Fort Mill, Indian Land wrestling coaches reflect on career milestones — and reach for more

Two local wrestling coaches quietly eclipsed milestone wins in their respective careers in January — and neither of them realized it at first.

Fort Mill’s Chris Brock reached his 400th career dual win — a 46-30 win over Pigeon Forge (Tenn.) — at an out-of-state tournament that took place on Jan. 10 and 11. And Indian Land’s Leon Boulware reached win No. 200 for his career at the US Military Duals in Chapin, S.C., on Jan. 17.

“I haven’t wrestled a match in 30 years,” Brock said. “The guys do that. I just play a part. I have been fortunate for the support from the district and the administration here.”

Brock said he wouldn’t have been aware of the milestone had it not been for assistant coach Ed Doran, who keeps up with team stats like wrestlers’ individual wins and losses. Brock is in his 20th season at Fort Mill and is in his 30th year in education, having served as an assistant coach at Rock Hill High School for a decade before coming to Fort Mill in 2000.

This season, the Yellow Jackets are 19-5, have clinched their region — and are currently ranked fifth in the state in 5A.

Brock gives a lot of credit for his program’s success to his assistant coaches, who have been with him at Fort Mill for most of his tenure. Doran has been with Brock for 17 years, and Adam Marullo has been with him for 15 years. Another long-time assistant of Brock’s is Robby Miskelly, who Brock also coached while at Fort Mill.

“There is something to be said about that,” he said. “It certainly is a milestone. I am appreciative to be able to stay in it this long.”

However, there is one thing Brock said he would trade for all those wins.

“I would trade it all in for that state title,” he said. “Some good things have happened here because of the program. I have been fortunate to have had kids that are driven.”

Brock will continue his journey for that elusive state title as Fort Mill opens the state playoffs on Feb. 8 at home.

Boulware: ‘Bring home another state title’

Indian Land’s Leon Boulware’s career milestone came in his fourth year at Indian Land, after coming to the Lancaster County school from Nation Ford. Before that, he coached at Lancaster High School as well.

Every year that he’s been at Indian Land, his team has won a region title.

Like Brock, Boulware didn’t realize he won his 200th dual until he got home that night.

“My wife told me,” he said. “It is another coaching accomplishment, but at the end of the day, the credit goes to the kids. When I got into coaching, I didn’t think about winning a certain amount. My first goal was just to try and win and try to be the best in the state.”

Boulware has Indian Land at No. 1 in 3A again this year with a 25-2 record, and will be going for their second consecutive state title this season. The Warriors’ wrestling state championship last year was the first one for a boys’ sport in the history of Indian Land High School.

“I feel really good,” Boulware said. “Things started to come together after the duals at Chapin. We feel strongly that we can bring home another state title.”

Mac Banks: mbanks@comporium.net, @MacBanksFM