Fred T. Foard continued to add to its record-setting season by winning the 3A Western Regional wrestling tournament at St. Stephens High on Saturday.
The Tigers also had three individual winners and placed seven in the top four, earning a berth in the state championships in Greensboro that begins Thursday.
The top four finishers in each weight class advance to Greensboro.
Fred T. Foard finished with 172.5 points followed by cross-county rival St. Stephens with 165.5.
“This has been a great year and all the credit goes to the team,” said Fred T. Foard head coach Mike Carey. “All year long they have worked hard day in and day out to make this happen. The team has come together all year long and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Enka placed third with 121.5 followed by Ashbrook (115) and R-S Central rounded out the top five with 91 points.
Charlotte Catholic placed sixth with 80 points followed by Kings Mountain (75.5), Freedom (74), Hibriten (72) and rounding out the top 10 was South Point with 70.5. Patton tied for 12th with 51 points.
Despite having eight finish in the top three and two individual winners, St. Stephens just couldn’t overcome the Tigers’ depth throughout the regional.
“Usually when you send eight to the state tournament, score over 160 points you come away with the regional title but Foard has a really good team,” said St. Stephens Billy Baker. “They had good depth and their kids wrestled well. We had a good tournament but they just had a better one. I am very proud of this team for what they have done all year.”
While South Point’s Dylan Cala was selected Most Outstanding Wrestler by a vote of the head coaches, the big story of the regional individually was that of St. Stephens’ Ray Farnsworth.
The senior improved to 44-1 on the season and earned his third straight regional title and is making his fourth straight appearance in the state tournament, third in as many different weight classes.
He placed second in the state last season in the 112-weight class and as a sophomore the year before in 103 he won the state title.
“I am looking forward to going back to the state and getting ready,” said Farnsworth. “I am ready to win it again and redeem myself from last year.”
Wrestlers from the Greater Hickory Area dominated the championship round with a member from a school in the area in 12 of the 14 weight classes and three where head-to-head.
In all, there were seven individual winners from the Greater Hickory Area and five placed third.
Joining Farnsworth from St. Stephens in Greensboro is Blake Rogers (103), Bradley Bader (112), Alex Pollard (130), Ian Martin (135), Dillion Lail (140), Jon Holloway (152) and Jon Marc Stevenson (160).
The Tigers will be represented by Caleb Griffin (112), Jeremy Fredell (135), Jacob Harper (145), Hayden Albert (160), Dillion Johnson (171), Zach Edwards (215) and Cole Schanilec (285).
Other Greater Hickory Area representatives include Jaylen Wilson (Patton), Tyler Buff (Patton), Josh Moses (Freedom), Mason Webb (Freedom), Scott Hardiman (Hibriten), Nathaan Schultz (Hibriten) and Tripp Patterson (Hibriten) making up the field of 22 that will compete in Greensboro for a state title.
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