This year’s Southern Carolina 3A Conference wrestling tournament was a fiercely competitive event that kept emotions on high for competitors, and their families, from start to finish. Many of Saturday’s most exciting moments were on the heels of big Tri-W wins.

Wrestlers from Tri-W area schools dominated multiple weight classes, winning first place in eight of the fourteen classifications. Four of those first-place finishes belonged to wrestlers out of Weddington at the 113, 152, 160, and 182 pound weight classes. 

Finishing first at 113 for the Warriors was sophomore John Gibson of Weddington. Gibson finishes the year with a conference record of 8-1. Gibson’s first-place win came via a sudden victory over Chayton Tala of Parkwood. First place in the 152 pound weight class was junior Cian Nolan of Weddington, whose victory over Colby Locklear of Piedmont came by way of a 9-11 sudden victory. Nolan finished the year with an 8-2 conference record.

Weddington’s 160 pound conference champion Janyd Houghton finished the year with a conference record of 9-1, after securing his first-place victory over Piedmont’s Brandon Eudy, by pin, nearly four minutes into the match. Weddington’s Joe Zovistosky won first in the 182 pound weight class by 7-4 decision over Charlotte Catholic’s Kurt Hayes. Zovistosky finished the year with a 9-1 conference record.

Nicholas Shutz of Cuthbertson finished the year with a perfect 9-0 conference record at 132 pounds. He secured first place at Saturday’s tournament by major decision over Piedmont’s Garrett Britt. Marvin Ridge earned a first-place finish on Saturday by way of senior George Lahanas at 138 pounds. Lahanas, who finishes with an 8-1 conference record, won first place on Saturday in a 3-2 decision over Charlotte Catholic’s John Stewart.

The 195 pound division was dominated on Saturday by senior Amir Joseph of Parkwood. Joseph won first, by way of pinfall, four minutes into the match. Joseph ends the year with an 8-1 conference record. Andrew Macchiavello earned a first-place finish for Sun Valley at 220 pounds, defeating Piedmont’s Ryan Whetzel, by pin, in just over one minute. Macchiavello is 8-1 on the year in conference competition. 

Individual regional wrestling tournaments will be held December 14-15, followed by the state individual tournament, at the Greensboro Coliseum, February 20-22.