State Wrestling Title for Enka High

As the 3A NCHSAA individual state wrestling tournament came to a close, one team stood above the rest.

By: Benjamin Rickert, BCS Communications (Photos provided courtesy of Enka High School and A.C. Reynolds High School.)

As the NCHSAA individual state wrestling tournament came to a close on February 22, one team stood above the rest: Enka High School of Buncombe County. The Jets claimed the state 3A team title with six All-State finishers of their eight qualifying wrestlers, covering six weight classes.

Enka senior Corbin Dion was the state Champion in the 126-pound weight class, and Enka junior Colby Maxwell placed second in the 195-pound class. Third place finishers included Enka senior Garrett Pugh (170-pound) and A.C. Reynolds High sophomore Caden Early (160-pound).

Enka head coach Mark Harris called his wrestlers “overachievers,” explaining that they outworked opponents who may even have been more athletic.

“They are very hard workers, they are very disciplined, and they are very supportive in a team environment — even though it is an individual sport,” he said. “We had six guys that placed in the top six, and that was enough to put us up as a team and win the tournament. I’m proud of them.”

During the tournament in Greensboro, the state's top 16 wrestlers competed within each weight class based on regional competitions, including wrestlers representing Enka High (3A), A.C. Reynolds High (3A), Charles D. Owen High (2A), and North Buncombe High (3A). At the tournament's conclusion, the top six in each class were declared All-State finishers.

“This is much more than just eight kids,” Harris added. “We’ve received tremendous support from our school administration and there is a big community connected to our program that has contributed in many ways — big and small. I want to thank them.”

2020 NCHSAA 3A Individual Wrestling Tournament
Buncombe County Schools

126 lbs
Corbin Dion (Senior), Enka High, 1st Place (State Champion)

132 lbs
Greyson Harris (Sophomore), Enka High, 6th Place

152 lbs
Tony Torres (Junior), Enka High, 5th Place

160 lbs
Caden Earley (Sophomore), A.C. Reynolds High, 3rd Place
Luke Artz (Junior), Enka High, 4th Place

170 lbs
Garrett Pugh (Senior), Enka High, 3rd Place

195 lbs
Colby Maxwell (Junior), Enka High, 2nd Place

___
Special thanks to Mr. David Ball, BCS District Athletic Specialist, for assembling the details of this story.

View the full results and placements of the 2020 NCHSAA Individual Wrestling Tournament.

Learn more about Enka's state title and WNC's regional qualifiers (including students from other successful BCS wrestling programs) from the Asheville Citizen-Times.

DISTRICT

Elementary

Intermediate

Middle

High

Other

Buncombe County Schools