ROCK HILL – The Nation Ford Falcons came into their three-way wrestling match banged up with four weight classes affected due to injury. Before the night was over, they would have another injury to deal with.
Nation Ford dropped Region 3-5A matches to two top 10 teams in the Rock Hill Bearcats and Clover Blue Eagles. Nation Ford dropped to 15-8 overall on the season and 1-2 in Region 3-5A.
“We wrestled two really good programs,” said Nation Ford head coach Brady Hensley.
Hensley said he feels like he can be at full strength in two weeks in time for the playoffs.
“If we can get in, we can make a run,” he said. “We just have to get healthy.”
The tri-match started with No.8 Rock Hill (Division I 5A) and No. 10 Nation Ford. Rock Hill pulled away early, but the Falcons made the 53-23 loss decent with a good showing towards the end of the dual.
The match started close, but Nation Ford forfeits started catching up quickly. Rock Hill went up 6-0 at 106-pounds with a first period pin.
Easton Ruth (113) won 11-4 to get the Falcons on the board. Rock Hill then won at 120 and 132 by first period pins, with a forfeit sandwiched in between.
The Bearcats kept rolling with an injury forfeit at 138-pounds to the Falcons’ William Clark and then another forfeit at 144-pounds to go up 36-3.
Nation Ford bounced back with a quick pin fall at 150-pounds by Zachary Nieves. Rock Hill then picked up two more wins, again one of them by forfeit.
Camron Magyar (175) picked up a third period pin for the Falcons and Jakaree Chisholm (190) got a 14-7 decision for Nation Ford. The Bearcats added a win at 215-pounds, but the Falcons closed out the match with a tech fall at heavyweight with Lorenzo Smith winning 19-3.
Against Division I ranked No. 3 Clover, the Blue Eagles went up 49-0 quickly because of five forfeits and two tech falls mainly, putting the match out of reach. The Blue Eagles would win 67-12, but the Falcons did have two bright spots. Nation Ford picked up a win with a second period pin by Magyar (175) and Smith (hwt.) won with a second period pin.
Jan. 8 Roundup
The Fort Mill wrestling team improved to 22-0 on the season and 2-0 in Region 3-5A with a 54-15 win over Northwestern.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
