Rogers Heritage, Van Buren and Arkadelphia take home team state wrestling championships

Berryville’s Caleb Record won his fourth consecutive individual championship at 120 pounds.

By Kyle Sutherland | Photos by Tommy Land

The final day of the 14th annual Centennial Bank High School State Wrestling Tournament began with the semifinals and championship round for Class 6A with Rogers Heritage taking the overall team championship earning 226 points. Five-time defending champion Bentonville finished runner-up with 193 points. 

Individually for Heritage, Ethan McCrary (106), Zayne Lewis (120), and Briar Goodwin (285) all finished first in their respective weight classes. Lewis won his second individual state title and was named to the 6A All-Tournament team and Outstanding wrestler for the 106-132 classes. 

Along with Lewis, Vincent Bryant of Little Rock Central (195) was the other returning individual champion from Class 6A who also claimed a second consecutive championship. 

Eight of the 14 top seeds won championships with the following weight classes seeing upsets:

132-Benjamin Smith (Bentonville), 3-seed

145-Bruce Quayle (Springdale), 4-seed

152-Thomas Moralez (Bentonville West), 2-seed

182-Kaden Heintz (Bentonville West), 3-seed

220- Andrew Williamson (Bentonville), 2-seed

285-Briar Goodwin (Heritage), 2-seed

Van Buren took the team championship for Class 5A edging Lake Hamilton by a score of 191-187.5. Defending back-to-back champion Greenwood placed fourth with 182 points. Individual defending champion Shiloh Summers of Van Buren came in as the No 2 seed in the 120-pound class, but was able to edge Jonesboro’s Justin Shaw by fall at the 1:14 mark. Fellow Pointer and defending champion Trever Edelen was the No. 2 seed for the 132-pound class and defeated Searcy Alex Pena via sudden victory. 

Other returning champions who successfully defended their titles were Austin Callies of Mountain Home (152), who won his second in a row along with Tyler Crossno of Greenwood (220) and Justin Crutchmer (170) of Lake Hamilton who both clinched their third-straight individual titles. 

Following his advancement to the semifinals on Friday night, Sylvan Hills’ Landry Beeching really had nothing left to achieve besides a state championship and he accomplished that winning a 3-1 decision over Greenwood’s Lucas Honkala.

“Just because this is my first championship, I do not feel like ending my career here,” Beeching said. “I want to progress more to the college level. To me, this is just the beginning. My work right here has opened a door. It is not about getting my name out there, but more about getting Arkansas wrestling recognized and continue to build on what we have.”

The tournament concluded in the afternoon and into the late hours of the night with Class 1-4A taking the mat. 

As expected, defending champion Shiloh Christian and Arkadelphia battled it out until the end with the team scores staying extremely close the entire night, but the Badgers were ultimately able to run away with it 221-200. 

For the Badgers, Ross Womack (160) won his second individual title in a row defeating Shiloh Christian’s Williams Brown via a 10-4 decision.

Pulaski Academy’s Josh Cady clinched his third straight individual championship winning a 10-7 decision over Pottsville’s Caden Pipes. Brayden Phillips of Glen Rose (152) and Lee Roberts of Gentry (132) also won their second in a row while Alex Cooper of Southside Batesville (220) completed a three-peat. 

The highlight of the night from the small classes was Berryville’s Caleb Record (120) winning his fourth consecutive individual championship, the only player in the entire tournament to accomplish that feat. Record comes from a family of wrestlers and has competed in the sport since he was five. He credits his brothers, and in particular his dad who is an assistant coach for the Bobcats, for what he has been able to accomplish as a prep wrestler. 

“It’s unreal, amazing,” Record said. “I did not do it on my own, I have had my dad who has taught me everything I know so I owe it all to him. 

Individual finishes and team scores are now available.