Lady Devils going first today, Thursday, Feb. 15, and the Maroon Devils’ matches taking place Friday, Feb. 16 and Saturday, Feb. 17.
“I feel like we have kids that can be on top,” Jaimez said. “Obviously, we’ll have to wrestle well, and there’s always a little bit of luck involved.”
As the 2023-24 season comes to a close, Jaimez said he was ready for the weekend’s duals.
“There are no bad days in wrestling,” Jaimez said. “We plan to wrestle tough and see what it brings us.”
Maroon Devils who placed for state (Provided by Adam Jaimez):
Kale Stephenson (126), he went 4 -1 on the day and he beat Kreed Smith (Rosman) by pin in the Consolation Finals to place 3rd place.
Owen Craig (144), he went 4 -1 on the day and he was given a Forfeit in the Consolation Finals to place 3rd place match by Jake Martin (Mount Airy)
Clay Seagle (165), he went 3 -1 on the day and he lost in the Regional Finals to Andrew Meadows (Mount Airy) placing 2nd.
Lucas Sutton (190), he went 3 -2 on the day and he had to take a medical Forfeit in the Consolation Finals to Hampton Blackwell (Draughn) to place 4th.
Matt Ferguson (215), he went 4 -2 on the day, and he lost in the Consolation Finals to Kellen Ensley (Robbinsville) to place 4th.
Lady Devils who placed for state:
Tasia Neadeau (132), she went 4 - 0 on the day and beat Lilli Denton (Hayesville) by pin in the finals to place 1st.
Lylah Cogdill (138), she went 4 - 0 on the day and beat Nancy Perez-Ortega (North Henderson) by pin to place 1st.
Anasette Cooper (185), she went 4 - 1 on the day and beat Liliana Hoyle (Bessemer City) by pin to place 3rd.
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Swain Maroon Devils Matt Ferguson, Lucas Sutton, Owen Craig, Clay Seagle and Kale Stephenson are all state qualifiers headed to the NCHSAA individual wrestling tournament this weekend.