Ryan King seals win, helps Cavaliers sweep Parkwood, Weddington

WAXHAW — On a pivotal night that decided playoff qualifications, Cuthbertson High wrestler Ryan King sealed his team's 36-34 win over Parkwood with a 10-6 decision over Parkwood's Chayton Tala on Thursday night, sending the Cavaliers' gymnasium into celebration.

King, a junior 120-pounder, improved his individual record to 22-11.

Cuthbertson won 13 of 26 total individual matches on Thursday, also earning a win over Weddington (47-30 final score) in the tri-meet, and improved their overall dual team record to 13-2.

"He (Ryan King) was one of the guys that we needed to win the matches," said Cuthbertson coach Dan Hartman. "He came through tonight."

Hartman said he was pleased with how many of his wrestlers contributed to the wins over Parkwood and Weddington.

With the scored tied at 9 against Parkwood, Cuthbertson earned three straight pins — by 145-pounder Leander Chance (30-8), 152-pounder William Swan (28-5) and 160-pounder Jack McDermid (29-5) — to take a 27-9 lead.

The Rebels did not go away as 182-pounder Jake Rape (14-5) and 195-pounder Amir Joseph (41-5) got their team back into the match with a fall and a pin to tighten the score to 27-21.

After a Cuthbertson pin by Kurt Petroff, Parkwood got the lead back with the score at 34-33 with two decision victories and a pin by 106-pounder Rigley Baden (20-16).

It set the stage for King to decide the match.

"We've created a culture that's unique of any wrestling team," said King. "We've been working all year round to get better as a team so we can have moments like (tonight) where we're going to the state duals."

Cuthbertson will continue their preparation for the 3A dual-team tournament at Independence High on Saturday, Jan. 25.

Weddington now has a 13-8 overall dual team record in 2019-20. The Warriors went 1-1 on Thursday, defeating Parkwood 42-36.

Weddington wrestlers who went unbeaten on Thursday include: junior 182-pounder Joe Zovistoski (24-3), sophomore 160-pounder Janyd Houghton (24-15), freshman 106-pounder Carter Bockenstedt (23-8), junior 152-pounder Cian Nolan (24-10) and sophomore 126-pounder Devin King (28-15).

"I thought we did a good job," said WHS coach Shane Rimmer. "We ran a bunch of freshmen and sophomores out there in our lineup. They fought hard and scored points when we could."

Weddington will travel to Marvin Ridge on Jan. 30, to face the Mavericks and the Sun Valley Spartans.

Parkwood (18-9 dual team record) wrestlers who went unbeaten on Thursday include: senior 285-pounder Daniel Morrison (34-3) and sophomore 220-pounder Cody Hardy (37-3).

The Rebels will wrestle Charlotte Catholic and Piedmont on Jan. 30.

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