INDIAN LAND – The Fort Mill wrestling program continued to struggle as they fell in a battle of two top five teams in the state.
Fort Mill ranked fifth in 5A and the Indian Land Warriors ranked fourth in 4A took to the mat at the new Indian Land High Wednesday and the Warriors controlled the match from the opening to get a 51-30 win.
The match wasn’t as close as the score may indicate, as the Jackets fell to 12-6 on the season. And while 12-6 isn’t bad for most programs, it isn’t the standard that Fort Mill has set for themselves over the past two decades. Fort Mill still had to use four JV wrestlers to fill out their line-up in the match. All four lost their matches.
“We are still missing some guys but that is no excuse,” said assistant coach Adam Marullo, who was filling in for head coach Chris Brock who was out for family related commitments. “Some guys did a good job, but we have a long way to go.”
Fort Mill picked up just five wins in the match, but two of those came from forfeits. Indian Land opened the match by winning the first four matches to go up 21-0 before the Jackets could get on the board. Fort Mill’s first win came from Noah Kitchton, who picked up a third period pin, at 152-pounds. His pin was followed by a pin in the second period from T.J. Miller at 160-pounds. That put the score at 21-12 and would be the closest Fort Mill would get for the rest of the dual.
Indian Land rattled off five straight wins all by pinfall to go up 51-12. Jacob Nally (106) and Aidan Eubanks (113) both got forfeit wins to make it 51-24 and then Bella Hoffman finished the night out with a second period pin at 120-pounds.
Fort Mill is scheduled to compete at the Fannetti Classic in Johnson City, Tenn. for a two-day individual tournament. They return to dual action Jan. 11 at home against Gaffney and Boiling Springs to open their Region 3-5A schedule.
Basketball
The Catawba Ridge boys’ basketball team improved to 15-2 on the season with a 73-61 win over South Point in Gaston County. Zyan Hager led the Copperheads as they had four scorers in double figures. Hager had 20 points to go with Grant Lovette’s 17 points and both Carter Hendrick and Landon Foley each added 10 points.
The Copperhead girls’ team won 65-40 over South Point as Makailah Davis dropped in 24 points as Catawba Ridge improved to 13-1. Skyla Tuthill added 16 points and Tatum Postell scored 14 points in the win.
Catawba Ridge will open Region 3-4A play next Tuesday, Jan. 11 against South Pointe at home.
Nation Ford boys’ and girls’ teams split games on the road in Waxhaw at Marvin Ridge High. The Nation Ford girls fell 69-25 and dropped to 3-11 overall, while the boys team won 53-45 and improved to 5-9 overall.
The Falcons boys’ team was led by Quadier Hand who scored 21 points and Nick Chuttey added 10 points in the win.
Nation Ford will open Region 3-5A play next Tuesday, Jan. 11 at home against Boiling Springs.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
