Very quietly over the past three seasons, Fort Mill wrestling has been winning at a rapid pace, so much so it is now at a historic level.
The Fort Mill varsity wrestling team made history with a sweep of rivals Catawba Ridge and Nation Ford for their 63rd consecutive dual victory. Fort Mill beat the Copperheads 60-15 and Nation Ford 65-9 to improve to 26-0 on the season and win the Region 3-5A title.
However, the bigger piece of news was with the wins they also moved into third place for the longest winning streak in state history with 63 consecutive wins breaking a tie with Summerville High School. Summerville’s 61-match win streak went from 2001-2003. Fort Mill last lost a dual match on Dec. 12, 2023.
“That’s pretty impressive,” said Fort Mill head coach Adam Marullo, who had no idea about the winning streak. “It’s these awesome kids and assistant coaches we have. We also have great support from our parents and administrators as well.”
The state record is 109 straight dual wins set by Eastside High School, which ironically had their win streak stopped by Fort Mill during last season’s Upper State Championship. Eastside win steak went from 2021 through 2025. Rock Hill High had the second longest streak with 89 in a row from 1978 through 1984.
Fort Mill opened the tri-match at Catawba Ridge High School on Tuesday, Jan. 20 against the host Copperheads. Fort Mill wasted no time going up as Peter Escudero (106) won 10-1 to open the dual, before Gabriel Glabach (113) and Luke Van Beynum (120) both picked up first period pins, including Van Beynum getting a pin in 14 seconds.
Catawba Ridge’s Taylon Winker (126) won 1-0 to get the Copperheads on the board.
Fort Mill’s Cole Wartinger (132) got the Jackets back on track with a second period pin. Lincoln Marks (138) picked up a 15-0 win for the Jackets and Jayden Nguyen (144) for a first period pin to put the Jackets at 33-3.
Catawba Ridge’s Jose Albornoz (150) picked up a win due to an unnecessary roughness call by the Jackets. The Jackets bounced back with a 6-0 decision by Keenan Coston (157) and first period pins by Broden Mitcheson (165), Mason Metcalf (175), Ted Ernst (190) and Krystian Villatoro (215).
Catawba Ridge’s Alex Johnson won at heavyweight picking up his 100th career pin in the process to close out the match.
Fort Mill faced Nation Ford next and the Falcons got an early win at 113-pounds by Easton Ruth with a second period pin to go up 6-0.
The Jackets picked up two forfeit wins at 120 and 126-pounds by Luke Van Beynum and Wallen respectively.
Wartinger (132) got a first period pin for Fort Mill, before Cooper Van Beynum (138) and Nguyen (144) got forfeits.
Lincoln Greene (150) got a 17-0 tech fall to put the Jackets up 35-6 picking up career win 175 to set a new school record for Fort Mill.
Coston (157) got a second period pin and Mitcheson (165) battled to a 13-3 major decision. Metcalf (175) picked up a 4-2 decision and Maurice Lawrence (190) won by forfeit for Fort Mill. Ernst bumped to 215-pounds and got a 15-0 tech fall, while Villatoro bumped to heavyweight to take on the Falcons’ Lorenzo Smith. Smith got the 6-3 win in overtime.
Fort Mill closed out the dual with a first period pin by Mason Fandel at 106-pounds.
The final dual of the evening was the Falcons against the Copperhead as Catawba Ridge would get the 46-28 win.
Nation Ford’s Nolan Ford started with a 17-0 tech fall, but the Copperheads’ Winker got a second period pin and both Angela Acosta (138) and Wyatt Ellison (144) won by forfeits for Catawba Ridge.
The Falcons’ Zach Nieves (150) won by tech fall 17-2, but the Copperheads’ Archer Rozelle (157) won by the same score in the next weight class.
Nation Ford’s Brad Flippins (165) picked up a second period pin and Camron Magyar (175) won in the first period to pull the Falcons to within one point at 23-22.
Catawba Ridge’s Drew Corsi (190) won by forfeit, but Bryan Flippins (215) picked up a second period pin keeping Nation Ford within striking distance.
Catawba Ridge then won the last three matches as Johnson won at heavyweight for the Copperheads, before the lower weight classes rotated around. Truett Ellison (106) would get a first period pin for Catawba Ridge to clinch the match for the Copperheads. Jacob McClure (113) closed the match out for Catawba Ridge with a 20-5 tech fall.
The Copperheads are 14-9 overall and 2-2 in the region. They still have a tri-match against region opponents at Indian Land on Thursday, Jan. 22.
“We got some work to do,” said Catawba Ridge head coach Nick Hansen. “They are working hard.”
Nation Ford finishes the regular season at 20-11 and 1-5 in region matches. They are still without some wrestlers, but are looking towards the playoffs.
“We are still getting some guys healthy,” said Nation Ford head coach Brady Hensley. “By the first round, we should have everybody back.”
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
