Fort Mill sending 13, NaFo 9 to Upper State tournament

The Fort Mill wrestling team is taking a baker’s dozen of wrestlers to the Upper State tournament Feb. 19-20 at Rock Hill High – the most in the area.

Nation Ford High is sending nine to the Upper State tournament.

The Jackets put just 13 wrestlers on the mat Saturday at Nation Ford for the Region III tournament with all 13 qualifying by finishing in the top four spots in their weight classes. The only weight class in which they didn’t field a wrestler was at 220 pounds.

“We only sent 13 wrestlers and to qualify all 13 is special, especially in this region,” said Fort Mill head coach Chris Brock, who was also named Region III Coach of The Year.

“This is the toughest region in the state. But I love this time of year. Everything up until now is just practice.”

Fort Mill sent eight wrestlers to the region finals, crowning three champions in John Brotemarkle (113), AJ Leitten (138) and Jack Debbout (160).

Brotemarkle beat Rock Hill’s Jay McNeal 5-2 in the finals, while Leitten tore through York’s Zeke Bean 16-0 for a tech fall after the first period. Debbout beat Rock Hill’s Brandon Mills 9-2 for his region title.

Nation Ford crowned two region champions in Dalen Byerley at 132 pounds and Christian Trimble at 126. Trimble beat Fort Mill’s Jarrod Kimball 6-0 and then Byerley made quick work of his opponent, Rock Hill’s Jared Blake, pinning him in just 12 seconds of the first period.

“It’s the first time we have ever had two region champions at the same tournament,” said Falcons’ head coach Leon Boulware. “We accomplished something today. Today turned out not to be too bad.”

The dual playoffs start Feb. 6 with Fort Mill and Nation Ford hitting the road for the first round.

This story was originally published February 1, 2016 at 2:44 PM with the headline "Fort Mill sending 13, NaFo 9 to Upper State tournament."