Hunt’s Harris reaches NCHSAA 5-A championship match
GREENSBORO — Hunt High’s Judah Harris seems to be to develop into the fourth state champion wrestler in class historical past Saturday, Feb. 20, when he takes the mat at First Horizon Coliseum for the NCHSAA 5-A 215-pound championship match.
The Warriors junior earned that proper with a pair of victories Friday within the first day of the match that encompasses all eight NCHSAA classifications with 1-A/2-A mixed into one. Now 39-1 on the season, Harris will oppose Franklin High sophomore Garrett Young within the championship match Saturday.
“I feel like I did amazing,” Harris stated of his efficiency throughout a phone interview Friday night. “A couple of mistakes that I could work on. But looking at my matches tonight, I could have done better and just go forward from there.”
Harris, the highest seed within the eight-wrestler bracket, pinned Will Weatherspoon of Gastonia Hunter Huss in 1 minute, 12 seconds however not earlier than racking up a 10-1 lead. In the semifinals win over Croatan’s Porter Ingles, the No. 5 seed, Harris clicked to a 20-4 technical fall victory in 4:19.
Harris, who was Hunt’s first regional champion since Noel Carrillo in 2012, may have a distinct problem in Young on Saturday. The West Region king is 45-2 and breezed by means of his two matches Friday as simply as Harris. Young pinned Havelock’s Zy’aire Pridgen in 1:16 after which gained by fall over South Point’s Aiden Sullivan in 1:22 within the semis.
“When I first got there, he was asking about me,” Harris stated of Young. :He was asking all the opposite wrestlers from the East about me, so he appeared fairly fearful about who I used to be and what I’m able to. But you understand, there is no simple process. Winning the state championship’s most likely hardest factor, after which getting there may be the second-hardest factor, you understand. So I’m not too fearful, however I’m not simply going to take him flippantly.”
Harris has by no means confronted Young at any degree, together with membership tournaments, however will depend on expertise and dedication Saturday. Harris certified for the state match as a 215-pounder freshman however a damaged leg in soccer as a sophomore worn out final wrestling season.
Harris wrestles competitively all year long however can be an elite judo competitor, incomes a gold medal on the USA Judo Junior Olympic National Championships final July to earn certainly one of 16 spots for Team USA on the International Judo Federation’s World Cadet Championships in Bulgaria in August.
Harris helped Hunt attain the NCHSAA 5-A soccer championship recreation in December however the Warriors misplaced to Crest High of Shelby. Now Harris is hoping to go the gap and be a part of Johnnie Coleman (1982), Sheldon Vick (1993) and Jamel Daniels (1994) as Warriors wrestling state champions.
“I think I’m gonna feel amazing,” Harris stated of his feelings when he takes the mat Saturday evening in Greensboro. “I’m gonna feel proud of myself and all the things I’ve accomplished. You know, not many people can say they went to a world cadet championship in judo, went to a state championship in football, now competing for a state championship in wrestling.”
FIREBIRDS’ OGDEN STILL ALIVE
Southern Nash sophomore Lennon Ogden went 1-1 in his two matches at 113 kilos Friday and moved into the comfort semifinals.
Ogden, the 5-A East Region runner-up, outpointed North Gaston’s Marquez Macarthur 8-3 of their first-round match earlier than dropping by technical fall 16-0 to West Region champion and No. 2 seed Jacobie Morrison of Enka.
That loss despatched Ogden to the comfort semifinals the place he awaits the winner of the elimination match between Shevin Beaufort of East Lincoln and Raymi Robles of Croatan.
CB Aycock’s Zymir Best, the East champion and high seed at 138 kilos, was upset by West Rowan’s Chris Gaither 6-2 within the first spherical Friday. Best will meet Douglas Byrd’s Cristian Ramos-Villareal in a comfort survival match Saturday.
In the 5-A women match, Southern Nash freshman Lyrical Doughty misplaced her opening match by falling to Serenity Payne of West Henderson earlier than being eradicated by Person County’s Tylanii Lunsford by falling within the comfort spherical.
