LEXINGTON – Using a lineup of about half JV wrestlers, the Fort Mill wrestling team struggled at the Wildcat Duals winning just three of six duals they were in during the two-day event ending Friday.
Fort Mill, ranked fifth in 5A, went 3-3 in the tournament and lost to the second ranked 5A team in Carolina Forest, the 15th ranked host Lexington and Commerce, a school out of Georgia. The Jackets were able to get wins against River Bluff, Mauldin and James Island.
The results weren’t what head coach Chris Brock was looking for saying that their biggest problem over the weekend was themselves. Fort Mill was missing some wrestlers who were out of town and had to use inexperience JV wrestlers in their place to complete their lineup. Fort Mill only had about six varsity wrestlers on hand during the duals.
“Our toughest opponent was our own athletes and parents who seem to think that wrestling stops at Christmas break,” he said. “For us to win three matches, I can’t complain.”
Fort Mill wrestled four matches Thursday going 2-2 falling to Lexington and Carolina Forest, while beating River Bluff and Mauldin. On Friday, they faced James Island and Commerce. Against Commerce, Fort Mill used four JV wrestlers and had to forfeit two weight classes.
The inexperience Fort Mill placed on the mat showed as Commerce won the first seven matches, two by forfeit, to go up 39-0. Jacob Nally got the Jackets on the board at 106-pounds with a forfeit win, followed by a second period pin for Aidan Eubanks (113). The Jackets won three of the next five matches with Logan Shope (126), Caleb Brock (138) and Noah Kitchton (145) all getting wins by pin, which made the final 48-30 score look more respectable.
The Jackets had a better result against James Island winning 63-18 with the help of three forfeits for James Island. TJ Miller (160), Jack Kadish (170) and Henry Debbout (182) all got forfeit wins. Joseph Richardson (182) got a win by pin fall as Fort Mill went up 24-6 after the first five matches. After a loss at heavyweight, Fort Mill got a win from Nally (106), Eubanks (113) and Bella Hoffman (120) all by pin.
Shope (126) and Tyler Metcalf (132) picked up pins, before Brock (138) got an 8-5 decision to put the score at 57-12. Fort Mill would close out the match with Kitchton (152) getting a first period pin.
After the weekend, Fort Mill is now 12-5 overall on the season. Fort Mill will return to the mat Jan. 5 at Indian Land in a tri-match.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
