By Justin Jarrett
LowcoSports.com
The wrestling teams from Beaufort High and Battery Creek continued their final preparations for the postseason grind with a pair of wins each against plucky programs from John Paul II and Bridges Prep on Wednesday before all four teams competed in the Bobcat Duals at Bluffton on Saturday.
It was a particularly good week for the Eagles, who breezed past JPII (64-12) and Bridges (47-24) midweek before going 4-1 at the nine-team Bobcat Duals, including a thrilling 35-34 win over Goose Creek to seal a fourth-place finish.
Among the highlights was the continued dominance of 182-pounder Colton Phares, who got a late start to his season after leading the Eagles to a Class 3A state football title but has made quick work of the competition since returning to the mat. Phares recorded two quick pins Wednesday and went 5-0 on Saturday as he sets his sight on an elusive state title after back-to-back runner-up finishes. Tayriq Legree (113) and Andrew Legree (152) also had perfect weeks for Beaufort.
Battery Creek gave up two forfeits to John Paul II but still claimed a 43-31 win and routed Bridges 63-12 before going 3-2 at the Bobcat Duals. The Dolphins drew a tough preliminary pool and lost to champion May River and dropped a tough 39-34 decision to Goose Creek to slide into the consolation pool, where they dominated Whale Branch and defeated JPII again to claim seventh place.
The Golden Warriors edged Colleton Prep 43-42 in a SCISA showdown and picked up a win over Whale Branch in the consolation pool to finish a grueling week with a 2-5 mark. Jase Reynolds and Daniel Snyder both went 6-1 on the week, and Jack Brock was 4-1 on Saturday for JPII.
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING ROUNDUP
Quad at Beaufort High (Jan. 11)
Beaufort 64, JPII 12
BFT: Jack Miller dec. 145, Andrew Legree pin 152, Thomas Byrun pin 160, Chase Richardson pin 170, Phares pin 182, John Bechtold pin 195, Jaden Priester ff 220, Tayriq Legree pin 113, Langston Simmons pin 126, Antonio McKnight pin 132, Brandon Bolles pin 138
JPII: Jace Reynolds ff 106, Daniel Snyder ff 120
Battery Creek 43, John Paul II 31
BC: Gunnar Degroat pin 152, Mitchel Emmert pin 160, Nate Gallego pin 170, Jakaree Evans dec 195, Leroy Tyus ff 220, Anthony Phelan ff 285, John Coker pin 113, Sam Degroat md 132
JPII: Peter Torinese pin 138, Brandyn Horton md 145, Kohl Woodham dec 182, Jace Reynolds pin 106, D. Snyder ff 120, Carson Lonz ff 126
Battery Creek 63, Bridges Prep 12
BC: Alex Vega dec 145, Gunner Degroat pin 152, Mitchel Emmert pin 160, Hunter Smith pin 182, Nathan Byrne Ff 195, Leroy Tyus ff 220, Jordan Washington pin 285, Jordan Robinson ff 106, John Coker pin 113, Emily Going ff 126, Aiden Northway pin 138
BP: Byron Douglas-Jackson pin 170, Trevor Jones pin 132
Beaufort 47, Bridges Prep 24
BFT: Andrew Legree tech 152, Campbell pin 160, Phares pin 182, Bechtold ff 195, Priester ff 220, Tayriq Legree pin 113, Simmons ff 126, McKnight pin 132
BP: Shipley pin 138, Brown pin 145, Byron Douglas-Jackson pin 170, Owen ff 285
Bobcat Duals at Bluffton HS
Final Standings
May River 5-0
Bluffton 3-1
HHIHS 3-2
Beaufort 4-1
Goose Creek 3-2
Bridges Prep 1-3
Battery Creek 3-2
John Paul II 2-3
Whale Branch 0-4
Pool 1
Beaufort 42, Colleton Co. 24
BFT winners: Tayriq Legree 113, Jack Miller 138, Andrew Legree 152, Colton Phares 182
HHIHS 60, John Paul II 18
HHIHS 54, Beaufort 18
BFT winners: Andrew Legree 152, John Bechtold 182, Colton Phares 195
John Paul II 43, Colleton Co. 42
Beaufort 51, John Paul II 24
BFT winners: Tayriq Legree 113, Jack Miller 138, Antonio McKnight 145, Andrew Legree 152, Thomas Byrum 160, Colton Phares 182
HHIHS 59, Colleton Co. 12
Pool 2
Battery Creek 54, Colleton Prep 4
May River 59, Goose Creek 18
Goose Creek 39, Battery Creek 34
May River 78, Colleton Prep 3
May River 70, Battery Creek 9
Goose Creek 54, Colleton Prep 12
Pool 3
Bluffton 72, Bridges Prep 4
Bluffton 60, Whale Branch 18
Bridges Prep 42, Whale Branch 30
Championship Pool
May River 54, Hilton Head 24
May River 60, Bluffton 24
Bluffton 36, Hilton Head 35
Consolation Pool (4th-6th)
Beaufort 35, Goose Creek 34
BFT winners: Tayriq Legree 113, Andrew Legree 152, Kevin Campbell 160, Colton Phares 182, John Bechtold 195
Goose Creek 46, Bridges Prep 12
Beaufort 48, Bridges Prep 18
BFT winners: Tayriq Legree 113, Brandon Bolles 145, Andrew Legree 152, Chase Richardson 170, Colton Phares 182, John Bechtold 195
Consolation Pool (7th-9th)
Battery Creek 42, John Paul II 30
Battery Creek 59, Whale Branch 0
John Paul II 48, Whale Branch 12
JPII leaders: 106 Jase Reynolds 4-1, 120 Daniel Snyder 4-1, 152 Jack Brock 4-1