Elizabethton freshman Kilroy Hill at 138 pounds and Happy Valley’s Jacob Lyons at 126 stole the show on Tuesday night in simultaneous wrestling matches at Elizabethton High School.

The two young wrestlers had impressive pins that rocked the house at Treadway Gym.

Elizabethton went 2-1 on the night, defeating West Greene and Chuckey-Doak and losing to Volunteer and the Warriors went 1-2, defeating West Greene and losing to Chuckey-Doak and Volunteer.

It was those two losses against Volunteer for the Elizabethton area schools that saw the pins of the night.

Hill was the first to pull off a showstopper as he was trailing in a match in the third period only to turn the match around with a dynamic pin.

The Elizabethton wrestlers went and embraced Hill, who was a saving grace in a very tough match.

“It felt really good,” said Hill. “When I had my opportunity I went  for it. It was hard at first because of how strong he was, but once he got down I knew I had him. I was sort of concerned, but I knew I would pull it out somehow.”

When Hill did end up making the slam, his teammates were just as happy as he was, and it provided a spark going into the next two matches.

“I know my teammates have my back whenever I need it,” said Hill. “I know they will be there if I give everything. They are amazing.”

Hill may be just a freshman, but he has already made an impression on Elizabethton head coach Donnie Shipley for what he brings to the table.

“Kilroy Hill is like a freak of nature,” said Shipley. “. . .He is not your typical freshman. He is going to win a lot of matches for us. He should have been pinned four times in that match, but because of his effort and his desire  he fought through and pinned him in the third period and probably kept us in that match. You can’t ask for more from a freshman.”

The other impressive performance of the night for Elizabethton was a 30 second win by Jamin Richardson as a Volunteer wrestler was disqualified for stalling where Richardson was on his way to taking him down.

Not to be outdone, Happy Valley’s Lyons had a similar shining moment in what was a tough match at 126 also against Volunteer in the Warriors’ last match of the night. Lyons in the second period made a similar move to Hill’s and was able to get the pin.

“I just go out there and be aggressive and it’s all about technique,” said Lyons. “I ran the half and stuck it and it stuck.

“You have to be patient, but you have to be aggressive at the same time,” Lyons added. “It’s definitely not an easy sport. You have to go out there and be aggressive and it’s definitely not easy. You have to be the best.”

Happy Valley head Eddie Morrell believes that a star might have been born on this night in Carter County as Lyons’ performance impressed him.

“That was Jacob’s coming of age match,” said Morrell. “We have been working hard to make him aggressive to get him to be in control of the match and for him to do what he did tonight. What he did tonight was go out with a game plan, execute that game plan and come out with a win.”

Though both Carter County schools didn’t go undefeated in the matches, Morrell felt it was a triumphant night for wrestling in the area with both schools holding home meets in the same place, plus both school’s feeder programs wrestled there as well.

“Having been involved in this sport since I was eight years old, it is so good to see a gym with three mats in it and five different teams,” Morrell said.  “Not even three years ago would you have seen this in Elizabethton or Carter County. We have been able to cooperate, work together and make this sport appealing not only for athletes, but you are starting to see the value of this sport, it becomes real easy to see.”

NOTE: A story on T.A. Dugger and Happy Valley Middle School competing against Church Hill will appear in Thursday’s Star.