The Catawba Ridge wrestling team is coming into the 2025-2026 season with a top 10 ranking.
Catawba Ridge starts the season ranked ninth in the 5A Division II after coming off a 9-7 record. The Copperheads bring back five state qualifiers from last year’s team including Taylon Winkler, Jacob McClure, and Alex Johnson.
Head coach Nick Hansen said he is confident his team is on the schedule they are supposed to be on.
“I feel like we are on pace with where our coaches and staff think we are at,” he said.
Hansen said the team has a lot of smaller weights and only has one senior in Cole Stukitz.
“We are young,” he said. “The whole team will be freshman and sophomores mostly. Our young kids are tough.”
Hansen said he feels like the Copperheads can compete with most any team.
“We are investing with our young group,” he said. “It’s nice to have the young guys competing.”
Catawba Ridge opened their season this past weekend with the Venom Duals and will hit the road to South Pointe and then the Southern Slam at Eastside High School. The Copperheads will have their first home dual on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
Besides the Southern Slam, Catawba Ridge is also participating in the Kinglsey tournament at Fort Mill High School, and the WRAL Invitational in North Carolina and the Rumble on the River in North Augusta over the Christmas break.
The Copperheads are also participating in several dual tournaments in the new year. They won’t start their Region 3-5A schedule until January as well.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
