Short-handed Jackets take 3rd at Tigerland Classic

Missing wrestlers from two weight classes, the Fort Mill High School Yellow Jackets wresting team still managed to finished third out of 17 teams in the 17th annual Tigerland Classic.

Led by senior John Brotemarkle, who won the 113-pound weight class, Fort Mill had five wrestlers place in the tournament. Brotemarkle beat Isaac Hollar of host school Fred T. Foard 8-2 in the finals. Foard won the tournament with Lake Norman High coming in second.

Fort Mill’s third place finish was the highest finish by any team from South Carolina.

“It’s a tough tournament,” said Fort Mill head coach Chris Brock. “There are some good guys here who aren’t placing.”

Fort Mill was without junior AJ Leitten, who missed the tournament nursing sore knees. Leitten is scheduled to be back at the Wildcat Duals in Lexington Dec. 29-30 when Fort Mill wrestles next.

Filling in for Leitten was Jordan Markowski at 138 pounds. Markowski wrestled well, leading the way for some of the younger wrestlers Fort Mill brought to the tournament. He finished fourth in the weight class.

“I am pleased with Jordan,” Brock said. “He is a fighter and a scraper. He is a good athlete.”

Both Stephen Hamilton at 145 pounds and Evan Stankovits at 152 pounds finished third in their weight classes. Hamilton won with a 10-7 decision over Pisgah’s Eli Owens and Stankovits beat Rock Hill’s Brandon Mills 9-8.

Fort Mill almost had two weight class winners. However, a late escape in the third period gave Marcus Bolick of AL Brown High a 7-6 win over Jack Debbout at 170 pounds.

Earlier in the week, Fort Mill dropped its first dual meet of the season, losing to Lake Norman (N.C.) on the road 42-33.

State rankings came out recently. The Jackets are ranked fifth in 4A. Rock Hill is ranked No. 1. In the individual rankings, both Brotemarkle and Leitten (132) are ranked No. 1 in the state.

Fort Mill will have about 10 days off to heal and recover from nagging injuries before heading into the Wildcat Duals.

This story was originally published December 21, 2015 at 10:14 AM with the headline "Short-handed Jackets take 3rd at Tigerland Classic."