EHS wrestling flourishes at tourney

Enterprise High’s wrestling team hosted Houston Academy for a dual on Thursday, Jan. 16, before heading to Smiths Station for a tournament over the weekend.

Enterprise defeated Houston Academy 48-30 in the home matchup.

After Enterprise opened up with a pair of forfeits, Houston Academy came back with five straight wins – three by forfeit – to take a commanding lead.

Enterprise bounced back as Xavier Torres earned a pinfall over Houston Academy’s Krish Anand in the 152-pound division. Enterprise then won three straight via forfeit.

In the final match of the dual Dakotah Barber of Enterprise defeated Reilly Harvin of Houston Academy in a 285-pound showdown to give Enterprise the pinfall win and pick up the 48-30 win.

For Enterprise, Zach McFarland (113 pounds), Cody Kirk (106 pounds), Samuel Mason (160 pounds), Lucas Hale (170 pounds), Colby Clark (195 pounds) and Joey Tarlavsky (220 pounds) each won forfeits.

Houston Academy’s Kennan Beaver defeated Ashley Mayse of Enterprise in the 120-pound weight class and Jack Jones beat Enterprise’s Loriah Castro at 132 pounds by pinfall. At 138 pounds, Houston Academy’s Peyton Sanders defeated Enterprise’s Terance Brown via pinfall.

Houston Academy’s Lucius Renshaw (126 pounds) and Jay Morris (145 pounds) also earned forfeit wins.

Enterprise headed out of town for the Smiths Station Invitational on Jan. 17 and both Kirk and McFarland had big days for the Wildcats, with McFarland winning the 113-pound division and Kirk finishing runner-up at 106 pounds.

Kirk picked up a pinfall over Fort Walton Beach (Fla.) wrestler Santiago Mayic in the opening round before defeating Russell County’s Preston Love by a 7-4 decision in the second round.

Kirk knocked Swainsboro’s Jake Bishop via pinfall in the quarterfinals and Shaw’s Jet Le with a 12-4 decision in the semifinals.

In the 106-pound Championship Kirk fell to Shelby Fugate of Russell County by a 16-4 decision.

Also at 106 pounds, Layton Smith of Enterprise fell to Ridgeland’s Aiden Barber in the opening round and then earned a bye in the first round of the consolation bracket. In the second round he fell to Prattville’s Eli Staggs via pin.

McFarland received a bye in the opening round of the 113-pound division and then picked up a pinfall over Swainsboro’s River Green and a 6-0 decision over Pace Academy’s Ben Schiffer in the quarterfinals.

In the semifinals, McFarland defeated Lee County wrestler Drake McMinn by a narrow 4-3 decision and then earned a dominating 11-4 decision over Pace Academy’s George Blaha in the championship round.

Enterprise’s David Best also competed at 113 pounds and after receiving a bye in the first round, he lost to Russell County’s Julian Anthony in the second round. Best received a bye in the consolation bracket’s second round but then fell to R.E. Lee’s Demontre Harris in the next round.

Castro competed at 126 pounds and lost to Kendrick’s Terance Jackson by pinfall in the first round before receiving a pair of bye’s in the consolation bracket. She then lost by pinfall to Prattville’s Patrick Litz in the third round.

Enteprrise’s Brown lost to Lee County wrestler Phin Johnson by pinfall in the first round of the 132-pound division.

After receiving a bye in the first round of the consolation bracket, Brown picked up a win over Chattahoochee County’s Nathaniel Heath by pinfall in the second round. In the third round, he fell to Pace Academy’s Henry Leusink by pinfall.

EHS wrestler Torres received a bye in the opening round at 152 pounds but then fell to Prattville’s Jonathan Dury in the second round.

After receiving a bye in the consolation bracket’s second round, Torres defeated Kendrick wrestler Aaron Tarver by pinfall. In the fourth round, Torres was defeated by Prattville’s Andrew Allen.

Mason received a bye in the opening round of the 160-pound class and then fell to La Grange’s Jacob Anderson by pinfall in the second round. Mason also lost to Vidalia’s Decarlos Willingham in the second round of the consolation bracket.

After receiving a bye in the first round at 170 pounds, Enterprise’s Lucas Hale lost to Vidalia’s Justin Turnage in the second round. He received another bye in the consolation bracket’s second round and lost to Opelika’s Christopher Willett in the third round.

Tarlavsky received a bye in the first round at 220 pounds and then fell to Swainsboro’s Keon Johnson by pinfall in the second round. Tarlavsky received a bye in the second and third rounds of the consolation bracket, but fell to Rome’s Tre Goodgame in the fourth round.

Barber fell to Pace Academy’s Xavier Agostino in the second round of the 285-pound division after receiving a bye in the first round. In the second round of the consolation bracket he lost to Demarion Carswell of Swansboro by forfeit.

On Jan. 23, EHS wrestling will host Crestview (Fla.) in a home meet.