GIRLS WRESTLING ROUNDUP: Freshman goes 37-0 en route to state title

ASHEBORO — Randolph County has been represented at the state girls wrestling meet in each of the three seasons the NCHSAA has sanctioned the sport. Now the county has its first-ever individual state champion and a most outstanding wrestler honor to boot. 

Uwharrie Charter Academy freshman Riley White capped an undefeated season with three victories in the 1-A through 4-A 132-pound weight class to earn the state championship Friday night at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro. She was also named the tournament’s top wrestler. 

Asheboro High School’s Alaina Scherer advanced to the finals of the 6-A 235-pound weight class before being pinned with just four seconds left in the third period. 

A total of four female wrestlers represented AHS at the 6-A state meet Thursday and Friday with sophomore Andrea Thornton (126) and freshmen Andreona Thornton (100) and Brianna Munoz (114) gaining valuable experience in finishing 0-2. 

UCA’s Avriana Whitfield, a freshman at 138, split her first two matches before being eliminated. 

White is the first Randolph County female to win a title in the girls’ meet. UCA’s Heaven Fitch won a state title in the boys’ division in 2020. 

“I’m really surprised and proud of myself,” White said just hours after the event. “Especially with that girl (Heide Trask’s Lauren Hall). I beat her by one point at regionals and tonight by three points. I didn’t think I would do as great as I did, especially being a freshman going against a state champion and a senior. I trained hard.” 

The victory capped an unbelievable season in which White, who first began wrestling in fifth grade, finished 37-0. 

White, who was seeded No. 1 in the eight-girl field, arrived early for weigh-ins Friday and waited. 

“It was kind of tiring getting here early in the morning and waiting to wrestle,” she said of her finals match, which didn’t start until after 9:30 p.m. “This was my first time and I was nervous. I just didn’t think about it. I trusted my training, I trusted myself and I trusted God.” 

White recorded a fall in her first match at states, recording the pin in 1:06 of the first period. She had already jumped into a 6-1 lead before recording the pin. 

In her semifinal match, she earned a hard-fought 5-0 win over Mattie Turner of Brevard, getting a first-period take-down and a third-period reversal. That put her into the 132-pound championship match against Hall. 

“I tried not to let my thoughts get to me and overwhelm myself with how nervous I was,” she said about her title match. 

After a scoreless first period, she recorded a two-point reversal and then a four-point near-fall for a 6-0 lead heading into the final period. Hall recorded a take-down at the 1:29 mark, but couldn’t score anything else and White had the win. 

“At 6-0 when I got those points, I felt really confident in a way,” White said. “I just had to get through another period. I really can’t believe this and I’m so relieved. I enjoy the sport. I like my teammates and practice and love my coaches.” 

Scherer opened the state 6-A tournament with dominant wins over Harnett Central’s Tamysha Austin (11-0) and North Nash’s Cara Bake (14-0) in the semis. Scherer had a 12-0 lead after the first period and coasted to the win. 

Against Malea Vinson of White Oak High School in the finals, neither wrestler could score through the first period. 

A reversal by Vinson preceded two penalty points awarded to Scherer, which left the match tied late. Then a nearfall gave Vinson the lead headed into the final period, where Vinson earned the late pin. 

“At first, it wasn’t what we had expected, but I am extremely proud of her,” said Alaina’s father and AHS coach Wes Scherer. “It’s only her second year of wrestling and she didn’t start until January. She only had three losses and they were all to state champions.” 

Scherer finished 15-3 on the season. 

“Given the fact that the majority of the young ladies she wrestled had a lot of matches that have gone all the way through (all three periods), Alaina hasn’t experienced that this year,” Scherer said. “This was something I prepared her for, but it hindered her in a way. I think, from a coach’s perspective, it exposed some weaknesses, but for any athlete, any sport, whatever you play, your top athletes will strengthen their weaknesses. This off-season will be key.”