The Catawba Ridge Copperheads wrestling team is looking to build on last year’s success on the mat.
Catawba Ridge opens the season with new head coach Nick Hansen, who assisted interim head coach Allen Runyon last season. Hansen said he feels like this season is going to go well for the Copperheads.
“It looks pretty good,” Hansen said. “We have a JV and middle school going this year, so it should be pretty fun.”
Catawba Ridge had seven wrestlers back to make the starting lineup from last year. One wrestler that has stepped into the captain role is 170-pounder Jarrett Eubanks.
“Jarrett is one of the best humans you can meet in your life,” Hansen said. “He has taken on a captain role this year. Him and Jake (Kees) have been doing fantastic with the younger kids helping them out.”
Hansen said he wants to grow the culture at the school as the Copperheads are coming off a Region 3-4A title last year in just their third year.
“I want the kids to be a family and respect each other,” he said.
Hansen sees Northwestern as their biggest challenge for the region title. The Trojans open up the season ranked third in the state, but Hansen said he is confident in his team, who opens the season ranked 11th.
“We are going to be competitive,” he said. “We have a pretty solid team.”
Other wrestlers looking to make a mark that are returning and should be helpful are Alex Teel, Levi Jones, Jackson Rozelle and Tony Atkins, just to name a few.
Catawba Ridge opens Dec. 1 with the first ever Mill vs. Hill Challenge, which pits the three local high schools from Fort Mill against the three local Rock Hill high schools. Catawba Ridge is wrestling Rock Hill, Fort Mill is wrestling Northwestern and Nation Ford is wrestling South Pointe.
The Copperheads varsity team will wrestle Fort Mill for the first time ever later that night.
Catawba Ridge will be participating in several dual tournaments including the Milltown Duals at Fort Mill. The will additional wrestle in several individual tournaments such as the Kingsley Classic, also at Fort Mill and the Bearcats Invitational at Rock Hill High in January.
This year’s Region 3-4A tournament is scheduled for Jan. 28 at Indian Land High with the playoffs to follow.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
