Central wins Hardaway Invitational

Jonboy Storey set the tone as he won a thrilling overtime match in the 145-pound weight class and paved the way for Central to win the team championship in the annual Hardaway Invitational Wrestling tournament Saturday afternoon at the Hawks' gym.

Storey's match was the first final of the day, and he grabbed two points at the end of the third period to tie his opponent, Matt Watford of LaGrange, 11-11. Storey then pinned him in overtime to take the individual title.

"That's my first time winning a varsity championship," Storey said. "I guess it just came down to who wanted it at the end."

Central wrestlers won four of the five finals matches they competed in. In addition to Storey, Robert

Morales, Nathan Spillers and Max Kauffman also won in their weight classes.

"We won our championship on Dec. 5-6 and then took the team title in Auburn the second weekend, so this makes a trifecta," Central coach Rob Morales said.

"But I feel that this win came from all the work our guys put in before this tournament.

"Our kids competed and bought in to what we were telling them and that was the difference."

In the team standings, Mount Zion finished second and Spencer came in at third.

Spencer had the most wrestlers in the finals but won only one of six matches.

That win was by Elijah McNickles in the final match of the day a close 9-7 win over Josh McAlister of Columbus at 138. That win did clinch third for the Greenwave.

Hardaway also handed out three individual awards. Jordan coach Russell Scott was the recipient of the Paul Kite service award.

"Coach Scott has spent 18 years working to get wrestling going and does a lot for his wrestlers as well as with others. He deserved this award," Hardaway tournament director Jeff Battles said.

LaGrange's Guy Wegienka won the Aaron Blake scholarship award and Hardaway's Emilio Evans-Pagan won the Xavier Woods outstanding wrestler award.

The tournament had 20 teams competing and 13 of those had wrestlers in at least one final.

Individual finals

106-John Jones (No.) def. Studd Morris (CPC), 8-0.

113-Justin Kiss (Ca.) pinned Will Harp (No.)

120-Max Kauffman (CPC) def. Deon Morgan (SS), 10-2

126-Ashton Robinson (MZ) pinned Tyler Wilson (SS)

132-Dawson Hunt (CC) pinned Keishon Thompkins (Sp)

138-Elijah McNickles (sp) def. John McAlister (Col), 9-7

145-Jonboy Storey (CPC), pinned Matt Watford (LaG) (OT)

152-Robert Morales (CPC) def. Javon Walker (Car), 12-3

160-Nathan Spillers (CPC) def. Jeremy Burgess (Sp), 6-0

170-Emilio Evans (H0 pinned Kameron Blackshear (Sp)

182-Matt Coker (HC) def. Talik Jackson (O), 9-7 (OT)

195-Guy Wegienka (LaG) pinned Austin Phillips (SS)

220-Brooks Alfred (Car) def. Jasaad Graves (Sp), 4-3

285-Chandler Butler (MZ) def. Christophe Baker (Sp), 12-3

This story was originally published December 19, 2015 at 8:36 PM with the headline "Central wins Hardaway Invitational ."