Despite not having any wrestlers advance to the championship finals, Beaufort High finished fifth in the team standings at the SCHSL Class 4A State Wrestling Championships on Saturday in Anderson thanks to the Eagles’ work in the consolation brackets.
Marcus Spann (126) and James Dagin (152) worked their way through the back side of the bracket to place third, and Matthew Durrance (132), Jacob Denton (138), and Michael Cenci (170) all placed fourth.
Battery Creek’s Syncere Atkins also placed fourth at 145 pounds in Class 3A.
May River’s Ryan Humel became the first individual state champion in the program’s three-year history by winning the Class 3A 182-pound title, and Hilton Head High’s James Levy finished second at 106 pounds in Class 4A.
Beaufort High results
Gary Bayne (106) — lost to Spencer Cox (South Pointe), 19-6; lost to Jeffrey Hollingsworth (Pickens), fall 3:41
Marcus Spann (126) — lost to Cole Arrington (South Pointe), 18-8; def. Andrian Neals (Orangeburg-Wilkinson), fall 1:13; def. Easton Brannan (Belton-Honea Path), medical forfeit; def. Toby Foster (Travelers Rest), 8-2
Matthew Durrance (132) — def. Luke Dickson (York), fall 0:41; lost to JJ Luna (Palmetto), fall 3:26; def. Alfonso Chavero (Airport), fall 3:26; lost to Pearson Borders (South Pointe), fall 5:22
Jacob Denton (138) — def. Bryson McLees (Travelers Rest), 16-13; lost to Matthew Belk (South Pointe), fall 5:00; def. Jackson Aaron (Airport), 3-2; lost to Elijah Holder (Pickens), fall 2:26
Robert Cruikshank (145) — lost to Garrett Kloth (Pickens), fall 1:37; lost to ShyQuan Ferguson (South Pointe), fall 5:30
James Dagin (152) — lost to Savion White (South Pointe), fall 4:00; def. Bryson Platt (Airport), 12-4; def. Ben Joye (Pickens), 19-10; def. Adam Reedy (Palmetto), 9-7
Jeremiah Simmons (160) — lost to Kaleb Horn (Blue Ridge), 12-5; lost to Nequel Ryans (South Aiken), fall 3:43
Michael Cenci (170) — lost to Nygel Moore (Lancaster), 7-3; def. Grant Tucker (Hartsville), 7-1; def. Tyler Center (Belton-Honea Path), 13-5; lost to Ellison Flores (Greer), 12-2
Theo Washington (195) — lost to Michael Kemp (Blue Ridge), 13-5; def. Justin Corbin (South Pointe), fall 3:52; lost to James Brisbane (Berea), fall 2:00
Battery Creek results
Larson McManigle (138) — lost to Ryan Dobbs (West Oak), fall 0:13; lost to Jonathan Lemon (Academic Magnet), 5-1
Syncere Atkins (145) — def. Emmanuel Wright (Chester), 7-6; lost to Cameron Ellis (Crescent), 18-2; def. Brad Creech (Pelion), 10-1; lost to Emmanuel Wright (Chester), 8-4
Chris Appleby (152) — lost to Tre’von Hill (Union County), fall 2:51; lost to Dayton Hines (Woodruff), 12-2
Alex Linares (160) — lost to Markeith Drakeford (Indian Land), fall 2:40; lost to Noah Jones (Aynor), fall 1:56
Whale Branch results
Richard Parker (132) — lost to Garrett Davis (Whitmire), fall 1:20; def. Jared Gilliard (Bamberg-Ehrhardt), fall 5:52; lost to Chance Hewitt (Ninety Six), fall 3:21
De’Arius Hazel (195) — lost to Ben Parson (Ninety Six), fall 0:53; lost to Jack Tilton (North Central), fall 0:36
Zakariya Williams (220) — lost to Thomas Shelman (Abbeville), fall 2:16; def. Matthew Constance (Landrum), fall 2:28; lost to O’Neal Pinckney (Military Magnet), 8-4
BCHS’ Atkins picked for all-star event
Battery Creek’s Syncere Atkins has been selected to compete in the 2019 Best Western North-South All-Star Wrestling Classic on March 1-2 at North Myrtle Beach High School.
Atkins will wrestle for the Class 4A/3A South team. Additionally, May River’s Ryan Humel was selected as the 182-pound representative to the Team South Carolina squad that will face Team North Carolina in a dual match.
The North-South All-Star Classic is the second-longest running all-star high school wrestling even in the nation.
Photo at top: Beaufort Highís Jacob Denton reacts after defeating Airportís Jackson Aaron in the finals of the 138-pound weight class at the Class 4A Lower State Championships on Feb. 16 at Bluffton High School. Denton finished fourth at the state tournament Saturday in Anderson. Photos by Justin Jarrett.