For the first time in more than two weeks, both Fort Mill and Nation Ford’s wrestling teams hit the mat in dual competition as the Jackets ran through a Nation Ford team decimated by COVID issues.
Fort Mill won 69-11 over Nation Ford to start their Region 3-5A schedule as the Jackets improved to 13-6 on the season with the win and 1-0 in the region. The Falcons had to forfeit eight weight classes and use two JV wrestlers just to be able to wrestle six matches in the dual.
The Jackets still weren’t at full strength as COVID protocols had one wrestler out. It was the Jackets’ first dual match since Jan. 5. It was their first dual since Dec. 21. They did have two individual tournaments during the last month.
“We hit a dry spell,” said Fort Mill head coach Chris Brock. “We were still missing one tonight. This is the first time we were even close to having us all together.”
Fort Mill opened getting forfeit wins by Jacob Nally (106) and Aidan Eubanks (113) as they went up 12-0. The first actual match saw Bella Hoffman grab a 6-5 decision over Hanson Nguyen at 120-pounds and then Logan Shope getting a first period pin at 126-pounds for Fort Mill. The Jackets’ Gavin Mitcheson (132), Caleb Brock (138), and Noah Kitchton (145) all got forfeit wins as Fort Mill went up 39-0.
Nation Ford picked up their first of two wins on the evening as Caden Brandenburg (152) got a 20-4 tech fall over Cade Simpson. Fort Mill then saw TJ Miller (160) get a first period pin to put the Jackets up 45-5.
Fort Mill’s Harrison Noll (170) picked up a forfeit win and Joshua Smith (182) got a first period pin as well for the Jackets. Henry Debbout (195) would win by forfeit for Fort Mill before Flynn Hyde and Clayton Rygol would tangle at 220-pounds. That match was back and forth and went into overtime before Rygol got the pin to give Nation Ford their second win in the dual.
The Jackets’ Trenton McGill got the forfeit win at heavyweight for Fort Mill to close the match out.
Nation Ford head coach Tony Forte wasn’t upset with the outcome knowing COVID was the real reason the match wasn’t close. The Falcons fall to 4-6 overall and 0-1 in the region.
“Caden knew what he was supposed to do and Clayton had only one practice this week,” Forte said. “We had some JV kids who had to step up. It’s the next person up.”
Fort Mill is scheduled to wrestle Clover and Gaffney next on Tuesday, Jan. 25 in a tri-match and then Nation Ford wrestles Clover the next day on Wednesday, Jan. 26.
Basketball
The second ranked 4A Catawba Ridge Copperheads girls improved to 16-1 and 3-0 in Region 3-4A with a 64-34 runaway win over the Indian Land Warriors. Catawba Ridge was led by Skyla Tuthill with 25 points, as Morgan Davis added 13 points and Makailah Davis dropped in 10 points in the win.
The ninth ranked Catawba Ridge boys also won handily against Indian Land Thursday night as they got a 73-46 win. Catawba Ridge was led by Landon Foley with 15 points, Zyan Hager with 14 points and Grant Lovette with 11 points. The victory improves the Copperheads to 1-1 in the region and 16-3 overall on the season.
The Nation Ford Falcons boys’ basketball team fell to the Northwestern Trojans 52-47 Thursday evening and dropped to 6-11 overall on the season. The Falcons were led by Nas Berry who had 17 points in the loss. The Northwestern girls also beat Nation Ford 57-41 as the Falcons fell to 5-13 overall on the season. Nation Ford is next scheduled to host Fort Mill Tuesday, Jan. 25.
The Fort Mill boys’ basketball team is now ranked 10th in 5A. Their home game against Gaffney, which was scheduled for Friday, has now been moved to Monday, Jan. 31.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
