The high school wrestling season is already underway for a handful of local teams, but before things really ramp up, you can get up to speed on the upcoming season with our season preview package.
We preview every area wrestling team, including Class 3A preseason No. 3 May River and Class 4A preseason No. 5 Beaufort High. Battery Creek and Hilton Head High hope to see a resurgence after competing for state titles in the not-too-distant past, while Whale Branch and John Paul II hope to send individuals to the state championship once again.
For more wrestling preview material, check out next week’s episode of the LowcoSports Lowdown podcast, which will be released Monday.
Hear local sports news and analysis every week from LowcoSports founder Justin Jarrett and Wes Kerr on the LowcoSports Lowdown podcast! Available now on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts!
BATTERY CREEK DOLPHINS
Coach: Deandre’ Johnson
Record at school: 21-11 (2nd season)
2018-19 record: 21-11 (reached Class 3A second round)
Returning starters: 8
Top returners: Larson McManigle, Alex Linares
Key losses: Syncere Atkins
Key newcomers: Sam DeGroat, Derek Ray, Ryan Israel, Dreshaun Brown,
Coach’s outlook: “We believe that we have a nice group of young guys that are extremely coachable, along with a pack of leaders that are looking forward to leading off a good year for the Dolphins.”
BEAUFORT HIGH EAGLES
Coach: Ron Lanham
Record at school: 28-12 (2nd season)
2018-19 record: 28-12 (region champions, reached Class 4A second round)
Returning starters: 8
Top returners: Gary Bayne (Jr., 106 SQ), Payton Bayne (120), Matthew Durrance (Jr., 132 fourth-place finisher), Robert Cruikshank (Sr., 145 SQ), James Dagin (Sr., 152 third-place finisher), Michael Cenci (Jr., 170 fourth-place finisher), Jeremiah Simmons (Jr., 160 SQ), Theo Washington (Jr., 195 SQ)
Key losses: Jacob Denton, Marcus Spann
Key newcomers: Carter May, Degin Lowery, Devon Langfeldt, Colton Phares
Coach’s outlook: “We need to fill in some key spots in our lower weights and find a solid heavyweight this year. The main thing is to stay healthy and be peaking in late January and February.”
BLUFFTON BOBCATS
Coach: Tommy Heberer
Record at school: 1st season as head coach
2018-19 record: 2-10 (14th at Class 4A Lower State meet)
Returning starters: 6
Top returners: Daniel Ussery (152/160, Jr.); Nathan Ullman (152/160, Jr.); Billy Fletcher (195, Jr.); Cam’ron Darby (285, Soph.)
Key losses: Sirus Liptak, Xavier Dykstra
Key newcomers: Michael Coplo (120, Soph.); Nathan Heintschel (145, Jr.); Joey Nagera (138, Sr.); Jonathan Ortega (132, Soph.); Javier Altamirano (126, Jr.); Mycon Velasquez (113/120, Jr.); Andrew Velasquez 160/170, Fr.); Connor Ross (220, Fr.) and Cristian Araujo (182, Fr.)
Coach’s outlook: “We will be a very young team in 2019-20. Our numbers are much improved over the last few years, but the majority of our kids are brand new to wrestling. Our goal this season will be to improve each day in practice, and build the cornerstones for our program’s future. This will be an inexperienced group but a hardworking one.”
HHIHS SEAHAWKS
Coach: Patrick Boulware
Record at school: 7-10 (2nd season)
2018-19 record: 7-10 (lost in first round of Class 4A playoffs)
Number of returning starters: 13
Top returners: James Levy (Jr., 106 state runner-up); Drew Vigh (Soph., 113 SQ); Ean Gardner (Sr.); Alfred Young (Sr.); Jesus Catalan (Sr.)
Key losses: Josh Vigh (injured)
Key newcomers: 19 freshmen
Coach’s outlook: “This season is going to be very special for our wrestling program. We have almost tripled in size as a team and have a returning group of upper classmen taking control and pushing the younger guys. This has been a great balance with the newcomers to the team. With so many freshmen that have already wrestled for our middle school program, they are expected to play a key role in the program’s long-term resurgence. We have implemented a ‘one day at a time’ mentality that has accelerated with the expectations surrounding the program. From top to bottom, I see us climbing the ranks and being one of the elite teams in the state again. I couldn’t be more excited with how our guys handled themselves during the off-season in hopes that carries over.”
JOHN PAUL II GOLDEN WARRIORS
Coach: Bill Damude
Record at school: 18-11 (4th season)
2018-19 record: 6-3 (5th in SCISA duals)
Returning starters: 9
Top returners: Jonathan Field (Jr., 152); Luke Burton (Soph., 145); Kohl Woodham (Fr., 170); Will Durham (Soph., 138); Steven Schidrich (Jr., 120); Tristan Racey-Salvatto (Fr., 132); Peter Torinese (Fr., 113)
Key losses: Nathan Riley, Adler Snyder
Key newcomers: Mark Martel, Noah Brock
Coaches outlook: “I look forward to continuing our individual successes throughout the year, and being able to compete with the big four SCISA schools in Columbia. Also, the continued growth of our wrestlers as students, athletes, and quality young men of faith.”
MAY RIVER SHARKS
Coach: Ashley Powell
Years at school: 4th season
2018-19 record: 11-5 (Lower State runner-up)
Returning starters: 11
Top returners: Travis Tran (Jr., 106 SQ); Jaxon Meriwether (Jr., 145 SQ); Rod Grant (Sr., 195 state runner-up); Eli Hall (Jr., 220 SQ); Kailin Prescott-Ferguson (Sr., 285 SQ).
Key losses: Ryan Humel (3A Wrestler of the Year); Rodney Romero
Key newcomers: Gabe Juarez, Isham Peace
Coach’s outlook: “We will need some of our senior leaders to step up and lead our program. We have guys who have worked really hard in the offseason to make that next step, and I’m excited to watch them continue to grow. We have to stay healthy and get in our right weight classes, and we can have a solid team. Leadership, work ethic, toughness, and commitment will be very important.”
WHALE BRANCH WARRIORS
Coach: Charlie Simmons
Record at school: 1-9 (2nd season)
2018-19 record: 1-9
Number of returning starters: 2
Top returners: Richard Parker (132), Zakariya Williams (220)
Key losses: De’Arius Hazel (injury)
Key newcomers: None
Coach’s outlook: “Last year we had a low turnout with only a few wrestlers and had to forfeit many weight classes in many matches. This year we are trying to fill those weight classes while trying to build the program back from the ground up.”