A-G's Darden wins state title in wrestling

GRIFTON — When one door closes, another one opens.

Ayden-Grifton’s Ray Darden can attest to that mantra after winning the NCHSAA 2A wrestling state championship in Greensboro on Saturday. In the title match, Darden won by a 3-2 decision over Sylva Smoky Mountain’s Will Frady in the 195-pound division to secure the Chargers’ first state wrestling title since Diego Martinez in 2014.

Darden, who wrestled all four years of high school, said he put much more focus toward the sport during his senior campaign.

“I stuck with it this year,” Darden said. “In the past, I would miss practices here and there, but the coaches pushed me more this year and I kept working hard. It feels great to come out on top, but it wouldn’t have happened without my coaches and teammates helping me every step of the way.”

Chargers wrestling coach Jeff Wooten said Darden’s mindset toward wrestling shifted after the 2018 football season. Darden played well on the gridiron, rushing for 1,388 yards and 12 touchdowns while adding 54 tackles at linebacker, but A-G fell in the first round of the NCHSAA 2A state playoffs. Wooten said he could see something in Darden and was pleased with the overall result.

“He didn’t get the results he wanted after football season and wrestling was his last chance during his senior year,” Wooten said. “He didn’t think he could reach that level, but I believed and he was able to get his mind right throughout the season.”

Darden finished 32-1 on the mat this season on his way to a state title and said hard work does pay off in the end.

“Sometimes you may think what you’re doing is in vain, but it’s far from it,” Darden said.

Several other local wrestlers had their opportunities in states. Darden’s teammate, Landon Stocks, placed fifth in the 106-pound division, defeating South Lenoir’s Eddie Leon who finished sixth. North Lenoir’s Elijah Swinson fell in the third-round consolation bracket in the 220-pound division and his teammate, Chris Russell, was in the first-round consolation bracket of the 285-pound division. Greene Central’s Jared Fields was also in the first-round consolation bracket of the 170-pound division.