Wrestling history took place for the Freedom grapplers on Wednesday night.
The Patriots captured their first-ever 2A/3A South Mountain Athletic Conference wrestling championship with a 42-25 triumph against R-S Central in Rutherfordton.
Both squads were unbeaten heading into the SMAC-7 finale on the Hilltoppers home mat.
"I am very proud of my kids and want to thank them for all their hard work," said Freedom first-year coach Jon Smith. "I feel very lucky as a coach to be associated with such a good group of young men."
Freedom claimed nine of 14 matches to end the regular season with an unblemished 6-0 mark in the SMAC-7. The Patriots average margin of victory in the new conference was 55-18 this season.
Freedom started the match against R-S Central with back-to-back victories as junior Luis Lopez (decision) and senior Andoni Mejia (pinfall) gave the Pats an early 9-0 advantage.
After an R-S Central pin, the Patriots momentum took over to put the match out of reach.
Freedom claimed seven consecutive matches to storm out to a 42-6 lead to seal the victory and the school's first-ever SMAC-7 title.
Junior Trever Miller (145) won his match by decision. Sophomore Emmannuel Wright (152) and junior Ethan Presnell (160) followed with wins via decision to push the Pats advantage to 18-6.
Freedom's upper weight classes doomed the Hilltoppers as all four wrestlers won by pinfall to stretch the lead to 36 points (42-6) with only four matches remaining.
Sophomore Marcus Kincaid (171), junior Mason Webb (189), sophomore Jesse Horne (215) and senior Troy Barrier (HWT) each produced pinfall wins to close out the victory in dominating fashion.
"I was glad to see all the wrestlers' hard work pay off," added coach Smith. "I would also like to thank our parents and the staff at Freedom for all their help. We are lucky at Freedom to have an AD like Joey Davis and an administration who supports wrestling."
Freedom will participate in the SMAC-7 wrestling tournament on Saturday at Burns High before participating in the NCHSAA State 3A Dual Team Tournament which begins on Tuesday night at a site to be determined.
The Patriots will face either Fred T. Foard or St. Stephens in the opening round.
Freedom 42
R-S Central 25
103: Gabe Villamor lost by dec
112: Jaylen Wilson lost by pin
119: Landon Hoke lost by md
125: Josh Moses lost by pin
130: Luis Lopez wins via dec
135: Andoni Mejia wins via pin
140: Akil Logan lost by pin
145: Trevor Miller wins via dec
152: Emmanuel Wright wins via dec
160: Ethan Presnell wins via dec
171: Marcus Kincaid wins via pin
189: Mason Webb wins via pin
215: Jesse Horn wins via pin
HWT: Troy Barrier wins via pin
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