The third ranked Fort Mill wrestling team advanced to the third round of the 5A state playoffs after beating JL Mann and Hillcrest in close matches.
Fort Mill, who improved to 24-1 overall on the season, hosted the opening two rounds Saturday as they opened with JL Mann in the first round and came away with a 38-30 win.
JL Mann opened with getting a decision to start their match with Fort Mill, which came back and won by a pin from Luke Van Beynum at 106-pounds to go up 6-3. Fort Mill wouldn’t trail anymore on the day. Fort Mill got a forfeit win at 113-pounds and 126-pounds to go up 18-6.
Logan Shope (132) won by first period fall and Noah Kitchton (145) got a third period pin to put Fort Mill up 30-9. A 9-6 win by Taylor Johnson (152) and a 17-2 tech fall by Jack Kadish (170) put Fort Mill up 38-12, before they would forfeit the final three matches.
Hillcrest beat Gaffney in the first round setting up the match with Fort Mill, which got a lot closer than the Jackets liked.
Fort Mill went up 9-0 to start with a 9-5 win from Lincoln Greene (106) and a pin by Jacob Nally at 113-pounds. Aiden Eubanks (126) and Shope (132) would pick up pins to put the Jackets up 21-3.
Fort Mill extended that lead to 30-9 with a pin from Kitchton (145) and then a 6-2 decision from Johnson (152) before Hillcrest came storming back.
Hillcrest won three consecutive weight classes all by pin to pull within three at 30-27, before TJ Miller (195) got a 1-0 decision and Henry Debbout (220) got a match clinching first period pin.
“We knew Hillcrest was going to be a tough match,” said Fort Mill head coach Chris Brock. “They are always going to be tough. We didn’t have one of our best days.”
Fort Mill now heads on the road in the third round to face fourth ranked Dorman Monday, Feb. 6.
In other 5A wrestling news, Nation Ford lost on the road at host Dorman falling to Woodmont 36-35 in the first round to end their dual season.
In the 4A wrestling playoffs, Catawba Ridge beat Wade Hampton 59-18 in the first round and then beat host South Aiken 39-32 in the second round. Catawba Ridge will travel to Westside Monday, Feb. 6 for round three.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
