The South Pointe Stallions wrestling team got off to a good start in opening its Region IV-AAA schedule by beating Nation Ford, 57-21.
South Pointe dominated most of the dual meet, getting seven wins by pin and two by forfeit.
Stallions' coach Eddie Cook said that halfway into the season, his team is finally starting to put the pieces together.
"We still got a couple of holes," Cook said. "But the rest of our guys are starting to turn the corner."
The win helped South Pointe take a step in the right direction to qualify for the state dual playoffs; only the top two finishers in the region qualify. The Stallions still must face strong Fort Mill and Chester teams and a much-improved York Comprehensive team.
Thursday's match started with 189-pounds as Tyler McGarrigle of Nation Ford, ranked No. 1 in the state, took on the Stallions' Albert Hughes. Hughes was able to wear down McGarrigle over three periods to pick up the 8-5 win.
That decision gave South Pointe the start it needed, and it never trailed in the match.
At 215-pounds, South Pointe's DreJames Jackson pinned Nation Ford's Josh Driscoll in the third period, giving the Stallions a 9-0 lead in the match.
"We always count on Tyler and Josh for wins, and they didn't win," said Nation Ford coach Paul Richardson. "That put everybody in a funk, it seemed.
"After three days off (due to winter weather), we lacked a lot of emotion and intensity. It's a matter of getting our mind right."
At heavyweight, Nation Ford was able to pick up its first of four wins as James Boozer outwrestled Nick Adams for a 3-2 win.
Moving back to the lightweights, South Pointe rattled off seven straight wins, six of them coming by pin fall.
The Stallions' Nick Marthers (103), Charlie Keesee (112), Chance Harper (119) and Jimi Barnhart (125) all won by pin.
After a forfeit win by Mike Miller (130), South Pointe added two more wins by pin fall at 135-pounds from Tre Barber and 140-pounds by Jonathan Cloud.
Three Nation Ford wrestlers won by pin fall: Stewart Snodgrass (145), who is ranked No. 1 in his weight class; Manako Peay (152) and Markevis Duncan (160).
SOUTH POINTE 57
NATION FORD 21
Starting draw was at 189
189 - Albert Hughes (SP) dec. Tyler McGarrigle (NF), 8-5; 215 - DreJames Jackson (SP) pinned Josh Driscoll (NF), 5:15; Hwt. - James Boozer (NF) dec. Nick Adams (SP), 3-2; 103 - Nick Marthers (SP) pinned Colin Godbout (NF), 1:45; 112 - Charlie Keesee (SP) pinned Abe Paxtor (NF), 0:39; 119 - Chance Harper (SP) pinned Elliott Wallace (NF), 1:51; 125 - Jimi Barnhart (SP) pinned Travis Boatwright (NF), 2:42; 130 - Mike Miller (SP) won by forfeit; 135 - Tre Barber (SP) pinned Drew Murphy (NF), 3:37; 140 - Jonathan Cloud (SP) pinned Nick Raniszewski (NF), 1:26; 145 - Stewart Snodgrass (NF) pinned Cameron Pike (SP), 3:50; 152 - Manako Peay (NF) pinned Bart Channel (SP), 0:17; 160 - Markevis Duncan (NF) pinned Spencer Strong (SP), 4:43; 171 - Ben Strong (SP) won by forfeit.
