Summerville Journal Scene ®
An experienced group of Green Wave wrestlers has big aspirations this season.
“We’ve got a pretty senior-laden group this year so mat time shouldn’t be an issue,” Wave coach Daryl Tucker said. “We just need to get over that hump. Being Summerville, there are certain expectations for this team. Winning our region and a state championship are our goals, but we have Fort Dorchester right down the road that also has a very strong program. We’ll have to stay healthy and will need certain things to stay in place here and there, but I like the direction we are headed.”
After winning the state championship in 2008, Summerville lost to the Patriots in the Lowerstate title match in 2009. This year, the team has three captains who are all returning state qualifiers and want a shot at another team title.
Sophomore Jordan Wigger won an individual state championship last year in the 103-pound division. Junior Aaron Hanson won a championship at 119 last year and at 112 the year before. Senior Eli Ashby is a three-time qualifier who finished as the runner-up for the 130-pound division the last two years and third at 119 as a freshman.
“Those three will help us tremendously from a wrestling standpoint as well as from a leadership standpoint,” Tucker said. “Eli has wrestled quite a bit all around the country and the other two, as well as a lot of our other wrestlers, have seen a lot of matches with this varsity team.”
The team only lost two starters to graduation in the spring. Joseph Thomas, James Tomas, Dustin Core, Matt Pantone, Jaleel Brown, Steven Windam, Bobby Hunter and Will Cranford are among the others with considerable experience looking to be contributors this season. Some football players who were unable to join the team until last week are also expected to battle for starting spots.
Tucker is in his second season as the head coach for the Green Wave grapplers. He is hoping to carry on a strong winning tradition for the program that goes way back.
“Every day is a learning experience when you’re dealing with teenagers,” he said. “But I have a very senior coaching staff. Tim Marzuola, my head assistant, coached for 35 years and won 14 state championships in Texas so any time I have an issue or feel like I’m beating my head against a wall I can pick his brain and see if he’s been in that situation before.”
Getting to and past the Lowerstate meet will be no easy task. In addition to the Fort, Lexington, Dutch Fork and Stratford are all ranked among the Top 10 teams in the state for the 4-A division. Berkeley, Goose Creek and Wando fielded strong teams last season and are also expected to be competitive this season.
Contact Roger Lee @ 873-9424 ext. 213 or rlee@journalscene.com.
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