FAYETTEVILLE — Jaxson Nolen continued his dominant ways on the wrestling mat Saturday, leading Fayetteville to an impressive showing at its own Fayetteville Bulldog Tournament at Bulldog Arena.
Nolen, who has consistently been a top wrestler in area meets this season, was as effective as ever. Wrestling at 152, Nolen earned Most Outstanding Wrestler honors for the upper weight divisions Saturday, pinning Greenwood’s Trenton Cowan in the 152 championship match.
“Jaxson continues to get better and better,” Fayetteville coach Steve Adair. “Like I’ve said before, he’s always in every match and he’ll have a great chance this year to win state.”
Nolen wasn’t the only Purple’Dog to enjoy plenty of success Saturday in the open-format tournament. Fayetteville got five more individual championship match wins along with Nolen.
Jay Branch, a Fayetteville senior, was the winner Saturday at 113 after a hardfought, 10-9 decision over Greenbrier’s Wyatt Daniel in the finals.
“It was very important to try to do my home fans proud,” Branch said. “All the long practices, and four years of practice, I want to make sure all that practice is worth it.”
Fayetteville’s other winners Saturday were Darrell Hale (126), freshman Evan Johnson (138), Dane Shields (160) and Jonathan Betancourt (285).
Hale and Shields both pinned their final opponents in respective championship matches, while Johnson and Betancourt won by decision.
“This is definitely a good feeling and it’s good for everybody,” Nolen said. “We had some kids go out there and pullling their own and that was good.”
Fayetteville also had two second-place wrestlers Saturday, as Logan Dingler dropped a championship match to Greenbrier’s R.J. Howard at 106. Sophomore Spencer Crockett also earned a runner-up finish for the Bulldogs at 195.
Fayetteville returns to the mat Thursday with a dual meet at home against Gentry.