North Carolina High School Athletic Association
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2018 3A Dual Team Wrestling: Piedmont bests Orange for second straight title

For the second consecutive year the Piedmont Panthers knocked off Orange in the 3A Dual Team Wrestling State Championship, winning this year's match by a 33-31 count. Piedmont's Luis Oropesa took home MVP honors for his decision victory over Daylen Alston in the heavyweight bout as Oropesa outscored Alston 9-6.

Oropesa's win stopped a string of 10 unanswered points for Orange and put Piedmont in the score column for the first time on the night. His victory started a string of seven straight wins for Piedmont wrestlers on their way to the school's third Dual Team State Championship and second consecutive title.

Orange jumped on top early, claiming a pin victory in the opening bout of the match followed by a major decision victory. Josiah Ramirez pinned Travis Murphy with 1:31 remaining in the second period to get Orange out to a 6-0 lead after the 195 pound bout. His teammate Brandon Homsey followed that up with a 17-9 major decision victory over James Price at 220. 

Kylan Thomas sealed the title for Piedmont, pinning Mario Manduiano with 1:38 remaining in the third period of the 152 pound bout, lifting Piedmont to an insurmountable 33-13 lead with just three division remaining. Tripp Collins (106) and Mason Fisher (138) also won by pin for Piedmont. Collins tapped down Kessell Summers with just one second remaining in the second period. Fisher bested Michael Phillips with 26 seconds to go in the first period. 

Bailey Wicker (113), Nathan Huntley (120), Angelo Gilvary (126) and Colby Funderburk (132) all won by decision for Piedmont. Levi Anderson (145) was the lone decision victory for Orange.