RJ Lincoln is The Herald’s athlete of the week (polls opening Feb. 24)
This story has been updated.
Catawba Ridge wrestler RJ Lincoln is The Herald’s athlete of the week.
Last week, Lincoln became the first wrestler in school history to win an Upper State Championship, winning the 195-pound, 3A Upper State title at West Oak High on Feb. 22. He also became the first wrestler in the Copperheads to win the Region 4-3A title last month.
Over 4,700 votes were cast in this week’s poll. Lincoln earned 42.5 percent of the vote.
Andrew Jackson’s Tamia Watkins finished in second, earning 18.1 percent of the vote.
Review the finalists and find full results below.
Athlete of the week finalists
Partners Christopher Daniels (Indian Land High School) and Justin Kanute (Clover High School), York County High School Anglers: The two senior anglers earned a first-place finish at the last regular season Palmetto Boat Center High School Trail event at Lake Hartwell last Saturday (Feb. 15) — turning in a 20.13-pound bag of fish.
This is the best result the pair has ever turned in.
Daniels and Kanute, who compete for the York County High School Anglers (and are coached by Chris Kanute) have had a top-10 finish in their last three tournaments.
With the finish last weekend, Daniels and Kanute have a guaranteed spot in the PBC High School Trail State Championship Classic at Lake Wylie in April. They’ll be fishing the Bassmaster’s High School open at Smith Lake at the end of February to qualify for the Bassmaster’s High School National Championship.
Josh Cizmadia, Fort Mill wrestling: The Fort Mill senior won the 160-pound title at the 5A Upper State Championships at Laurens High on Feb. 22.
Cizmadia beat Riverside’s Ethan Prescott, 15-0, in the Upper State championship match.
Cizmadia also won the Region 3-5A 160-pound title last month, and he’ll compete for an individual state title this weekend.
Destin Clark, Indian Land boys’ basketball: The 6-4 senior averaged 23.5 points per game in Indian Land’s playoff wins over Chapman and Newberry last week.
Clark scored 25 points in an 83-71 win over Newberry in the first round of the 3A state playoffs on Feb. 18. The next day, Clark was name to the South Carolina Basketball Coaches’ Association (SCBCA) all-state team.
Clark followed up with 22 points to help Indian Land to a 95-86 overtime victory over Chapman on Feb. 21.
Clark, a Wingate University signee, is averaging 21 points per game for Indian Land (16-7) this season.
DJ Ealey, Andrew Jackson boys’ basketball: The 6-foot junior guard had 18 points to lead Andrew Jackson to a 58-50 win over Southside in the second round of the 2A state playoffs on Feb. 22.
Ealey also had six points in a 51-35 victory over St. Joseph’s in the opening round of the state playoffs on Feb. 19.
Ealey is averaging 13 points per game for an Andrew Jackson (18-5) team that has won nine straight games this season.
Mason Grigg, Northwestern boys’ basketball: The 6-2 senior averaged 21 points per game in two playoff contests last week.
Grigg had 22 points in an 83-40 victory over Gaffney in the opening round of the 5A state playoffs on Feb. 19. Grigg was named to the SCBCA all-state team the same day.
Grigg also had 20 points in a 77-75, double overtime loss to Spartanburg Feb. 22. Grigg, a Coastal Carolina commit, helped Northwestern to a 23-5 record this season.
Dylan Layton, Indian Land wrestling: The Indian Land sophomore wrestler was one of five Warriors’ wrestlers to win their respective weight classes at the 3A Upper State Championships at West Oak High on Feb. 22.
Layton won the 120-pound 3A Upper State title, beating Pendleton High’s Asa Addison, 5-2, in the finals. Several of Layton’s teammates — Drew Endres (106), Grant Witherspoon (145), Markieth Drakeford-Yegge (160) and Xavier Dreese (170) — also won Upper State titles in their weight classes.
For a second consecutive season, the Indian Land wrestling team won the 3A dual state title for the second consecutive season.
Randi Neal, South Pointe girls’ basketball: The 5-9 senior averaged 21.5 points in two 4A state playoffs wins over Lower Richland and Travelers Rest last week.
Neal had 26 points and five steals in a 76-48 win over Travelers Rest in the first round of the state playoffs on Feb. 18. The next day, Neal was named all-state by the SCBCA.
Neal finished off her week with 17 points, four rebounds and three blocks in a 54-28 victory at Lower Richland on Feb. 21. Neal is averaging 17.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game for a South Pointe girls’ basketball team (25-2) that has won nine straight games.
RJ Lincoln, Catawba Ridge wrestling: The Catawba Ridge sophomore became the first wrestler in school history to win an Upper State Championship, winning the 195-pound, 3A Upper State title at West Oak High on Feb. 22.
Lincoln also became the first wrestler in Catawba Ridge school history to win the Region 4-3A title last month.
Jackson Rumfelt, York wrestling: The York junior wrestler won the 120-pound title at the 4A Upper State Championships at Eastside High on Feb. 22.
Rumfelt beat South Pointe sophomore Spencer Cox, 3-0, in the finals.
Rumfelt’s teammate, Kaleem Heard, also won the 3A Upper State Championship at 126 pounds.
Aylesha Wade, Clover girls’ basketball: The 5-8 junior guard averaged 27 points in two 5A state playoff wins last week.
Wade had 20 points in a 74-39 win over Mauldin on Feb. 18.
The next day, Wade was named to the SCBCA all-state team for the second straight season.
Wade finished off her week with 34 points, eight rebounds and five steals in a 54-38 victory over Westside in the second round of the 5A state playoffs. Wade is averaging 20.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.5 steals per game for the top-ranked Clover Blue Eagles (26-2) this season.
Tamia Watkins, Andrew Jackson girls’ basketball: The 6-1 forward poured in a career-high 31 points, hitting 13 of 16 free throws, to lead Andrew Jackson to a 63-49 win in the second round of the 2A state playoffs. She is in the seventh grade.
Watkins helped the Volunteers (23-1) to their 14th straight victory.
Watkins was averaging 10.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game this season going into Friday’s victory.
How to nominate
Want to nominate an athlete? Athlete of the week awards highlight high school players with outstanding performances. The goal is to recognize all athletes in all sports — both the most accomplished and the underrated or underappreciated players.
If you want to suggest someone to be included in the “Athletes of the Week” voting, send an email to Jay Edwards at edwardswork23@gmail.com. Please include the athlete’s name, school, class and applicable game performance statistics. Coaches must be willing to verify information.
Vote now
To see the full results on mobile, click here.
This story was originally published February 24, 2020 at 6:16 PM.
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