Mitchell senior Dylan Lowery finished as the state runner-up in the 120-pound weight class for the second year in a row Saturday, Feb. 22, at the NCHSAA State Individual Wrestling Championships. Lowery lost a 7-0 decision to Avery’s Ethan Shell in the championship bout. (Kevin Hensley/for the News-Journal)
GREENSBORO – A pair of Mitchell senior wrestlers, Dylan Lowery and Samuel Shook, qualified for the NCHSAA Individual Wrestling Championships this past weekend in Greensboro.
Dylan Lowery (120 pounds) and Samuel Shook (220 pounds) both competed in the tournament. Lowery walked away with his second straight state runner-up medal while Shook was one win away from finishing in the top five.
“I was thrilled to have two state qualifiers,” said Ed Duncan, Mitchell head wrestling coach. “We pretty much expected Dylan to qualify, but Samuel surprised some people, not me, but being a No. 5 seed in the regionals to qualifying and coming a match away from placing at state is great. I’m proud of all their accomplishments on and off the mat.”
Lowery (23-3) won his first-round match by fall over Albemarle’s Ricardo Bustos while Shook (21-15) lost in the championship quarterfinals to eventual state runner-up Sergio Saldana from Uwharrie Charter. Shook defeated Albemarle’s Naqian Carpenter in the Consolation First Round by a 5-3 decision before losing by fall in the Consolation Semifinals to Tony Rogers of South Stanly.
Lowery went on to defeat Polk County’s Satchel McCoy by major decision in Saturday’s Championship Semifinal match before losing by 7-0 decision to Avery’s Ethan Shell in the championship bout.
“I have a lot of respect for Dylan,” Duncan said. “He knew how good Ethan was and had a chance to switch weight classes, but he stayed in 120 pounds and took on the challenge. That’s what a coach expects from a two-time regional champion and two-time state runner-up.”
Lowery reflected on his time wrestling for Mitchell. Although his days as a Mountaineer may be over, he plans to wrestle again in the future.
“It’s crazy to believe that wrestling is over, as bad as I hate to see it go, but hopefully, if my plans follow through, then I’ll be wrestling in the collegiate level,” Lowery said. “My ingredient to success is giving God all the glory and credit for everything, including the opportunity to wrestle. Without him I wouldn’t be standing on podiums or holding medals around my neck, that’s for sure.”
Lowery has a litany of accomplishments as a Mitchell wrestler, but he credits those around him with helping him succeed.
“I have so many things to be thankful for,” he said. “I want to thank all my family, coaches and teammates for motivating, teaching and supporting me. I couldn’t have done it without them. This season was definitely one to remember.”
MITCHELL STATE RESULTS
2020 1A 120 2nd Dylan Lowery
2019 1A 120 2nd Dylan Lowery
2018 1A 126 3rd Coltin Marlowe
2018 1A 160 3rd Ryan Richardson
2017 1A 285 1st Todd Self
2017 1A 113 4th Coltin Marlowe
2016 1A 160 1st Dalton Beaver
2016 1A 220 1st Will Atkins
2016 1A 106 3rd Coltin Marlowe
2016 1A 152 3rd Solomon Duncan
2015 1A 120 1st Kyler Hoilman
2015 1A 126 1st Levi Richardson
2015 1A 145 1st Dalton Beaver
2015 1A 138 2nd Solomon Duncan
2015 1A 220 2nd Will Atkins
2015 1A 285 2nd Todd Self
2015 1A 113 3rd Christian Lowery
2014 1A 170 1st Daniel Bomar
2014 1A 126 2nd Levi Richardson
2014 1A 182 2nd Tanner Buchanan
2014 1A 113 3rd Kyler Hoilman
2014 1A 120 3rd Peyton Greene
2014 1A 160 3rd Kagen Hoilman
2013 1A 182 3rd Tanner Buchanan
2013 1A 152 4th Daniel Bomar
2012 1A 126 3rd Colten McKinney
2012 1A 152 4th Daniel Bomar
2012 1A 160 4th Stephen Bomar
2012 1A 220 4th Dayshawn Blackman
2011 1A 130 2nd Sejiro Littleton
2011 1A 125 3rd Colten McKinney
2011 1A 145 3rd Stephen Bomar
2010 1A 130 3rd Sejiro Littleton
2010 1A 119 4th Colten McKinney
2008 1A/2A 125 6th Malachi Honeycutt
2006 1A/2A 275 3rd Toby Peterson
2005 1A/2A 125 1st Toby Sullins
2005 1A/2A 275 2nd Toby Peterson
2004 1A/2A 125 2nd Toby Sullins
2004 1A/2A 112 4th Paul McGee
2004 1A/2A 119 6th Austin Williams
2003 1A/2A 103 1st Toby Sullins
2003 1A/2A 112 3rd Paul McGee
2002 1A/2A 152 2nd Adam Keath
2002 1A/2A 160 4th Aaron Beam
1998 1A/2A 275 3rd Vic Burleson
1996 1A/2A 215 4th Jason Jones
1994 1A/2A 145 3rd Chad Priest
1993 1A/2A 125 1st John Schortinghouse
1993 1A/2A 145 2nd Chad Priest
1991 1A/2A 135 1st Johnny Greene
1990 1A/2A 275 1st Travis Oglesby
1990 1A/2A 119 2nd Daniel Gardner
1990 1A/2A 130 3rd Johnny Greene
1990 1A/2A 140 3rd Allan Weeks
1990 1A/2A 125 4th Andy Phillips
1990 1A/2A 152 4th Andy Greene
1989 1A/2A 119 4th Johnny Greene
1989 1A/2A 275 4th Travis Oglesby