Greyhounds beat out-of-state foes to place fifth in Asheville

GREYHOUND GRAPPLERS

  • Greyhounds beat out-of-state foes to place fifth in Asheville
    Greyhounds beat out-of-state foes to place fifth in Asheville
  • Greyhounds beat out-of-state foes to place fifth in Asheville
    Greyhounds beat out-of-state foes to place fifth in Asheville
  • Greyhounds beat out-of-state foes to place fifth in Asheville
    Greyhounds beat out-of-state foes to place fifth in Asheville
  • Greyhounds beat out-of-state foes to place fifth in Asheville
    Greyhounds beat out-of-state foes to place fifth in Asheville
  • Greyhounds beat out-of-state foes to place fifth in Asheville
    Greyhounds beat out-of-state foes to place fifth in Asheville
  • Jones County’s wrestlers came back from the Great Smoky Mountain Invitational with a finish of fifth out of 40 teams. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
    Jones County’s wrestlers came back from the Great Smoky Mountain Invitational with a finish of fifth out of 40 teams. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

    The teams that Jones County faced over the weekend at the Great Smoky Mountain Grapple won’t be ones that they’ll have to overtake in region and state duals, but the level of competition and intensity that comes with it hardly gave the Greyhounds a break heading into the holiday break.

    Amidst a field of 40 teams in a tournament held in Asheville, N.C., JCHS finished fifth with seven wrestlers placing. It’s part of a run of backto- back out of state tourneys for Jones County, which is set to take part in the Knockout Sportwear Duals Dec. 29-30 in Lexington, S.C.

    After starting the new year in the Packer Classic Jan. 5-6 in Moultrie, Jones County hosts region duals on Jan. 13.

    Chances are strong that rising to the occasion will be needed in that setting, similar to what Jones County was able to do in the western part of the Tar Heel State over the weekend.

    Of the Greyhounds’ seven wrestlers to place sixth or better, three finished fourth or better, and each got there by battling back in one way or another in their weight class. Robert Scott got rolling nicely in his bracket, staying unbeaten until a loss in the first-place match to finish second.

    Arrie Martin bounced back after a loss to win in both the consolation semifinal and third-place match for his finish of third.

    Hunter McCleskey’s fourth-place finish was also marked by a strong start as two wins in a row followed a forfeit until losing in the semifinal round. Rounding out the top performers for Jones County were David Little in fifth and Aiden Lipford, Jackson Brown and Jacob Skinner in sixth.