The North Carolina Wrestling Association for Youth (NCWAY) hosted their annual middle school rookie state championships this past weekend.
Justin Conly of Wolfpack Wrestling led the way as he took home the 85-pound championship when he defeated Garrett Davis of Denver Dragons 7-0. He reached the finals after winning his first two matches of the event by fall.
Cameron Ganger of Fear This Wrestling Club pinned his way to the 85-pound championship. He won all three bouts by first period fall including his championship bout where he defeated Jack Varga of South Wake Wrestling Club by fall in :47 seconds.
Taking home the 100-pound championship was Eli Pendergrass of K-Vegas Elite as he posted a perfect 3-0 record. He won all three of his bouts by fall which included the championship match where he defeated Dalton Black of Marvin Middle School in 1:22.
Here is a look at the top place winners in each of the middle school brackets.
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1st Place - Reginald Rainer Jr of Darkhorse Wrestling
2nd Place - Cole Hunt of Beastworks Wrestling
3rd Place - Daniel Russo of Red Zone Razors
1st Place
Reginald Rainer Jr (Darkhorse Wrestling) won by decision over Cole Hunt (Beastworks Wrestling) (Dec 5-2)
2nd Place
Cole Hunt (Beastworks Wrestling) won by decision over Daniel Russo (Red Zone Razors) (Dec 8-2)
85-pounds
1st Place - Justin Conly of Wolfpack Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Garrett Davis of Denver Dragons
3rd Place - Riley Conway of Gladiator Elite Wrestling Club
4th Place - Tyler Friend of South Wake Wrestling Club
1st Place
Justin Conly (Wolfpack Wrestling Club) won by decision over Garrett Davis (Denver Dragons) (Dec 7-0)
3rd Place
Riley Conway (Gladiator Elite Wrestling Club) won by fall over Tyler Friend (South Wake Wrestling Club) (Fall 1:24)
90-pounds
1st Place - Cameron Ganger of Fear This Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Jack Varga of South Wake Wrestling Club
3rd Place - Austin Gamber of Beastworks Wrestling
4th Place - Jack Hipsher of Marvin Middle School
1st Place Match
Cameron Ganger (Fear This Wrestling Club) won by fall over Jack Varga (South Wake Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:47)
3rd Place Match
Austin Gamber (Beastworks Wrestling) won by fall over Jack Hipsher (Marvin Middle School) (Fall 1:08)
95-pounds
1st Place - Layne Armstrong of Chatham elite
2nd Place - Mathias Doyle of Dynamic Elite
3rd Place - Levi Williamson of Sly Fox WC
4th Place - Jason Owens of Highland Vikings
1st Place Match
Layne Armstrong (Chatham elite) won by decision over Mathias Doyle (Dynamic Elite) (Dec 9-6)
3rd Place Match
Levi Williamson (Sly Fox WC) won by decision over Jason Owens (Highland Vikings) (Dec 5-0)
100-pounds
1st Place - Eli Pendergrass of K-Vegas Elite
2nd Place - Dalton Black of Marvin Middle School
3rd Place - Finn McCafferty of NC Wrestling Factory
4th Place - Aaron Bush of Pinning Pythons
1st Place Match
Eli Pendergrass (K-Vegas Elite) won by fall over Dalton Black (Marvin Middle School) (Fall 1:22)
3rd Place Match
Finn McCafferty (NC Wrestling Factory) won by major decision over Aaron Bush (Pinning Pythons) (Maj 10-2)
105-pounds
1st Place - Gavin Bennett of Beastworks Wrestling
2nd Place - Zachary Swearingin of K-Vegas Elite
3rd Place - Gio Ambell of Highland Vikings
4th Place - Tarian Tanner of Montgomery Central
1st Place Match
Gavin Bennett (Beastworks Wrestling) won by decision over Zachary Swearingin (K-Vegas Elite) (Dec 4-1)
3rd Place Match
Gio Ambell (Highland Vikings) won by decision over Tarian Tanner (Montgomery Central) (Dec 3-1)
110-pounds
1st Place - Aleksandar Long of Gladiator Elite Wrestling Club
2nd Place - Gavin Bennett of Beastworks Wrestling
3rd Place - Tyler Cowell of Swansboro Sharks
4th Place - Jakob Wear of Independent
1st Place Match
Aleksandar Long (Gladiator Elite Wrestling Club) won by fall over Gavin Bennett (Beastworks Wrestling) (Fall 1:02)
3rd Place Match
Tyler Cowell (Swansboro Sharks) won by fall over Jakob Wear (Independent) (Fall 1:41)
115-pounds
