Asheboro gets its first regional wrestling champion and sends 4 to state meet

ASHEBORO — Girls high school wrestling in North Carolina has been NCHSAA-sanctioned for just three seasons and the Asheboro High School girls wrestling program has taken gigantic strides in the two short years it’s been in existence.

The Blue Comets have their first regional champion in Alaina Scherer and four wrestlers in all will represent AHS at the state 6-A wrestling meet scheduled for Thursday and Friday at the Greensboro Coliseum. Scherer captured the 235-pound West Regional championship by pinning Olympic High School’s Yahora Hakim in just 27 seconds of the first period in her regional title match.

Joining Scherer from AHS at the 6-A state meet will be Andrea Thornton, who placed second at 126, Brianna Munoz, who placed third at 114 and Andreona Thornton, who placed fourth at 100 pounds.

The Blue Comets placed fifth out of 22 teams at the regional.

“Doing a little scouting, I had a feeling I would take four with me, but I was hoping for more,” AHS girls wrestling coach Wes Scherer said, adding that a couple of wrestlers missed quite a bit of time due to a family situation and may not have been at full strength for the regionals. 

Alaina Scherer was the only Blue Comet wrestler who advanced to last year’s state title meet. That number has increased this season.

“Convincing girls to try it,” Coach Scherer said of the biggest challenge in starting a program. “Most of them have never even thought about it and when they hear about it, they don’t want to give it a try. 

“I’m walking the halls, ‘Hey, you could be a wrestler.’ We get some who try it and don’t like it and some come out and it fascinates them and gets their attention. It’s hit and miss, but I’m hoping the success of this season brings more people out.”

Alaina Scherer, one of his daughters, said she would only come out for wrestling if her dad coached. After a couple of conversations with AHS personnel, Scherer took the job last year and Alaina followed. Scherer has two other daughters — Adalynn and Leneane — who were playing on the AHS varsity girls basketball team.

Wrestling was an opportunity for Alaina to become involved with a sport.

“I wanted to try a sport and I love how active and physical it is,” said Alaina, who played one year of basketball.

But Alaina did have to get over one fear, something she apparently has conquered.

“I don’t like crowds, it makes me nervous and I overthink,” she said.

Her dad and coach helped her get over that fear and she has done quite well, finishing 13-2 this year heading into the state tournament, where a total of seven wrestlers will vie for the 235-pound state title.

“I feel now once you step on the mat and get going, I don’t care about the crowd and focus on who is on the mat,” Alaina said. 

Coach Scherer said he’s enjoying the time spent with his daughter on the mat.

“It’s not hard for me to separate the coach and the parent,” Scherer said. 

“Sometimes when we talk, she sees me as dad instead of coach. We had a conversation one time and I asked where are we and where do you want to go? I think that set in with her.

“I enjoy spending time with her as a dad. Seeing the love she has for the sport is a blessing to me.”

Undefeated UCA girl wrestler, teammate move on

In the state 1-A through 4-A meet, Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Riley White, who is 34-0 at 132, and Avriana Whitfield, who is 22-9 at 138, will also compete.