Kiesa Kay
MNJ Correspondent
The 17th annual Highland Challenge Wrestling Tournament graced Mitchell High School on Saturday, featuring the Western Carolina Wrestling Club and wrestlers who traveled to Spruce Pine from Tennessee and throughout North Carolina. Teams represented Dogtown, S.W.A.T. Wrestling Club, Baynard Trained Wrestling Club , Ennice, Alleghany Wrestling Club, and more.
Bryson McFalls, the 1A Western Regional Champion who qualified for the NCHSAA State Championships, placed first in Junior Boys 132-138 at the Highland tournament. He excelled throughout the season as a Mitchell Mountaineer.
“We’re fortunate to have many capable, hard-working wrestlers on both the men’s and women’s teams,” said Ed Duncan, state chairman for North Carolina USA Wrestling and head coach at Mitchell High School.
Jayko Erwin placed first in 12U Boys 82-86. Isaac Crone and Hurter Burleson placed first and second in 14U Boys 110-115. Dakota Stowe placed second in 12U Boys 45-49, and Oscar Burleson placed second in 14U Boys 120-126. Brett McClean, Katie Stowe, and Cullen Sparks placed first, second, and third respectively in their weight class. Madon Davis and Jayson Erwin went one-two in their weight class, as did Yeshua Guardian and Jeremy Holtsclaw.
Duncan received the Lifetime Service Award from the North Carolina Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2024 for his ongoing service.
“People are starting to come back to Mitchell County to visit, and they come from all over the state for the tournament,” Duncan said. “They buy gas, eat at restaurants, and support local businesses while having a good time wrestling. It is easier on our guys to have top quality competition come to us, rather than have us traveling.”
The tournament offered folk style, Olympic freestyle, Greco Roman, and beach wrestling, the fastest growing high school and collegiate sport in the United States. The Western Carolina Wrestling Club consists of avid wrestlers from age five to adult. The high school wrestling teams train as part of the club, but WCWC extends beyond those boundaries.
“Wrestlers learn to get up and keep going in different situations, and life is like that, too,” said Duncan. “Kindergarten is a great time to start building skills. Wrestling teaches agility, flexibility, strength, endurance, positions, and moves.”
Of the high school competitors, only Clayton Geouge will be a graduating senior this school year. He placed first in Junior Boys 285. The women’s team will have returning Western Highland Conference Champions Payton Buchanan and Katie Stowe next school year, with Madison Morales, Joslynn Cook, Zoe Hippe, and Allie King graduating in 2025. Jaycee Mae Erwin placed first in her weight class, and Kylie Geouge placed first in hers.
“We have a great group of girls at our school,” Duncan said.
Duncan organized the first girls’ high school invitational, and NCAA will have the first women’s national championship in 2026.
“Wrestling is wonderful,” Duncan said. “It teaches life lessons. It is a great way for kids to get in shape physically and mentally to prepare for the real world when they leave school.”
Complete tournament results may be found online: http://www.trackwrestling.com/opentournaments/VerifyPassword.jsp?tournamentId=911096132&userType=viewer&pageName=TeamResults.jsp;teamBox=493670150:fontSizeBox=12:patternBox=1000
“Mitchell will host again March 15th when the Blacklight Bash comes to Ledger for the 4th consecutive spring,” Duncan said in a follow-up email.