Sports wrap-up: Wrestlers make school history

Several teams from schools around the county competed in holiday tournaments over the past few weeks, and one of the teams made school history. The teams that took a break will get back at it this week. Some teams will have big conference games, some will play extra games, and one school will complete their first basketball season in school history.

Pinecrest:

Patriot Wrestling

On Dec. 23, the Patriots competed in the Tiger Tournament. 

For the first time in school history, three women wrestlers competed at the varsity level during the tournament. This is the first time that Pinecrest has had a small team of five female wrestlers. 

Also, two male wrestlers took home first place, one took home third place, and one placed fourth. 

On Thursday, the Patriots traveled to Charlotte with 10 wrestlers, six men and four women to compete in the Holy Angels Invitational. The men came home with two champions, one finished seventh, and one finished eighth. The ladies had three of their four wrestlers place third.

Men’s Basketball 7-4 (0-1)

The Patriots had a busy winter break hosting a tournament, a non-conference game, and traveling to Eastern N.C. for a tournament. The Patriots will return with two big conference games this week. 

On Dec. 22, the Patriots hosted and lost to Hoggard 59-56. 

On Dec. 23, they hosted and defeated Cardinal Gibbons 49-46.

The men traveled to Weast Bladen for the West Bladen Off-Road Christmas Tournament. 

On Dec. 28, the Patriots defeated Whiteville 61-44.

On Dec. 29, the Patriots defeated St. Paul’s 69-26. 

On Dec. 30, the Patriots lost to Laney 63-47 in the championship game.

This week, the Patriots will host both conference games. 

Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. against Lee County (2-8)

Friday at 7:30 p.m. against Southern Lee (1-8).

Women’s Basketball 6-4 (0-1)

The Lady Patriots also competed in a tournament last week. On Monday, the ladies lost to Wesleyan Christian Academy 54-43. 

On Tuesday, the Lady Patriots defeated Southern Guilford in a blow-out 55-19. 

On Wednesday, they defeated High Point Central 67-26. 

The Lady Patriots will also host two conference games this week. 

Tuesday at 6 p.m. against Lee County (1-9).

Friday at 6 p.m. against Southern Lee (2-5)

Father Vincent Capodanno High School:

Men’s Basketball: 0-6

The men’s basketball team will complete their first season in school history this week. 

Wednesday at St. Thomas More Academy (1-7) time is TBA. 

Thursday at North Moore (5-4) 4:30 p.m.

Women’s Basketball (1-2)

The women’s team will complete their first season Wednesday at St. Thomas More Academy (9-3) at 5 p.m.

North Moore:

Men’s Basketball 5-4 (1-1)

The Mustangs will return to the court with an important conference game this week. The Mustangs will host both of their games this week. 

Tuesday against Bartlett-Yancey (1-7) conference game at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday against Father Vincent Capodanno (0-6) at 4:30 p.m.

Women’s Basketball 1-6 (0-2)

The Lady Mustangs will host a conference game Tuesday versus Bartlett-Yancey (2-5) at 6 p.m.

O’Neal:

Men’s Basketball 8-4 (1-0)

The Falcons went 2-1 in their winter tournament. Their tournament was held on Dec. 20-22. The Falcons lost in the opening round 49-44 against Virginia Prep Sports Academy. In the second and third games, the Falcons were able to put away both of those games defeating Berean Baptist Academy 61-54 and defeating Village Christian Academy 81-64. 

The Falcons will return Friday for a conference game against Trinity Academy (10-2) the time is TBA. 

Women’s Basketball 9-3 (1-0)

The Lady Falcons also competed in a tournament Dec. 20-22. Like the men Falcons, the ladies also went 2-1 on the break, losing the first round 37-34 to Legacy Early College. The second-round game was a big turnaround when the Lady Falcons defeated Mount Zion Christian Academy in a huge blowout win 78-13. The ladies went to winter break winning the last game 26-20 against St. David’s.

The Lady Falcons will host a conference game Friday at 5:30 p.m. against Trinity Academy (5-1).

Union Pines:

Men’s Basketball 10-1 (1-0)

The Vikings competed in a tournament last week and were able to go 2-0 before losing their first game of the season.

On Monday, the Vikings defeated Green Level 51-42.

On Tuesday, the Vikings defeated East Chapel Hill 49-33.

On Wednesday, the Vikings lost 77-65 to Apex. 

The Vikings have a busy week ahead with an away conference game and will host two games, one of which will be against undefeated conference rival Richmond. 

Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. conference game at Scotland (3-5).

Wednesday at 6 p.m. against Randleman (3-7).

Friday at 6 p.m. conference game against Richmond (11-0).

Women’s Basketball 7-4 (1-0)

The Lady Vikings return to the court this week with a hard three-game schedule. Two will be conference games. 

Tuesday at 6 p.m. conference game at Scotland (8-2).

Wednesday at 6 p.m. against Randleman (10-0).

Friday at 6 p.m. conference game against Richmond (7-4).  

Wrestling

2021 Tiger Holiday Classic 

The Union Pines wrestling team competed in the Tiger Holiday Classic at Chapel Hill Dec. 21 -22.  With 32 schools attending, the Viking wrestlers finished as the team runner-up. 

Individual champions Colton Collins and Aiden McCafferty led the Viking team scoring efforts. Collins, a 220-pound junior, racked up 28 team points as he picked up three falls on his way to the finals. In the final, Collins knocked off the top seed and previously undefeated Miguel Arguella of Southeast Guilford with an 8-2 decision. McCafferty, a senior and the top-ranked 170-pound wrestler in the state, tallied 27 team points with a fall, decision and major decision on the way to his final where he beat a very tough and highly ranked Alexander Gunning of Chapel Hill.

Other Viking medalists with significant scoring contributions were Jayden Crawford, a junior at 113 pounds, with a second-place finish and 21 pts.; Gaige Lloyd, a senior at 145-pounds, with a third-place finish and 22 pts.; Keaton Crawford, a freshman at 106 pounds with a 4th place finish and 18 pts.; and Kelen DeVries, a senior at 285-pounds, with a fifth-place finish and 15 pts.  

Rounding out the team members that contributed to the team scoring were: Finn McCafferty, a freshman at 132-pounds with 6.5 pts; Joseph Vrabcak, a senior at 138 pounds with 4 pts; Dustin Maness, a junior at 152-pounds with 4 pts; Brock Sullivan, a freshman at 160-pounds with 4 pts; Nicholas Mascolino, a sophomore at 182 with 9 pts.

Union Pines is at home on Jan 4 for a conference meet with Southern Lee and Scotland.  

SCC Basketball 10-5

The flyers played one game during the break competing on New Year’s Day against Davidson-Davie CC. The Flyers lost 96-55.

The Flyers hope to turn things around this week on the road with a three-game schedule, beginning conference play late in the week.

Tuesday at USC Salkehatchie 5 p.m.

Friday at Dabney S. Lancaster CC  conference game at 5 p.m.

Saturday at Dabney S. Lancaster CC  conference game at 1 p.m.

Feature photo: Patriot wrestlers pose at the Holy Angel Invitational after three of their four female wrestlers place third. Pictured left to right: Megan Rowland, freshman; Saoirse Moler, freshman; Jocelyn Mattingly, junior; and Ava Weber, freshman. Photo credit: Jeannie Hyder. 

Sandhills_Sentinel~Article by Sandhills Sentinel Reporter Curtis Self.

 

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