By Justin Jarrett
LowcoSports.com
Four wrestlers from Battery Creek, two from Bridges Prep, and one from Beaufort High qualified for the SCHSL State Championships last weekend in Anderson, and all seven came home with medals, including a second consecutive gold for Dolphins senior Gunnar DeGroat.
DeGroat pinned his way through the Class 3A 175-pound bracket, dispatching Pendleton’s John Henderson with 13 seconds remaining in the first period to capture his second consecutive state title. Teammates Elmer Linares (126) and Le’Roy Tyus (215) also reached the finals before settling for silver, and Battery Creek’s Andrew Legree placed third at 157 while Beaufort’s Antonio McKnight was fourth at 138.
Bridges Prep’s Jeremiah Chavez placed third at 285 pounds in Class 2A/1A, and teammate Ali Jenkins placed fourth at 175.
Bluffton junior Jada Lawrence won the girls 145-pound title for her second state championship, and May River freshman Houston Rudisill was the Class 4A 138-pound champion.
Hear more on all the state medalists from the Lowco on a new episode of the Lowco Grind presented by Reverence Wrestling Club, now streaming on the Lowco Media Network on YouTube.
Justin Jarrett is the sports editor of The Island News and the founder of LowcoSports.com. He was the sports editor of the Island Packet and the Beaufort Gazette for 6½ years. He has a passion for sports and community journalism and a questionable sense of humor.
