SEYMOUR — Robert Cate was fully aware of the trust placed in him by the Seymour High School administration this season, as he was handed the keys to Sevier County’s traditional powerhouse wrestling program at SHS.

The first-year coach started paying dividends Thursday night, as he coached his team to their fifth-straight county wrestling title, thanks to a 41-31 win over the visiting Pigeon Forge Tigers.

Not only did the match keep Seymour’s string of county championships alive, it avenged an early-season loss to a Tiger team that’s shaping up to be one of the best in school history.

Five Eagle wrestlers won by pin, one by technical fall and two by decision, while Pigeon Forge had four pins, one major decision and one decision.

The annual event also included the Sevier County middle school wrestling championship, which was won by Pigeon Forge Middle School with Seymour Middle taking second.

In the high school championship, the Eagles and Tigers kept the score nearly even throughout what was an exciting and hard-fought meet.

Eagle wrestler Luke Hall, ranked first in the state in one poll at 125 pounds, won by a pin, as did Michael Raimondi at 135 pounds, Shane Chipley at 160 pounds, and Joe Wisell at 215 pounds.

Also winning for Seymour were Trent Williams by a decision at 130 pounds, and Caleb Stoffle by a decision at 140 pounds.

With the score nearly tied the entire meet, Seymour pulled ahead with a decision by Trent Williams at 130 pounds.

Key wins for Seymour included a pin by Willie Stooksbury at 119 pounds, and a win by technical fall by Zac Merriman at 152 pounds.

Winning for Pigeon Forge were Caleb Pool at 103 pounds by a major decision, Joseph Dodgen at 112 pounds by a pin, Edward Holland at 145 pounds by a pin, Cody Davis by a pin at 171 pounds, Hayden Whaley at 189 pounds by decision, and David Kieta by a pin at the heavyweight class.

In the middle school competition, Pigeon Forge defeated both Seymour and Sevier County to take the title.

Seymour took second by beating the Sevier County Middle School team.

The next match for the varsity Eagles will be at the regional dual meet Thursday, Jan. 26, at Maryville High School.

The Seymour middle school team takes on Greenville at home Feb. 2.

From submitted reports