‘It does not get easier.’ Indian Land eyes 3A wrestling title after win over Crescent.
Indian Land moved another step closer to another 3A state wrestling title with a 50-13 win over Crescent in the third round of the playoffs Monday at Indian Land.
The Warriors broke even early, but once the match got to the lower weight classifications where all wrestlers had won their individual region titles, they dominated.
The match started at the 152 weight class, and the Warriors got on the board first. Terrell Ottinger broke a 2-2 tie after one period and earned an 11-8 win to give Indian Land a 3-0 lead. Markeith Drakeford-Yegge took a 4-0 lead after one period and came away with an 8-0 win at 160, and the Warriors were in front 7-0.
Xavier Dreese continued the streak at 170. He took a 2-0 lead after two periods and pulled away in the final session for a 5-0 win to give Indian Land a 10-0 advantage. Raul Neil made it four in a row for the Warriors in the 182 division. He broke a 1-1 tie in the first overtime to earn a 3-1 decision, and Indian Land was up 13-0.
Crescent tries to make a comeback
Crescent came back. The Tigers got a pin by Cade Rutledge at 195, but a two-point penalty cut the score to 13-4 in favor of the Warriors. Crescent added another pin from Jaheim Bowman in the 220 weight class, and the Warriors’ lead was sliced to 13-10. The Tigers’ Justin Tillman pulled away in the final period to claim a 12-6 victory at 285, and the match was knotted at 13-13 at the halfway point.
The Warriors opened the second half of the match with a pair of pins to take a 25-13 lead. Drew Enders got the first one at 106. He was leading 11-2 in the third period when he scored the pin. Max Yegge got the second pin in the 113 classification. He was leading 2-0 in the opening period when he recorded his pin.
Clint Creech continued the assault at 120 with a 5-2 win, and Indian Land was in front 28-13. Dylan Layton sealed the match for the Warriors with a pin. He was up 2-0 in the first period in the 126 division when he scored the pin for a 34-13 Indian Land lead.
Weston Nguyen added more points for the Warriors in the 132 weight class. He took a 6-2 lead after the second period and pulled away for a 11-3 victory that put Indian Land in front 38-13. Solomon Cortez won by forfeit at 138, and Grant Witherspoon put an exclamation point on the one-sided win with a pin at 145.
Indian Land head coach Leon Boulware was most pleased with his team’s effort.
“We have had a target on our back all year,” Boulware said. “That just makes us work harder. We take a lot of pride in what we do. We really got after it tonight.”
Boulware knew it would be close early because of the weight class where the event started.
“We really battled in the top weight classes tonight, and we were able to keep it close,” said Boulware. “Once we got to the bottom weight classes, I knew we were going to be in good shape.”
Indian Land ‘much more mentally tough this year’
The effort in the third round was what the veteran coach has come to expect from his team.
“We always get a top effort from everyone,” Boulware said. “We are solid from top to bottom in our line-up this year. We have matured and improved as the year has gone along.”
Boulware added that one thing is much improved from a year ago, and it has made a difference.
“We are much more mentally tough this year,” said Boulware. “We will need that as we move forward on Wednesday night. It does not get any easier heading to the next round.”
The Warriors will be in action on Wednesday night in the Upper State championship.
The Warriors will take on either West Oak, which advanced Saturday, or the winner of the Monday night match between Chester and Liberty. If West Oak wins on Tuesday night, the Warriors travel there. If either Chester or Liberty wins, the Warriors will be at home.