FLORENCE – Both Fort Mill and Catawba Ridge wrestling programs brought home state champions the 5A individual state tournament.
The two-day tournament held at the Florence Center saw wrestlers from all classifications in the state in all 14 weight classes including, a girls’ division which saw the Lady Copperheads make history.
Eastside finished atop of the 5A leaderboard with 124 points. Fort Mill finished third with 79.5 points.
Fort Mill brought a dozen wrestlers to the tournament, but only two-Brody Harris (113) and Lincoln Greene (150)-made it to the medal round to place. Harris finished fourth for Fort Mill falling by a 6-3 decision to Greenwood’s Juan Ramirez in the consolation finals.
Greene, the Jackets’ all-time wins leader with 189 career wins, came into the match looking for the one thing he didn’t have-an individual title. The match didn’t seem that much of a challenge with an 8-0 major decision over James Island’s Max Johnson.
Shortly after winning the state title, Greene broke down off to the side of the mat crying tears of joy, but also tears of relief.
“Finally, after everything I have done,” he said. “I put so much into this sport. I went through torture for this sport and it finally paid off. I’m just so happy. It’s been like a dream. I always knew I could do it. It feels so good to do it. I felt so much pressure to do it. It’s the first state champion we have had in four years since Noah Kitchton. It feels so good to be that person for the freshman because Noah was that person for me. Going into the match I felt this wave of pressure on me. As soon as I took him down, I knew I could do it.”
Greene finished the season at 56-4 and became the 21st individual to win a state wrestling title for the school giving the program a total of 28 individual state wrestling championships in Fort Mill High School history.
Catawba Ridge got two finalists, including their first female finalist in freshman Carson Robertson (100).
Robertson went up 3-0 after the first period with a takedown shortly before the end of the period. She extended her lead to 7-0 with an escape and another takedown staying aggressive throughout the second period. Robertson added to her score in the third period winning 11-0 with a major decision.
Robertson finished her season at 11-1 after barely getting cleared to comeback and wrestle this year after elbow surgery earlier this season.
“I was very nervous,” she said. “At Upper State she got to me a lot and I couldn’t control my emotions, so I wrestled sloppy. It made me angry so I went to work that much harder because I knew I was going to have her in the finals. I really wanted that state title. I have been waiting for this moment since I came here last year in eighth grade.”
The Lady Copperheads finished fifth overall in the girls’ division with 44.5 points. Rock Hill won the girls division with 89 points.
Also, for the Lady Copperheads, Legend Pender (125) finished third with a 4-1 decision over Chesnee’s Zibi Edmunds. Maeve Murphy Booth (135) finished fourth falling to River Bluff’s Sophia Voudouris.
Their other finalist for Catawba Ridge has been their catalyst all season in heavyweight Alex Johnson. Johnson was not only looking to his first state title, but as a junior his 150th career win. His opponent was Malachi Miles from TL Hanna, who gave him one of his only two losses coming into the finals. Johnson put together a 53-2 season with the 4-1 win over Miles.
After a scoreless first period, Johnson got a takedown in the second period and then an escape point to start the third period, more than enough for the win. He said he approached the match like he would practice. He is the second male state champion in Catawba Ridge’s short school history behind Jarrett Eubanks (2024).
“If I go in there and wrestle like I’m in the practice room I’m not going to overthink and I’m not going to make mistakes,” he said. “Whenever you go into matches like this you have to go in with a clear mind. Just look to your coaches, your teammates and your family supporting you and you will get through it.”
Johnson said he will be back next year for his senior season with a chance to hit 200 career wins and is also hoping to go undefeated in striving for another state crown.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
