Holes in the lineup for the Nation Ford Falcons wrestling team has hurt their chances at winning.
Injuries and other issues caused the holes as some wrestlers were out for the Falcons as they dropped two matches in a tri-match falling to the sixth ranked 5A Chapin Eagles and then falling to South Pointe. Nation Ford had to forfeit five weight classes in each of the two matches. The losses put the Falcons at 4-5 overall on the season.
“The nine and 10 guys I am putting on the mat, I feel for them,” said Nation Ford head coach Tony Forte. “I know it is tough to get up for a match when its 30-0 before the opponent steps off the bus.”
Against Chapin, Nation Ford fell 46-24 and started off winning the first two matches, but the forfeits quickly put them behind. Jacob Moore (120) won with a forfeit to open the match and Mitchell Ladamus (126) won with a second period pin to put the Falcons up 12-0.
Chapin won at 132-pounds and then won two matches by forfeit to go up 18-12 before tacking on another win at 152-pounds. The Falcons got a 11-5 decision from Caden Brandenburg (160) and 6-0 decision from Isaac Nieves (170) to climb back in the match. Nation Ford then dropped four straight matches, two of them by forfeit before Daniel Gilstorf won with a first period pin at 113-pounds.
Nation Ford was in their match against South Pointe up until the last two weight classes which they lost by pinfalls falling 54-30.
Again, the Falcons opened up with wins from Ladamus (126) and Jace Smith (132) before two forfeits by Nation Ford tied the match at 12-12. South Pointe then got a win at 152-pounds and Brandenburg (160) and Nieves (170) got forfeit wins, but then the Falcons dropped a match at 182-pounds and forfeited at 195-pounds. Clayton Rygol (220) tied the match at 30-30 with a second period pin, but then Nation Ford dropped four straight matches to lose, two of them by forfeit.
Basketball
Both Fort Mill and Catawba Ridge won their opening round games of the Chesnee Roundball Classic at Chesnee High Tuesday setting up their fourth meeting of the year on the basketball court Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Catawba Ridge leads the season series 2-1, getting the past two wins against the Jackets.
Catawba Ridge beat Spartanburg Day 49-46 as Grant Lovette hit two free throws down the stretch to ice the game. Lovette led the Copperheads with 18 points in the win. Catawba Ridge is now 10-1 on the year.
Fort Mill beat Blacksburg 55-30 and was led by Kyle Neibch with 18 points and Gabe Tooper added 17 points in the win as well. Fort Mill is now 7-3 on the season.
Their semifinal match-up Wednesday guarantees one Fort Mill team to reach the finals of the Roundball Classic.
Nearby in Rock Hill in the Y.C Winborn Classic at Rock Hill High both the Nation Ford and Fort Mill girls’ basketball teams lost in the opening day of the event.
Nation Ford played in an early game against Butler and lost 58-45 falling to 3-8 on the season. Fort Mill played in one of the later games and lost 44-38 to Denmark-Olar and is now 2-8 on the season.
Nation Ford will play A.C. Flora Wednesday and Fort Mill will play Blythewood, both at 5 p.m., in two different gyms at Rock Hill High.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
