State high school wrestling
Panthers outpoint Bruins, wrap up 4-year rise in 1A-5A
Greenbrier wrestler Rylan Howard (top) tries to pin Berryville’s Ethan King during the finals of the 132-pound division at Saturday’s high school state wrestling championships at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock. Howard won the match 7-0.
There was no suspense this year for Greenbrier’s wrestling team.
A year after losing a team state championship by four points to Central Arkansas Christian, the Panthers cruised to their first Class 1A-5A state championship Saturday at the eighth Arkansas high school state wrestling tournament at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock.
Greenbrier had 277 points and placed 11 wrestlers in the top six, including two state champions. Chris Whisenant won the 113-pound title while Rylan Howard took the 132-pound crown. The Panthers also had five second-place finishers and one finisher in third, fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively.
Coach Jason Howard, who has been a volunteer coach for the Faulkner County school since the program’s inception in 2012-2013, said losing last year was a letdown for the Panthers.
“It motivated us a lot,” Howard said. “It was one of our staples. Our motto was finishing tough. We didn’t finish strong last year.”
Greenbrier beat Pulaski Academy, which scored 229.5 points. Little Rock McClellan finished third with 212.5 points.
Springdale Har-Ber, which finished third last year, won the 6A-7A team title with a score of 258.5 points. Bentonville was second with 195 points, while Little Rock Catholic was third with 185.
Greenbrier led the 1A-5A team standings after Day One and continued to roll into the championship finals, leading Pulaski Academy 259-199.5.
Whisenant pinned Beebe’s Jaden Webb in 2:25. Rylan Howard earned a 7-0 decision over Berryville’s Ethan King, avenging a defeat to King in last year’s 120-pound final.
The two early victories helped Greenbrier roll to the team title.
“This is a team event,” Howard said. “There are individuals, but it’s also about the team. If you get guys on the podium, you have a chance to win. That’s what it’s about.”
Springdale Har-Ber led Little Rock Catholic 216.5-156.0 entering the championship round. The Wildcats were able to stay on top thanks to having 12 wrestlers place, including Kimble Jennings’ 126-pound state title victory. Har-Ber also had five second-place finishers.
Pulaski Academy had four state champions Saturday. Michael Crockett capped a 54-1 season with a 17-6 major decision over Greenbrier’s Colton Harding in the 126-pound final. Nick Noel won his fourth state championship, winning the 138-pound title by pin over Greenbrier’s Wyatt Daniel. James Noel finished 59-0 by pinning Berryville’s Christian Lemus. Layne Hatcher (59-1) won his second consecutive state championship, pinning Episcopal Collegiate’s Gus Powers in the 182-pound final.
Five wrestlers ended their season without a loss, including two from Little Rock competing in Class 1A-5A. Little Rock Christian’s Kevin Knox (31-0) won the 145-pound title and Pulaski Academy’s Noel capped a 59-0 season with a victory in the 160-pound final.
Cabot’s Dillan Friesner ended his season 32-0 with a victory in the 6A-7A 132-pound final. Rogers Heritage’s Shae Chafin (45-0) won the 152-pound final in 6A-7A.
Searcy’s Jordan Slaughter (41-0) pinned Springdale Har-Ber’s Treyton Baker in the 195-pound final. It was Slaughter’s second consecutive state championship.
In its first three seasons, Greenbrier placed sixth (2013), fourth (2014) and second (2015). Now, the Panthers can call themselves state champions, but Howard isn’t planning on his team being satisfied with one title.
“We want to continue to build,” Howard said. “We want to continue to build for the future.”