Ironmen Continue Success In Wrestling and Swimming

Cherryville, NC (WNN) - The Ironmen grapplers took to the wrestling mat on Thursday, December 18th, as they hosted Hunter Huss and Forestview in a dual match. Cherryville defeated Forestview 60-18 but lost to Hunter Huss 54-30. Results in the Forestview match, according to class, are as follows:

• 106lbs. Geovanny Martinez won by forfeit
• 113lbs. Holden Walker scored a forfeit
• 120lbs. Kenny Waters won in a fall over Robert Bradshaw
• 126lbs. Jonah Harrison won by forfeit
• 132lbs. William Davis scored a victory by forfeit
• 138lbs. Mason Powers in a forfeit
• 144lbs. Daniel Chapman won by forfeit
• 150lbs. Kaleb Pendleton also forfeited
• 165lbs. John Hedgpeth defeated Christopher Roberts by fall
• 285lbs. Maddox Carrigan won by fall over Kevin Watson.

John Hedgpeth grappling an opponent - Cherryville High School Gymnasium - December 10th, 2025

Mason Beam (WNN)

  The results for the match against Hunter Huss were:

• 106lbs. Geovanny Martinez by forfeit
• 113lbs. Holden Walker over Damian Price in a fall
• 126lbs. Tenchi Shannon by forfeit
• 150lbs. Kaleb Pendleton over Chance Hall by fall
• 285lbs. Maddox Carrigan over Avery Brunson by a fall.

Great Smoky Mountain Grapple

There was not much time for rest, and the wrestlers headed to Asheville to participate with 50 other teams in the Great Smoky Mountain Grapple at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center in Asheville, North Carolina. This was a two-day event held December 19-20, 2025. This tournament featured a double-elimination format for individual matches. Eight mats were utilized throughout the center in downtown Asheville. Teams from five states competed, including NC, SC, VA, TN, and GA. Four Ironmen won matches during the tournament.

Ironmen Athletics

Geovanny Martinez won by fall (1:44) over Deagon Ledford of Swain County, NC in the 106lbs. class. Holden Walker won by fall (1:07) over Asheville’s Zavion Pore and by default victory over Elijah Rotolo from Pigeon Forge High School, TN in the 113lbs. class. Kaleb Pendleton won by fall (0:50) over Jackson White of David Crockett High School, TN, and by medical forfeit over Jack Gibson from Northwest Guilford High School, NC in the 150lbs. class. Maddox Carrigan just barely missed the podium as he placed fourth in the 285lbs. class with four victories. The first was a win by fall (1:24) over Diesel Chambers from Pisgah High School in Tennessee. The next was also by fall (1:18) over Markez Wilbert of Millbrook High School, NC. Another fall (4:39) came against Rayon Sexton of Chattahoochie, GA. The other win came by decision in a match against Cade Spencer from Mauldin, SC. 

Maddox Carrigan pinning an opponent - Cherryville High School Gymnasium - December 10th, 2025

Mason Beam (WNN)

Cherryville is scheduled to return to action in the 2025 Reindeer Rumble on Tuesday, December 23rd. They will have two matches after the holiday break, January 6th and 8th. Best of luck to the guys as they continue their outstanding season.

Swimming

  Whenever you see Steven Wyatt, he is always smiling. This young athlete has plenty to smile about when he is competing. He usually either wins or places well in whatever sport he is competing in at the time. Steven is one of those competitors who has fun while making success look effortless. His latest swim competition was not a high school event; yet, he competed at a high level in the NC QCD Holiday Invite, held in Charlotte, NC, from December 12th to 14th. Sponsored by the Queen City Dolphins, a youth swim team, it is an annual sanctioned competition held during the holiday season to promote holiday cheer and competitive swimming. 

Steven Wyatt at last season’s NCHSAA Championships

Ironmen Athletics - NCHSAA Photo

 Mr. Wyatt performed quite well in three events. He placed second in both the 1000-yard freestyle at 10:00.27 and the 500-yard freestyle, finishing in a time of 4:43.86. In the 200-yard freestyle, he placed fourth with a time of 1:46.27.  He will return to competing in high school meets in January as he prepares to compete in the NCHSAA Championships with the regionals in January and the state in February. Last season, Steven finished first in the 400 short freestyle during the Southern Piedmont Conference meet on his way to setting a Shelby High School Natatorium record at 4:17.56. In last season’s NCHSAA Western Regionals, he won first place in the 500-yard freestyle and second place in the 200-yard freestyle, then second place in the NCHSAA State Championships in the 500-yard freestyle. Hopefully, he will continue his success in the 2025-26 postseason as well.

For further WNN articles and news stories, visit https://wisenewsnetwork.com

For more WNN video news stories, visit YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wisenewsnetwork

Contact WNN at newsdesk@wisenewsnetwork.com

North Carolina Press Association Member

©️Copyright 2025 Wise News Network. All rights reserved.