When you’re the top-ranked team in the state and everything seems to be going your way, sometimes complacency can be your toughest opponent.
That’s something Patriots wrestling coach B.D. LaPrad is keeping in mind this season as he tries to lead Fort Dorchester to its second South Carolina duals championship. His team breezed through the first two rounds of the playoffs, earning a 63-9 win over Irmo Monday and a 75-0 win over Carolina Forest Wednesday.
After Wednesday’s match, Fort heavyweight Michael Sellers, who won by forfeit, said he knows his coach will insist the team put the match behind them the next day.
“After a big win like this, we know the next practice is going to be tough,” Sellers said. “Coach is going to make sure we are in the weight room and make us run; he’s going to push us. We can count on that any time we blow a team out.”
The Patriots won all 14 weight divisions, taking five by pin fall and three by technical fall. All but one of the pin falls came in the first period. On Feb. 8, the Fort travels to take on Lexington, a 46-18 winner over Stratford.
In other wrestling action, Summerville advanced to the third round with a 46-16 win over Sumter. The Green Wave travels to Goose Creek Feb. 8 to take on the Gators, who downed Dutch Fork 31-24. Ashley Ridge earned a bye for the opening round of the AA playoffs, so the Swamp Foxes host a second-round match Feb. 6.

FORT DORCHESTER 75, CAROLINA FOREST 0

103—Tristan Romero (FD) wbf. 112—Brent Barfield (FD) d. Eric Connell 5-3. 119—Marquis Robinson (FD) tech. fall. Tyrell Brown 125—Nick Maniche (FD) p. Elber Martin. 130—Sonny Bugarin p. Johann Forest. 135—Daquan Wilson (FD) wbf. 140—Ashley Braecklein (FD) tech. fall Kurt Mapula. 145—Mike Young (FD) p. Rob Spallone. 152—Seiji Borja (FD) tech. fall Bret Lynch. 160—Alex Bugarin (FD) p. Mike Coles. 171—Schuster (FD) wbf. 189—Keyshon Flores (FD) p. Zack Smith. 215—Geno Porter (FD) d. Daquan Livingston 9-3. HWT—Mike Sellers (FD) wbf. Records: FD 15-2.

Contact Roger Lee @ 873-9424 ext. 213 or rlee@journalscene.com.