WRESTLING ROUNDUP

Bucs claim region crown; Creek comes up short

LowcoSports.com

Bridges Prep’s burgeoning wrestling program notched another first last week, sweeping Blackville-Hilda, Whale Branch, and host Bamberg-Ehrhardt in what served as a de facto Region 6-1A championship Wednesday night.

After blowing out Blackville-Hilda and holding off an improving Whale Branch squad, the Buccaneers won a tough matchup with the Red Raiders, clinching the 47-30 victory when 106-pounder Dayton Yancovich fought off his back and erased an 11-point deficit with a late pin to finish 3-0 on the night.

Bridges Prep and Whale Branch await their playoff seeding and will open the Class 2A/1A dual playoffs Saturday.

Iron Horses win Region 8-3A duals

Momentum swings play a pivotal role in wrestling duals, and Philip Simmons rode the wave to a 52-30 win over host Battery Creek in the matchup that decided the Region 8-3A duals title Wednesday.

The Iron Horses won three matches by pin that appeared to be toss-ups, swinging the result in their favor in the decisive dual after Philip Simmons and Battery Creek dispatched Beaufort High, Hanahan, and North Charleston.

The Dolphins and Eagles both qualified for the Class 3A playoffs and will open on the road Saturday. Battery Creek will travel to Gilbert and face Georgetown in the first round with a matchup with the host Indians likely in Round 2. Beaufort will face Loris in its opener in hopes of advancing to a likely matchup with host Lake City in Round 2.

JPII earns home playoff match

John Paul II went 2-0 at its Warrior Duals on Saturday, beating Northwood Academy 54-28 to lock in the No. 3 seed in the SCISA playoffs and dousing a combined squad from Thomas Heyward, Colleton Prep, and Patrick Henry 56-21.

Bailey Homer, Jude Witkowski, Brian Orta, Jack Hannagan, Matei Porcelli, Brandyn Horton, Javier Jimenez, and Renzo Cedeno all earned pins against Northwood, with Witkowski avenging an early-season loss with a quick first-period pin in a pivotal swing match.

Witkowski, Orta, Hannagan, Horton, Jimenez, and Gavin Byrne all won by pin in the Golden Warriors’ second dual.

JPII hosts the first two rounds of the SCISA dual playoffs Wednesday, facing the Patrick Henry-Heathwood Hall winner in Round 2.

WB, LIMS girls earn hardware

Two Whale Branch wrestlers advancing to the SCHSL girls state tournament with fourth-place finishes at the Lower State qualifier, and two Lady’s Island Middle School wrestlers claimed medals at the Carolina Invitational middle school girls state championship on Saturday.

Whale Branch’s Giannina Rosario (112) and Marry Black (127) each placed fourth in their weight classes at the Lower State qualifier at South Florence High School, earning berths in the state tournament.

Lady’s Island’s Kamryn Fields was the runner-up in the 185-pound weight class at the middle school championships, while teammate Alanna O’Quinn finished fourth at 152.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 24

Region 8-3A Duals at Battery Creek

Battery Creek 54, Beaufort 24

Battery Creek 66, Hanahan 12

Philip Simmons 51, Beaufort 27

Philip Simmons 52, Battery Creek 30

Hanahan 42, Beaufort 36

THURSDAY, Jan. 25

Region 7-1A Duals at Bamberg-Ehrhardt

Bridges Prep 66, Blackville-Hilda 15

Bridges Prep 55, Whale Branch 24

Bridges Prep 47, Bamberg-Ehrhardt 30