Huss' Stocks named most valuable at Big South wrestling tourney

GASTONIA — Hunter Huss junior Darius Stocks was named most valuable wrestler and Crest won the team title at Saturday’s Big South 3A Conference individual wrestling tournament at Forestview.

Stocks won the 125-pound weight class for the second straight year, pinning South Point’s Ash Davis in the championship round.

“Me and my teammates really pulled it together this year and focused on conditioning more, and I think it really paid off in this tournament,” said Stocks, who missed a state berth by one place last season.

Stocks improved to 25-1 on the season after pinning three of his four opponents Saturday and winning his first match 6-0. Afterward, the league’s head coaches voted him over the day’s other winners as wrestler of the year.

“They see how hard he works on the mat, and I think all the coaches just love kids that bust their butt on the mat,” Hunter Huss coach Ricky Fortner said.

Crest, the Big South’s undefeated regular-season dual-team champion, produced three individual champions: Dovery Lowery at the 130-pound weight class, Josh Clary at 140 and Jarrett Willis at 152.

“We’re going to have fun today, guys,” Crest coach Arik Lemmon told his wrestlers before the tournament. “If we can win the tournament and be tournament champs, it’ll prove that we really deserve to win the conference.”

Ashbrook led all teams with four champions: Josh Smith (103), Ali Charles (135), Chase Warren (189) and Mikey Dotterer (215).

Kings Mountain won three titles: Josh Haraszkiewicz (160), Dustin Stone (171) and Jaris Williams (285).

Bret Edwards (112) and Dylan Moses (145) won for North Gaston, and Brandon Cagle (119) delivered a title for South Point.

Qualifying wrestlers will compete at the 3A West regionals Feb. 20 at Hickory St. Stephens. Saturday’s tournament had no bearing on regional qualifying.

Crest will enter the dual-team playoffs as the Big South’s No. 1 seed against a wild card Tuesday. Ashbrook, the Big South’s No. 2 seed, will travel to face Mountain Athletic champion Enka.

You can reach Phillip Gardner at 704-869-1843.

Team standings

1, Crest 188; 2, Kings Mountain 142; 3, North Gaston 127; 4, Ashbrook 125; 5, Hunter Huss 80; 6, South Point 78; 7, Forestview 55.5.

Championship matches

103 — Josh Smith, Ashbrook, M-Dec Hunter Dunn, South Point, 11-3

112 — Bret Edwards, North Gaston, M-Dec Adam Webb, Crest, 8-0

119 — Brandon Cagle, South Point, Dec Garnett Bullock, Ashbrook, 4-2

125 — Darius Stocks, Hunter Huss, Fall Ash Davis, South Point, 3:26

130 — Dover Lowery, Crest, T-Fall Jordan Galyan, North Gaston, 18-2

135 — Ali Charles, Ashbrook, Dec Jake Kennedy, Crest, 7-2

140 — Josh Clary, Crest, Fall Aaron Brooks, North Gaston, 3:03

145 — Dylan Moses, North Gaston, M-Dec Tyrecus Jeter, Forestview, 10-2

152 — Jarrett Willis, Crest, Fall Markel Hemphill, Kings Mountain, 3;46

160 — Josh Haraszkiewicz, Kings Mountain, Dec Cody Hendren, Hunter Huss, 4-3

171 — Dustin Stone, Kings Mountain, Dec Tylon Early, Crest, 7-2

189 — Chase Warren, Ashbrook, Fall Inigo Hughes, North Gaston, 4:27

215 — Mikey Dotterer, Ashbrook, M-Dec Ariam Lopez, Kings Mountain, 13-4

285 — Jaris Williams, Kings Mountain, Fall Anthony Winn, Hunter Huss, 2:14

Consolation finals

103 — Matt Strickland, Crest, Fall Colby Bailey, Kings Mountain, 3:38

112 — Ernesto Lupercio, Hunter Huss, Frft Will Brandon, Ashbrook

119 — James Glenn, Crest, Fall Paul Farris, Kings Mountain, 4:37

125 — Dylan Lowery, Crest, M-Dec Montaves Jeter, Forestview, 9-1

130 — Gary Bennett, Kings Mountain, Dec Skyler Moss, Ashbrook, 4-0

135 — Collin Munson, Forestview, Dec Shannon Jackson, Hunter Huss, 2-1

140 — Chris Williams, Ashbrook, Fall Quincy Toms, Kings Mountain, 5:03

145 — Patrick Houser, Crest, Dec Jonathan Clark, Kings Mountain, 2-0

152 — Leonel Martell, North Gaston, Dec Cody Stadler, Forestview, 4-2

160 — Jake Price, Crest, Fall Zack Cleland, South Point, 0:58

171 — James Freeman, North Gaston, Dec Zack Privette, Forestview, 3-2

189 — John Robbs, Kings Mountain, Dec Zach Deaton, Crest, 6-2

215 — Clarence Taylor, South Point, Fall Spencer Sain, Crest, 1:45

285 — Tyler Sosebee, North Gaston, Fall Quentin Beam, Crest, 1:43