LowcoSports.com
The host team reached the finals with an outstanding showing, but May River took home the title at the 12th annual Coach Trap Duals on Saturday at Battery Creek.
The Sharks swept through their pool matches with a 3-0 record, then dispatched Waccamaw in the semifinals before beating the host Dolphins 37-33 in a thrilling finale to capture the crown. Billy Hall, Santiago Rueda, Miguel Cavalheiro, and Chris Snowden each went 5-0 with five pins on the day for May River.
The narrow defeat didn’t spoil what was an outstanding day for the Dolphins, who also swept their pool matches and earned an impressive 60-24 win over Bluffton to reach the finals. Sam Degroat and Reilly Doray each went 5-0 for Battery Creek with each earning four pins and a forfeit.
In one of the highlights of the day, former Hilton Head Island coach turned referee Mike Newton ceremonially issued a posthumous misconduct warning and ejection for former Battery Creek coach Nathan Day, who died last year from complications due to COVID-19. The Dolphins have placed an empty chair on their bench to honor Day this season.
On Thursday, the Dolphins dropped a tight match at Hilton Head High, falling 42-33 to the No. 11 team in Class 4A. The eighth-ranked Dolphins split the 14 weight classes with the Seahawks, but Hilton Head’s seven pins carried the night.
Daniel Sunkins, Reily Doray, and Sam Degroat earned pins for Creek, while Bradley Smith, Hunter Smith, and Dre’Shaun Brown won decisions. Elmer Linares won by forfeit for the Dolphins.
Coach Trap Duals
Pool A
Battery Creek 3-0
Waccamaw 2-1
May River B 1-2
Bridges Prep 0-3
Pool B
May River 3-0
Bluffton 2-1
Thomas Heyward 1-2
Whale Branch 0-3
Semifinals
Battery Creek 60, Bluffton 24
May River 66, Waccamaw 12
Consolation Final
Waccamaw 46, Bluffton 30
Championship Final
May River 37, Battery Creek 33
