Staff report

HICKORY — West Rowan’s run in the dual team state playoffs ended on Wednesday with a 45-26 loss to Pisgah in a third-round match.

St. Stephens hosted the 3A West third round and regional final.

West’s match with Pisgah started with the 132-pounders, an ideal place for the Falcons to begin, as they had three of their most accomplished wrestlers at 132, 138 and 144.

Stetson Colins won a 13-2 major decision at 132 for a 4-0 lead.

Kevin O’Brien’s pin at 138 pounds was history-making. It was the 174th career win for O’Brien, breaking the Rowan County record that Danny Misenheimer set at East Rowan from 1996-2000. Wrestling for coach Barry Justus, Misenheimer was 173-13 in his career.

O’Brien’s pin made it 10-0. When Andrew Taylor won an 11-0 major at 144, the Falcons led 14-0.

Johnathon Chapman’s pin at 150 started things going in the other direction. Pisgah won four straight matches to go up 19-14 before Harry Hartwell won by pin for West at 190. West led 20-19, but Pisgah won the next five bouts to clinch the match.

West’s Oliver Perry received a forfeit win at 126.

“There was a path to beat them,” West coach John Brown said. “But they were the better team.”

Piedmont won 40-33 against St. Stephens in the third round.

Pisgah beat Piedmont 36-27 in the regional final and advanced to Saturday’s state championship match in Greensboro.

The girls will take center stage next, with their individual regionals and state championships coming up this weekend.

The boys individual regionals are set for Feb. 14-15, with the individual state championships scheduled for Feb. 20-22.