In just their third year, the Catawba Ridge wrestling program accomplished more than anyone had expected.
Four months ago, when the season started, not many people would have believed this team, that won just 14 matches in its first two seasons, would string together 19 wins, a region title and make it to the third round of the playoffs.
However, that is exactly what the Copperheads did and despite falling to the second ranked team in 4A, Lugoff-Elgin Demons, Monday night, Catawba Ridge head coach Allen Runyon said he was happy the team accomplished as much as it did.
“I’m proud of our guys for getting to this point,” he said. “We know what we have to do to get to this point. This round was humbling for us. We knew coming in we were going to have to wrestle really well.”
Lugoff-Elgin easily beat Catawba Ridge 67-4 in the third round Monday to end the Copperheads season at 19-7 overall. The Demons went up on Catawba Ridge 22-0 before the Copperheads got on the board with an 8-1 win by Jarrett Eubanks at 152-pounds.
Lugoff-Elgin would then move ahead 43-3 to lock up the match, before frustrations started boiling over in the next weight class and the Copperheads got two team points taken away.
Catawba Ridge would win just one more match at 113-pounds as Alex Teel would get a 9-7 win to make it 61-4 before the Demons would finish things off at 120-pounds.
Lugoff-Elgin will go to the 4A Upper State title match hosting the Eastside Eagles Wednesday, as Eastside beat Indian Land in the third round as well Monday.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
