Top-seeded Fort Mill wrestlers face major test in Upper State finals
It’ll be a two-time defending champion facing a nine-time defending champion Wednesday night in the S.C. High School League’s Upper State dual meet wrestling finals.
Fort Mill is among three boys’ wrestling teams that won meets Monday night and advanced to Wednesday’s regional championships.
The Rock Hill girls’ team is wrestling Tuesday night in the Upper State finals against Blythewood.
Fort Mill will host Eastside at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Class 5A/Division 2 Upper State finals.
The Yellow Jackets have won the last two Class 5A state titles, while Eastside has won the last eight 4A championships and captured the 3A state title the year before its 4A streak began.
Eastside moved up to Class 5A this year.
Fort Mill advanced to the Upper State finals by holding off Indian Land 41-32 in a state quarterfinal match Monday.
The Yellow Jackets won eight of 14 matches, scoring pins at 113, 144, 165, 215 and 285 pounds. A key victory came when Braden Mitchespon won by pin at 165 pounds.
Indian Land’s Kayden Fogarty (150) and Samuil Sobko (157) also won by pins.
Fort Mill beat Indian Land 36-25 in a dual meet last month.
Here’s how other Rock Hill-area teams fared in Monday’s quarterfinals:
CLASS 5A / DIVISION 1
Blythewood 36, Clover 27: The fourth-seeded Blue Eagles gave top seed Blythewood a battle, but Blythewood clinched victory when 132-pounder Aiden Moon won by pin.
CLASS 4A
Fountain Inn 37, South Pointe 36: The top-seeded Stallions lost a heartbreaker to No. 4 Fountain Inn. South Pointe built a 20-9 lead after five matches, but Fountain Inn won three straight pins. The Stallions scored pins at 285 and 106 pounds for a 32-27 lead, but Fountain Inn took a 33-32 lead with a pin at 113.
South Pointe 120-pounder Alex Mestas won a major decision, giving the Stallions a 36-33 lead with one match remaining. But Fountain Inn’s Ryan Ferrell won a major decision at 126 pounds, giving his team four points and the victory.
CLASS 2A
Chester 39, Chesnee 37: Chester, the third seed in the Upper State, will travel to No. 1 seed Liberty in Wednesday’s regional championship.
Buford 42, Lake City 28: Coach Garrett Plyler’s team, the Lower State’s No. 1 seed, advanced to Wednesday’s regional finals. The Yellow Jackets will host Bridges Prep.
Dual meet results, schedule
CLASS 5A / DIVISION 1
Monday’s results
Upper State
Blythewood 36, Clover 27
Boiling Springs 48, Lexington 24
Lower State
James Island 50, Ashley Ridge 27
Carolina Forest 39, Stratford 23
Wednesday’s regional finals
Upper State
Boiling Springs at Blythewood
Lower State
Carolina Forest at James Island
CLASS 5A / DIVISION 2
Monday’s results
Upper State
Fort Mill 41, Indian Land 32
Eastside 49, Greenwood 22
Lower State
Lugoff-Elgin 42, Goose Creek 29
Chapin 37, St. James 36
Wednesday’s regional finals
Upper State
Eastside at Fort Mill
Lower State
Chapin at Lugoff-Elgin
CLASS 4A
Monday’s results
Upper State
Fountain Inn 37, South Pointe 36
Laurens 34, Travelers Rest 33
Lower State
May River 57, Gilbert 11
Aiken 45, Hartsville 34
Wednesday’s regional finals
Upper State
Fountain Inn at Laurens
Lower State
Aiken at May River
CLASS 3A
Monday’s results
Upper State
Belton-Honea Path 47, Union County 26
West-Oak 36, Palmetto 31
Lower State
Aynor 52, Battery Creek 23
Waccamaw 40, Hanahan 37
Wednesday’s regional finals
Upper State
Belton-Honea Path at West-Oak
Lower State
Waccamaw at Aynor
CLASS 1A-2A
Monday’s results
Upper State
Liberty 48, Ninety Six 20
Chester 39, Chesnee 37
Lower State
Buford 42, Lake City 28
Bridges Prep 42, Edisto 39
Wednesday’s regional finals
Upper State
Chester at Liberty
Lower State
Bridges Prep at Buford
GIRLS
Tuesday’s semifinals
Blythewood at Rock Hill
Greenwood at River Bluff
This story was originally published February 3, 2025 at 5:30 AM.