Find out who made The Herald’s 2022 All-Area first and second wrestling teams
For a second straight year, the Clover High School wrestling program did something it never had done before.
Last season, the Blue Eagles won their first region championship since the program was established in 2003. And in the 2021-22 season, they repeated as region champs and pushed the needle further — going on its deepest playoff run ever.
“We’ve been making history for the past two years,” Clover wrestler Yannis Charles told The Herald after its playoff win over Northwestern this season, which sent the team to its first Upper State championship match. “And it’s just absolutely amazing.”
This history is a huge reason why The Herald’s sports department has named Clover head coach Mike Fitzgerald its 2022 All-Area Wrestling Coach of the Year.
Fitzgerald has resided over the program since it started 19 seasons ago and has reaped what it has sown. He insists that the program is not his — “This is Clover’s program,” he told The Herald on multiple occasions this year — but there’s no doubt that what he’s built is inextricably linked to the coach he is.
Another person who will be remembered for what he did this season? Consider The Herald’s 2022 All-Area Wrestler of the Year: Isaac McLellan.
The senior from Northwestern who wrestled in the 220 weight class earned a state championship for a second-consecutive year. On the way to that honor, the curly-haired star went 20-1 on the year — earning All-Region and North/South All-Star honors — and was also named as a finalist for South Carolina Wrestler of the Year. He’ll play football at Western Carolina in the fall.
Others had years to remember besides Fitzgerald and McLellan. See The Herald’s full All-Area team selections below.
THE HERALD’S ALL-AREA WRESTLING TEAMS
Coach of the Year: Michael Fitzgerald, Clover
Wrestler of the Year: Isaac McLellan, Northwestern
FIRST TEAM
(106) Eduardo De Paz, Chester. The Cyclone became the first freshman in school history to win an Upper State title this year. He ended the season 30-10 overall with a second-place finish at the 3A state championships.
(113) Aiden Eubanks, Fort Mill. The Yellow Jacket sophomore went 28-4 on the year — undefeated in Region 3-5A — and finished second in the Upper State championships and third at the individual state tournament.
(120) Corey Dye, Northwestern. The sophomore Trojan finished the year as a Region 4-5A champion, an Upper State runner-up and a fourth-place finisher at the 5A state championships in February.
(126) Drew Enders, Indian Land. The senior Warrior finished his last wrestling season with a second-place finish at the S.C. state championships.
(132) Carson Enix, Clover. The Blue Eagle senior qualified for the 5A state championships.
(138) Max Yegge, Indian Land. The senior finished second in the 4A individual state championships.
(145) Dylan Layton, Indian Land. The senior earned his third-straight state championship (one in 3A, two in 4A).
(152) Caden Brandenburg, Nation Ford. Brandenburg finished with a 37-11 record and was the 5A Upper State tournament champion. He also finished fourth in the state tournament.
(160) Shaihem Willard, Chester. Willard finished with a 45-3 record on the year and earned a second-place finish in the 3A state tournament.
(170) Dawson Cashier, Rock Hill. Cashier finished as a state runner-up. The senior finished the year 37-7 overall.
(182) DC Carter, Chester. The senior Cyclone qualified for the state tournament.
(195) Noah Lee, Northwestern. The senior finished 36-9 overall — adding a Region 4-5A championship, an Upper State championship and a fourth-place finish at the state championships this year. He also was a North/South All-Star selection.
(220) Isaac McLellan, Northwestern; David Floyd, Indian Land. It’s no secret that the 220-pound division was stacked in York and Lancaster counties this year. Joining McLellan as an All-Area first-team selection is David Floyd of Indian Land — who earned the 4A state championship.
(285) Waverly Brooks, Rock Hill. The senior finished the year 33-9 and with a state runner-up finish.
SECOND TEAM
(106) Chris Propst, York. The Cougar notched a fourth-place finished at states and was also the Region 3-4A champion.
(113) CJ Wentz, Northwestern. The Trojan sophomore finished 24-10 on the year and was the Region 4-5A champion.
(120) Jaden Charles, Clover. The sophomore qualified for the 5A state tournament.
(126) Trent Bowser, Chester. The senior Cyclone finished his career with 111 career wins and notched a fourth-place finish at the 3A state tournament.
(132) Malachi Brown, Rock Hill. The senior Bearcat finished the season 32-17 and qualified for the 5A state tournament.
(138) Drue Shipman, Chester; Noah Kitchton, Fort Mill. Shipman finished third at the 3A state tournament this year (with 99 career wins), and Kitchton finished fourth in the 5A state tournament.
(145) Yannis Charles, Clover. The junior finished as a second-place finisher at states and was an undeniable leader for the Blue Eagles in 2021-22.
(152) Anthony Wherry, York. The sophomore qualified for the 4A state tournament.
(160) Spencer Cox, South Pointe. The Stallion senior finished fourth in the 4A state tournament.
(170) Rathael Pendergrass, Chester; Andre Johnson, York. Pendergrass (46-7) finished as the 3A state runner-up, and Andre Johnson of York finished third at the 4A state championships.
(182) Kaevon Gardner, Clover. The senior was a Region 3-5A champion.
(195) Henry Debbout, Fort Mill. The senior qualified for the 5A state tournament.
(220) Clayton Rygol, Nation Ford. The All-Region 4-5A junior finished 24-13 overall and finished fourth at the 5A state championships.
(285) Joseph Hall, York. The senior qualified for the 4A state tournament.
The Herald is releasing its other winter sports All-Area teams later this week. The girls basketball All-Area teams will be published online Wednesday morning, and the boys basketball All-Area teams will run online Thursday.
Sam Copeland and Jay Edwards contributed reporting.
This story was originally published March 29, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
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