By Justin Jarrett
LowcoSports.com
Battery Creek’s wrestling team had a stellar day at the John Paul II Warrior Duals on Saturday, securing four convincing wins before falling, 42-41, to Bluffton in the championship match.
The Dolphins rolled into the finals, including lopsided wins over rivals Beaufort and Bridges Prep, and jumped out to a lead against Bluffton before the Bobcats rallied back to take the title.
Host John Paul II rallied after falling to eventual champion Bluffton in the first round, winning its next four duals, including a 44-32 victory over Beaufort to secure third place. Bridges Prep defeated Hardeeville in the fifth-place match.
MS wrestlers earn trip to state
Four area middle school wrestlers punched their tickets to the state tournament on Saturday by placing in the top four in their weight classes at the Coastal Sectional Green and Gold Classic at Summerville High School.
Bridges Prep 108-pounder Camdon Russom captured the sectional title, while teammate Nico Mercado placed second at 102 pounds. John Paul II’s Nick Kessinger was the runner-up at 114, and Robert Smalls Leadership Academy’s Nick Lanz placed third at 145.
All four will compete in the Carolina Invitational — the de facto middle school state championship on Saturday at Lexington High School. The girls middle school division will be wrestled at Gilbert High School on Saturday, with a number of local wrestlers competing, including phenom Summer Estrella from Lady’s Island Middle School.
Girls qualifier up next
The high school girls are up next in their journey to the state tournament, competing in the SCHSL Lower State qualifier Saturday at South Florence High School, where the top four finishers in each weight class will advance to the state championships Feb. 20-21 at Florence Center.
Among the top contenders is Beaufort’s Olesya Mullins, who missed nearly a month with a knee injury before returning to the mat this weekend at the John Paul II Warrior Duals. Mullins is the top-ranked girl in the 105-pound weight class and a favorite to contend for a state title.
Mullins, who surpassed 100 career wins earlier this season, has already committed to wrestle for Southwestern Michigan College next season.
