Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Northwestern wrestling begin 2021 with high and ‘new expectations’

The 2021-22 wrestling season has begun, and Rock Hill-area teams have already proved a lot.

Here’s a region-by-region look at what you can expect from wrestling teams at high schools in York, Chester and Lancaster counties.

Region 3-5A: Clover hoping to repeat as region champions

In 5A, the Clover Blue Eagles are working to build on their first region title from last year. The Blue Eagles went through Region 3-5A with a perfect mark of 4-0. They then toppled Dorman 52-21 in the first round of the playoffs but lost to Hillcrest 47-27 in the second round.

The region looks to be improved from top to bottom this time around, Clover head coach Mike Fitzgerald told The Herald.

‘This will be a challenging year in the region,” said Fitzgerald, the 2020-21 All-Area Coach of the Year. “Every team in this region will be better this season. That will make for a tough outing for every one of us.”

The Blue Eagles have some experienced players returning from last year’s excellent team.

“The ones that are returning will provide quality leadership for us this year,” he added. “With our success last year, we have new expectations as we start this year. We will have a lot of confidence going into this year, but we will still have to work hard like we did last year if we are to continue our success.”

Clover has had excellent results in the early going this year. The team finished fourth in the East Mecklenburg tournament this past weekend. The Blue Eagles will rely on a whole bunch of returners who made the state championships last year. Among them: Jaden Charles (who last year competed in the 106 division), Yannis Charles (who last year competed in the talented 132 division), Enoch Long and Graysen Latham.

The Fort Mill Yellow Jackets were second last year with a 3-1 Region 3-5A mark. They lost to Byrnes 41-31 in the first round of the postseason. The Jackets are traditionally a very good program — and this year should be more of the same. (Some Fort Mill returners? Think Noah Kitchton and Aiden Eubanks to start.)

The Yellow Jackets opened the season with a 20th place finish in the Southern Slam at Eastside this past weekend.

The Nation Ford Falcons were third in that region last year with a 2-2 mark, just barely missing the playoffs. With some quality veterans returning, they should be an improved team.

The Falcons opened the year by splitting a pair of contests in a tri-match and followed that with a 28th place finish in the Southern Slam over the weekend.

Last year region finishes: 1. Clover 4-0, 2. Fort Mill 3-1, 3. Nation Ford 2-2, 4. Boiling Springs 1-3, 5. Gaffney 0-4.

Region 4-5A: Northwestern, Rock Hill set to clash for region title again

In Region 4-5A, the Northwestern Trojans were spectacular a year ago. They claimed the region title with a 4-0 record. That led them to the postseason where they knocked off TL Hanna 65-12 and edged Byrnes 31-30 before losing to Hillcrest 30-24.

Leon Boulware, who in one season made Northwestern a force to be reckoned with and beat rival Rock Hill for the first time in over a decade, left this past offseason. The Trojans brought in longtime Rock Hill Bearcat assistant coach Ryan Whitmore to replace him.

“It was great to be part of the success at Rock Hill,” said Whitmore. “I am really excited about being here, and I look to build on what Northwestern started last year. I feel a little bit of pressure, but thus far I have received a lot of support.”

The region will once again be a challenge every time the Trojans take to the mat, but the Trojans have talent returning. Irving Cabrera, who wrestled at 120 and finished second in the state tournament last year, is now a junior, and senior Isaac McLellan (220) is a returning state champion.

“The region will be tough,” he added. “Rock Hill is always very good, and the three Columbia schools are getting better. There will be no easy matches.”

The overall schedule also will provide an opportunity to develop his team.

“We will be in some very good tournaments as well as some good dual matches,” he said. “This is will give us a chance to get everyone ready. We are playing some quality teams this year.”

The Trojans are off to an excellent start in the 2021-22 campaign. They defeated all three of their opponents in a quad match.

The Rock Hill Bearcats have been the standard in wrestling for years, and this year should be no exception. The ‘Cats finished second in Region 4-5A with a 3-1 mark last time around. They made the postseason where they lost 54-21 to Hillcrest in the first round.

The Bearcats opened the season with a 21st place finish in the Southern Slam.

Last year region finishes: 1. Northwestern 4-0, 2. Rock Hill 3-1, 3. Ridge View 2-2, 4. Blythewood 1-3, 5. Spring Valley 0-4.

Region 3-4A: Indian Land, South Pointe still powers

In 4A, the Indian Land Warriors claimed the Region 3-4A crown a year ago with a perfect 4-0 mark. They advanced to the playoffs where they topped Greenwood 55-17 and beat Lugoff-Elgin 48-24, before losing to Eastside 37-26.

The Warriors will host the Kersey Duals this weekend to open the season.

The South Pointe Stallions were 3-1 and finished second in Region 3-4A last time around. Their season ended with a first round playoff loss to Eastside by a score of 34-31.

The Stallions open their season this week.

The York Cougars were 2-2 in the region, and look to be improved this time around. The Catawba Ridge Copperheads have their first senior class and are working to improve on last year’s 1-3 region mark. The Lancaster Bruins did not win in four region matches last year, but early results indicate a much improved team.

Catawba Ridge has done well in the early going. The Copperheads opened the season by winning both contests in a tri-match. They followed that this past weekend by winning four of five matches in the Metrolina Duals, where they were the runners-up.

York has two wins and a loss in their first three outings of the year. Lancaster has participated in a pair of quad matches and swept both to stand at 6-0 on the young season..

Last year region finishes: 1. Indian Land 4-0, 2. South Pointe 3-1, 3. York 2-2, 4. Catawba Ridge 1-3, 5. Lancaster 0-4.

Region 4-3A: Chester hopes to make splash again

In 3A, the Chester Cyclones are hoping to repeat as Region 4-3A champions and make a strong showing in the postseason.

The Cyclones went through the region last year without a loss. That put them in the playoffs, where they dropped a 43-31 decision to a traditionally strong West Oak team.

Chester head coach Dennis Jensen has quite a few seniors returning this time around. Those guys include Jordan Bowser and Rathael Pendergrass — both of whom made the state tournament last year. Chester’s Octaveon Minter finished fourth in the state tournament last year as a senior and is now a standout football player at South Carolina State.

He is hoping that those players coupled with some promising underclassmen will give the Cyclones another solid team.

“We should have very good leadership this year,” said Jensen. “Those seniors have been in the program, and they know what we want and what we expect.”

The region is a mix of veteran teams as well as teams on the rise.

“This region is top heavy with us and Mid-Carolina,” added Jensen. “The other three teams are all just about even, and I look for all of those three to be improved.”

The Cyclones will be playing more matches than last year, and Jensen likes the return to some normalcy.

“We are participating in more tournaments than last year, and we have more tri-matches scheduled,” he said. “That gives us more opportunities to develop all of the players, but especially the young ones.”

The Cyclones opened the current season with a pair of sold wins in a tri-match.

Last year region finishes: 1. Chester 4-0, 2. Mid-Carolina 3-1, 3. Lower Richland 2-2, 4. Fairfield Central 1-3, 5. Keenan 0-4.

This story was originally published December 8, 2021 at 5:00 AM.