LowcoSports.com
The trend of Beaufort High multisport standout Colton Phares’ senior year continued on Saturday. After coming up short a year ago, Phares finished on top.
After helping lead the Eagles to their first football state title in 77 years this fall, Phares capped off his sensational wrestling career with an elusive state title at 182 pounds after a pair of runner-up finishes and a fourth-place showing as a freshman.
Phares was joined on the top of the podium by Battery Creek junior Gunnar DeGroat, who won the 152-pound title after placing fourth a year ago. The Dolphins had two other placers — Elmer Linares was the runner-up at 120 pounds and Anthony Phelan finished fourth at 285 — and Beaufort’s Tayriq Legree rounded out the local wrestlers who brought home hardware, placing third at 113.
Phares finished off a perfect senior season with a dominant run through the 182-pound bracket, pinning his first opponent in the first period before earning an 8-1 decision to reach the finals and controlling his last match from the outset in a 10-2 win over Hanahan’s Austin Guerrero.
DeGroat won three decisions to claim his crown, edging West-Oak’s Cael Davis 3-1 in the finals.
SCHSL State Wrestling Championships
Placers from northern Beaufort County
Champs: Gunnar DeGroat, BCHS (3A 152); Colton Phares, BFT (3A 182)
2nd: Elmer Linares, BCHS (3A 120)
3rd: Tayriq Legree, BFT (3A 113)
4th: Anthony Phelan, BCHS (3A 285)
