ANDERSON – Four local wrestlers from Fort Mill and Nation Ford placed in the 5A individual state tournament at the Anderson Civic Center Saturday.
Despite a rough day one of the tournament, the majority of local wrestlers were able to rebound and put in a good performance on day two. Both Nation Ford and Fort Mill each had two state placers in the tournament and each team took four wrestlers to the 5A tournament.
Fort Mill’s Aidan Eubanks was the highest placing local wrestler finishing third at 113-pounds. Eubanks beat White Knoll’s Dawson Prevatte with a second period pin to finish third. Eubanks also beat Prevatte in the opening round of the tournament on Friday as well.
The Jackets’ Noah Kitchton dropped his consolation finals match 10-6 to Ashley Ridge’s Connor Wilson at 138-pounds, who he beat in the opening round Friday, to finish fourth.
“We always come with the expectation to being back at least one champion,” said Fort Mill head coach Chris Brock. “Qualifying for the state tournament says something, but we aren’t as good as we would like to be. We are happy to be here, but next year starts now.”
Fort Mill’s Logan Shope (120) and Henry Debbout (195) each came one win away from placing in the top four in the state.
For Nation Ford, both Caden Brandenburg (152) and Clayton Rygol (220) each finished fourth in their weight classes. Brandenburg lost a tough back and forth match 15-12 to the No. 1 ranked Lower State wrestler in White Knoll’s Cam Rice and Rygol fell 10-2 to St. James’s Grayson Gollie to finish fourth.
“Overall, I am happy with two placing,” said Nation Ford head coach Tony Forte. “I am happy for Caden. He put in so much work. Fourth place is nothing to be ashamed of. It is a grind of two weeks from the Upper State tournament to the State tournament. He has come a long way in the last three years.”
Rygol will be back next year for the Falcons and Forte said he also is improving to be one of the best wrestlers in the state.
“I am happy with his performance,” Forte said. “He can come back next year as a state placer. It has been a while since we have had two state placers.”
Nation Ford’s Isaac Nieves (170) came within one win of being a state placer as well for the Falcons, and Mitchell Ladamus (126) was two wins away also.
In the 4A classification, Catawba Ridge had just one wrestler in the tournament in Jarrett Eubanks at 152-pounds. Eubanks lost Friday night to fall to the consolation bracket and then lost in his first match in the consolation bracket 8-6 to North Myrtle Beach’s Logan Woody Saturday morning.
“We accomplished goals we wanted to accomplish this year,” said Catawba Ridge head coach Allen Runyon. “We are still building a program. I am proud of what they accomplished this year.”
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
