OCEAN — Kyle Kort began and ended his Croatan dual-team wrestling career with 2A state championship appearances versus West Lincoln.
And both times, the Cougars lost in lopsided outcomes to the Rebels, but on each occasion, they weren’t supposed to get there due to their youth and inexperience.
“We had a pretty good run considering the amount of youth on our team,” the 195-pound senior said. “The guys put in a lot of work, especially the freshmen. They didn’t have a lot of dual-team matches, and they really improved throughout the season. I’m really proud of them.”
The Rebels defeated the Cougars 54-16 on Saturday in the state final. They handled Croatan 49-19 in the 2015 final. The Cougars didn’t make it to the state championship during the two years in between.
“It was a great season, and we had a great team,” Kort said. “I was glad to be a part of it. It was nice to go back one more time, the same as my freshman year. I was really excited to just be on the team as a freshman.”
Kort was surprised to come home with some hardware from the state final. Before the match, he received the N.C. High School Athletic Association’s Sportsmanship Award as Croatan’s representative.
“That was really exciting because I had no idea I was getting that,” he said. “I asked my teammates who they thought was getting it and that I thought it would be pretty cool, and they just looked at me as my name was called out like they knew it was me. I was very happy to receive the award.”
It took some work to get to the 2A final at the Greensboro Coliseum Fieldhouse.
In the second round of the playoffs, the Cougars went up against a Washington squad that came into the match with a 21-1 mark. The Pam Pack left the bout with a 21-2 record after a tough 37-28 loss.
“That Washington win was big,” Kort said. “I don’t think many people thought we were even going to get by Dixon (in the first round), and then we beat Washington.”
Kort (27-11) controlled the match with Washington’s Christian Whitney (22-16) at 195 to grab a 7-1 decision in his team’s nine-point win.
“It was so close with Washington,” he said. “It could have gone the other way, but we won the toss-up matches. And with Wheatmore, it was the same thing. We had to win the toss-up matches.”
The winning margin was only eight against a tough Wheatmore (24-5) outfit in the east regional final with Croatan nabbing a 36-28 win.
Kort scored a takedown on Wheatmore’s Pierre Hakizimana (21-6) with five seconds to go in the 182-pound match to secure a 3-1 decision and give his team a 23-15 lead with six matches to go.
Croatan needed a big outing at West Carteret’s Dan Varner Duals late in the season just to qualify for the postseason. The squad went into the event on a Saturday after losing 36-35 to Dixon on the previous Friday night in a match that decided the 1A/2A Coastal 8 Conference title.
“That was the turning point of the season,” Kort said of the Dan Varner Duals. “We beat West who beat us earlier in the year. That was big.”
West beat Croatan 38-26 earlier in the season to defeat its county rival for the first time since 2003. In the rematch, each side won seven matches, but the Cougars captured six points in five matches (four pins, one forfeit) while West got six points in four (three pins, one forfeit).
In the first round of the state playoffs, the Cougars again earned some revenge, getting past Dixon 48-22.
Kort went 16-13 last year and spent much of the season behind Ryan Perry who went 38-10 and finished third at the 2A state tournament.
“My record was about even last year, so I didn’t do too well,” Kort said. “Ryan and Charles Corbell (who finished fourth in the state at 160) really helped me out. They were two very good seniors, and I improved a lot with their help.”
Kort will take part in the 2A east regional individual tournament this weekend on his home mat at Croatan. He’s looking to make his mark in his final season.
“Hopefully, I can make it to the finals,” he said. “I want to make it to the state tournament. That would be a blast in my senior year.”
Kort said he started wresting in the seventh grade under then Broad Creek coach Mike Whitley. His older brother, Caleb Carpenter, was a member of Croatan’s 2010 dual-team state championship team.
“He got me into wrestling,” Kort said. “I’ve loved it ever since.”
After bookending his wrestling career with dual-team state finals appearances, Kort is looking to continue another trend. He’s earned the school’s academic achievement award that goes to students with a 3.6 GPA or higher during his first three years.
“I want to make it four years in a row,” he said.
Kort sports a 3.94 GPA. He said he plans on attending Carteret Community College for two years before transferring to a four-year school. He’s interested in an education or business major.
Here are a few of Kort’s favorite things, as well as his ideal groups with which to eat dinner and survive a zombie apocalypse and the five items he would take with him on a deserted island:
Favorite Movie: “Step Brothers.
Favorite TV Show: “South Park.”
Favorite Cartoon: “SpongeBob SquarePants.”
Favorite Band/Artist: Bob Marley.
Favorite Song: “Better Together” by Jack Johnson.
Favorite Book: Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
Favorite Team: Georgia Bulldogs.
Favorite Athlete: Lionel Messi.
Favorite Vacation: Universal Studios.
Favorite Hobby: Weightlifting.
Favorite Subject: History.
Favorite Quote: “You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.” – Wayne Gretzky.
Favorite Food: Pizza Rolls.
Favorite Drink: Dr. Pepper.
Favorite Restaurant: Frank’s Pizza and Subs.
Favorite Season: Summer.
Favorite Sports Memory: “Making it to the dual state championship in my senior year.”
Favorite Teacher: Mr. Mike Whitley.
Favorite Sport: Soccer.
Favorite Pre-Game/Post-Game Ritual: “Going to Taco Bell after the match.”
Favorite Website/App: YouTube.
Favorite Follow on Twitter/Instagram: Larry Wheels.
Ideal Dinner Guest List: Donald Trump, George Washington, Jesus, Tupac and my grandma Linda.
Ideal Group To Survive A Zombie Apocalypse: Rockie Sievers, Devin Delorme, Ian Ramirez, Clay Sanders, Craig Sanford and Coach Johnathon “Bean” Rigsby.
Items For A Deserted Island: Fishing pole, knife, extra clothes, bananas and weights for lifting.