FORT MILL – The Northwestern Trojans took a key Region 3-5A wrestling match over the Nation Ford Falcons to put themselves in a good position for a playoff spot.
Northwestern beat Nation Ford 36-25 to allow them to start their region schedule 1-0, as the Falcons fell to 0-3 in the region. Northwestern still has matches against Fort Mill in a head-to-head dual, and then Clover and Rock Hill in a tri-match next week. Nation Ford still needs to face Fort Mill to finish off their region schedule.
However, for the Trojans, the win against Nation Ford goes a long way.
“It really only takes one win in this region to qualify for the playoffs,” said Northwestern head coach Dwight Sterling. “We are young. We only have one senior on the team. Just to have the opportunity to go to the playoffs is big for us. It is a rebuilding year for us, but a win is a win.”
The 5A state playoffs has only three guaranteed spots from Region 3, according to the state High School League. However, there is one at-large spot that could come out of the region if the high school league gives their blessing for it.
On the outside looking in is Nation Ford. The Falcons have one shot left to get a region win and that comes against rivals Fort Mill Jan. 28.
“We got to be able to bring it this time of year,” said Nation Ford head coach Tony Forte. “Our line-up is young and we are dealing with sickness and injuries. We practically gave up four weight classes against Northwestern.”
In the dual between the two teams, Northwestern led from the first match and never looked back. The draw started the match at 170-pounds and saw the Trojans’ Noah Lee get a 10-6 win over Nation Ford’s Clayton Rygol to give Northwestern a 3-0 lead. Each team didn’t field a wrestler at 182-pounds resulting in a double forfeit and then the Trojans picked up forfeit wins at 195 and 220-pounds to take a 15-0 lead.
Nation Ford got a win at heavyweight by Sean Grennan by forfeit and then another double forfeit at 106-pounds put the score at 15-6 for the Trojans. The Falcons made a match out of it in the early going as Solomon Moore got a pin fall at 113-pounds to make it 15-12, but Northwestern from then would win the next four matches to pull away.
Irving Cabrera (120), Jamey Nelson (126) Javon Pacheco (132) and Drennon Faile (138) picked up the four consecutive wins for Northwestern. Nation Ford won the three remaining matches as Steven Johnson (145), Caden Brandenburg (152) and Isaac Nieves (160) all picked up wins for the Falcons, but at that point they were already mathematically out of the running for the win.
There is one more week left in the regular season for most wrestling teams as the Region 3-5A individual tournament will be held Jan. 31 at Fort Mill High.
Mac Banks: mbanks@comporium.net, @MacBanksFM
