By Justin Jarrett
LowcoSports.com
Both gyms at Bridges Preparatory School were overflowing with wrestlers, coaches and fans on Saturday for the 2nd annual JCS Memorial Tournament, and every one of them represented a punch landed in the fight against cancer.
The inaugural event took place last year in honor of former Buccaneers wrestler Joshua Shipley, who unexpectedly died at age 18 while studying abroad in Costa Rica, and this year’s event was even bigger and better.
Bluffton took home the title with 171 points, edging runner-up Battery Creek by 10 points, but with 18 teams and both varsity and JV brackets running on five mats, it was a win-win for a growing sport in the Lowcountry — and a significant fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.
“I think that was the most people who have ever been on our campus at one time,” Bridges Prep coach Alex Hagan said on the Lowco Grind podcast. “They were killing it in concessions. I think they had to run to Walmart for more food four or five times. It was awesome.”
The host Buccaneers are looking to reload after losing a talented graduating class from last year’s Class 2A Lower State semifinalist squad, but they managed a sixth-place finish and one champion in senior 190-pounder Kevin Summers — a fitting champ as the last remaining teammate of Shipley’s on the roster.
Battery Creek had a pair of champions in seniors Nate Najar (157) and Pharrell Myers (215), while Anthony Perez (106), Theo Johnson (132), Chris Martinez (165), and Mason Benke (285) finished second, and David Ding (113) placed third in a strong showing from the Dolphins.
John Paul II finished eighth despite missing two of its top wrestlers, as Chase LaFountain (113) placed second, and Jacob Vortisch (175) took third.
JCS Memorial Tournament at Bridges Prep
Team Scores
Bluffton 171, Battery Creek 161, MCA 149.5, Benedictine 145, Hilton Head 139, Bridges Prep 70, Bamberg-Ehrhardt 57.5, John Paul II 54, Woodland 50, Camden Military 38.5, Manning 33.5, Colleton Co. 33, Islands 28, Savannah Country Day 28, Trinity Collegiate 20, Hardeeville 19, Northwood Academy 14, Savannah Christian 12
Individual Finals / Consolation Finals
106: Roman (BLUF) pinned Perez (BCHS) / Allen (TIM) tech Jamison (BAM)
113: J.Fontana (HH) maj dec LaFountain (JPII) / Ding (BCHS) pinned Ford (BAM)
120: Holland (MCA) dec Lawson (BLUF) / Thames (TIM) pinned Guerrero (NC)
126: Jackson (MCA) dec Stephenson (HH) / Chavez (TC) def Jenkins (BP)
132: Simmons (BEN) pinned Johnson (BCHS) / L.Pittman (HH) pinned Groover (MCA)
138: White (MAN) pinned King (CC) / Adams (BEN) pinned X.Carter (BLUF)
144: West (BEN) dec Wall (BLUF) / C.Sowers (HH) tech Stonecipher (MCA)
150: Minnich (BEN) tech CJ Florencio (HH) / Kraeuter (SCD) pinned Cox (BLUF)
157: N.Najar (BCHS) pinned Ward (BEN) / Brown (TIM) pinned McCann (WOOD)
165: Wilson (BAM) pinned Martinez (BCHS) / Fitzpatrick (CM) dec Fallon (BEN)
175: Batten (WOOD) pinned A.Florencio (HH) / J.Vortisch (JPII) pinned Liverman (IHS)
190: Summers (BP) dec Campbell (MCA) / A.Brown (BLUF) pinned Middleton (TIM)
215: Myers (BCHS) pinned Smith (NC) / Banks (BLUF) pinned Calustro (HVL)
285: Cummings (MCA) pinned Benke (BCHS) / C.Vargas (BLUF) pinned Goodman (TIM)
