It all came down to the final bout in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 2A dual-team wrestling state championship at the Greensboro Coliseum Fieldhouse on Saturday.

Seaforth led R-S Central 32-31 as the Hawks’ Maddock Cody and the Hilltoppers’ Cayden Laws met in the 138-pound weight class.

Laws got three points for R-S Central in the bout, beating Cody in an 8-7 decision to lift the Hilltoppers to a 34-32 win and the first dual-team state championship in school history.

Laws was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the dual-team state championship.

R-S Central opened the day with a 19-0 lead over Seaforth. Cameron Crawford (144-pound weight class) and Caleb Cox (165-pound weight class) each recorded pins, while Hunter Feagan picked up a 21-9 major decision in the 150-pound weight class and Elijiah Guzman won a 6-3 decision in the 157-pound weight class.

But the Hawks responded with a run of their own. Seaforth scored 27 of the next 33 points to claim a 27-25 lead over R-S Central. The run included pins by Judge Lloyd in the 175-pound weight class and by Gabe Rogers in the 120-pound weight class.

The final bouts of the day were back-and-forth though. Down by two points, Sam Gosnell gave R-S Central the lead again, recorded a fall at the 4:00 mark against Ian Winger in the 126-pound weight class.

Layne Armstrong responded for Seaforth, pinning Alex Lopez at the 4:54 mark of the 132-pound weight class to give Seaforth a 32-31 lead. But that setup Laws’ win in the 138-pound weight class to clinch the 2A title for R-S Central.

R-S Central had never competed for a dual-team wrestling state champioship prior to Saturday.

Seaforth had only appeared in one state championship match before this season. Last year, the Hawks lost a 36-31 heartbreaker to Trinity in the 2A championship.

Full Results

144 – Cameron Crawford (Rutherfordton-Spindale Central High School) over Benjamin Johnson (Seaforth High School) Fall 5:11

150 – Hunter Feagan (Rutherfordton-Spindale Central High School) over Caden Brewer (Seaforth High School) Maj 21-9

157 – Elijiah Guzman (Rutherfordton-Spindale Central High School) over Carter Kearney (Seaforth High School) Dec 6-3

165 – Caleb Cox (Rutherfordton-Spindale Central High School) over Alex Hinchman (Seaforth High School) Fall 1:30

175 – Judge Lloyd (Seaforth High School) over Henry Hamrick (Rutherfordton-Spindale Central High School) Fall 0:27

190 – Harrison Compton (Seaforth High School) over Jacob Hudgins (Rutherfordton-Spindale Central High School) Maj 16-7

215 – Ethan Kuball (Seaforth High School) over Conrad Sherburne (Rutherfordton-Spindale Central High School) Dec 7-1

285 – Connor Olivares (Rutherfordton-Spindale Central High School) over Palmer Moad (Seaforth High School) Fall 3:15

106 – Luke Ayers (Seaforth High School) over Aiden Dalton (Rutherfordton-Spindale Central High School) Maj 15-4

113 – Jordan Miller (Seaforth High School) over Bryson Davis (Rutherfordton-Spindale Central High School) Maj 13-3

120 – Gabe Rogers (Seaforth High School) over Aiden Gallegos (Rutherfordton-Spindale Central High School) Fall 1:02

126 – Sam Gosnell (Rutherfordton-Spindale Central High School) over Ian Winger (Seaforth High School) Fall 4:00

132 – Layne Armstrong (Seaforth High School) over Alex Lopez (Rutherfordton-Spindale Central High School) Fall 4:54

138 – Cayden Laws (Rutherfordton-Spindale Central High School) over Maddock Cody (Seaforth High School) Dec 8-7

*Seaforth was issued a 1-point deduction for unsportsmanlike conduct