1st Place - Sincere Savage of Highland Vikings
2nd Place - Huston Dee of Charlotte School of Wrestling
3rd Place - Noah Martin of Spartin Elite Wrestling Club
4th Place - Derek Lund of Rosewood Little Eagles
1st Place Match
Sincere Savage (Highland Vikings) won by medical forfeit over Huston Dee (Charlotte School of Wrestling) (MFF)
3rd Place Match
Noah Martin (Spartin Elite Wrestling Club) won by fall over Derek Lund (Rosewood Little Eagles) (Fall 2:09)
120-pounds
1st Place - Diego Martinez of Pinning Pythons
2nd Place - Lucas Garcia of Spartin Elite Wrestling Club
3rd Place - Tyler Ledbetter of Bethel Vikings Wrestling
4th Place - Sean Butler of Marvin Middle School
1st Place Match
Diego Martinez (Pinning Pythons) won by major decision over Lucas Garcia (Spartin Elite Wrestling Club) (Maj 16-4)
3rd Place Match
Tyler Ledbetter (Bethel Vikings Wrestling) won by fall over Sean Butler (Marvin Middle School) (Fall 0:55)
125-pounds
1st Place - Drache Gooch of Beastworks Wrestling
2nd Place - Seth Holmes of NC Pride Wrestling
3rd Place - Jonathan Martinez of Pinning Pythons
4th Place - Stephen Lamm Iv of Red Zone Razors
1st Place Match
Drache Gooch (Beastworks Wrestling) won in sudden victory - 1 over Seth Holmes (NC Pride Wrestling) (SV-1 8-6)
3rd Place Match
Jonathan Martinez (Pinning Pythons) won by major decision over Stephen Lamm Iv (Red Zone Razors) (Maj 13-4)
130-pounds
1st Place - Gavin LaValle of Sly Fox WC
2nd Place - Garrett Ellis of NC Pride Wrestling
3rd Place - Zachary Russo of Red Zone Razors
4th Place - Jeffrey Hoelscher of Independent
1st Place Match
Gavin LaValle (Sly Fox WC) won by decision over Garrett Ellis (NC Pride Wrestling) (Dec 6-0)
3rd Place Match
Zachary Russo (Red Zone Razors) won by fall over Jeffrey Hoelscher (Independent) (Fall 1:16)
140-pounds
1st Place - Brandon Michalak of K-Vegas Elite
2nd Place - Kaleb Davis of Rosewood Little Eagles
3rd Place - Cory Cooper of Gladiator Elite Wrestling Club
4th Place - Zechariah Starkweather of K-Vegas Elite
1st Place Match
Brandon Michalak (K-Vegas Elite) won in the ultimate tie breaker over Kaleb Davis (Rosewood Little Eagles) (UTB 5-2)
3rd Place Match
Cory Cooper (Gladiator Elite Wrestling Club) won by fall over Zechariah Starkweather (K-Vegas Elite) (Fall 2:00)
150-pounds
1st Place - Nicholas Mascolino of Pinning Pythons
2nd Place - Braedon Hudson of Highland Vikings
3rd Place - Hayden Hunkele of Patriot Wrestling
4th Place - Elijah Quintero of Red Zone Razors
1st Place Match
Nicholas Mascolino (Pinning Pythons) won by fall over Braedon Hudson (Highland Vikings) (Fall 2:15)
3rd Place Match
Hayden Hunkele (Patriot Wrestling) won by fall over Elijah Quintero (Red Zone Razors) (Fall 0:55)
160-pounds
1st Place - Nicholas Mascolino of Pinning Pythons
2nd Place - Grayson Gulde of Independent
3rd Place - Samuel Matea of Beastworks Wrestling
4th Place - Nyema George of Havelock Mat Rats
1st Place Match
Nicholas Mascolino (Pinning Pythons) won by fall over Grayson Gulde (Independent) (Fall 1:48)
3rd Place Match
Samuel Matea (Beastworks Wrestling) won by fall over Nyema George (Havelock Mat Rats) (Fall 2:07)
180-pounds
1st Place - James Ellison of NC Pride Wrestling
2nd Place - Hayden Meeks of Spartin Elite Wrestling Club
3rd Place - Christopher Ehman of Pinning Pythons
4th Place - Marvin Hill of Havelock Mat Rats
1st Place Match
James Ellison (NC Pride Wrestling) won by major decision over Hayden Meeks (Spartin Elite Wrestling Club) (Maj 10-2)
3rd Place Match
Christopher Ehman (Pinning Pythons) won by fall over Marvin Hill (Havelock Mat Rats) (Fall 2:18)
HWT
1st Place - Gavin Coffield of Ironman Wrestling
2nd Place - Braydon Ostheim of Highland Vikings
3rd Place - Jeffrey Smith of Fear This Wrestling Club
4th Place - Bernardo Parral of DUNN P.A.L. WILDCATS
1st Place Match
Gavin Coffield (Ironman Wrestling) won by fall over Braydon Ostheim (Highland Vikings) (Fall 1:09)
3rd Place Match
Jeffrey Smith (Fear This Wrestling Club) won by decision over Bernardo Parral (DUNN P.A.L. WILDCATS) (Dec 9-5)
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