LowcoSports.com
Three wrestlers from Beaufort High and one from Battery Creek earned medals against a fierce field of teams from throughout the Southeast on Wednesday and Thursday at the 31-team May River Invitational.
Beaufort High’s Colton Phares had to settle for silver, dropping a tough 5-3 decision to Glynn Academy’s Jackson Wakeland at 182 to lead a trio of placers for the Eagles. The senior had to fight his way to the finals, starting with two straight pins before grinding out two tough decisions to earn a shot at gold.
Peter Adam Burnevich finished fourth at 160, and John Legree was sixth at 220, helping the Eagles net an 18th-place showing, and Battery Creek’s Sam Degroat finished fourth at 120.
Georgia Class 7A dynasty Camden County ran away with the team title, racking up 308.5 points behind 12 wrestlers who placed in the top six in their weight classes, including three champions and four runners-up. South Effingham (184) was second, followed closely by Ashley Ridge (160), Summerville (158), and May River (152).
Two Sharks claimed individual crowns, as Isaiah Wysong controlled South Effingham’s Moose Bringer 6-0 in the 132-pound title bout, and Santiago Rueda edged Camden County’s Porter Bryant 9-7 in the 145-pound final. The two champs each went 5-0 over two days, with Wysong pinning three of his opponents and Rueda recording two pins before winning three hard-fought decisions.
Teammate Gabe Juarez narrowly missed gold, falling 5-2 to Camden County’s Cah’mari Johnson in the final at 170, while EJ Seman was fourth at 138, and Miguel Cavalheiro placed sixth at 152.
Hilton Head High’s Drew Vigh placed third at 132 with his only loss a 4-3 decision to eventual champion Wysong in the semifinals, and teammate Brayven Shapiro placed sixth at 285 as the Seahawks finished 12th overall.
All the area squads are in action at the Coach Trap Duals at Battery Creek on Saturday.
