The Fort Dorchester Wrestling team claimed a 47-25 victory Jan. 23 to eliminate Ashley Ridge from contention for the Region 8-AAAAA championship.
“We shuffled some guys around and some guys stepped up big for the team tonight so this was a good team win with everyone doing their part,” Fort Dorchester coach Andrew Young said. “I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
The win sets up a one-on-one showdown for the region crown between the Patriots and the Green Wave. Summerville hosts Fort Dorchester at 7 p.m. Jan. 29 and since both teams are 3-0 against region foes the winner claims the region championship and top playoff seeding that accompanies it.
The Patriots have only lost four matches all season while defeating some solid teams. Their losses came to Summerville, South Pointe, Rock Hill and River Bluff, all teams ranked among the Top 12 for their classification. The loss to the Green Wave came early in the season during the Cane Bay Duals championship match.
“We’ve had more than a month for us to get better and for them to get better,” Young said. “This is what we train for, to wrestle the best. Summerville is wrestling very well so we want to see where we match up. We don’t ever shy away from good competition because that is what we want.”
The Green Wave has only lost two matches all season while winning 27. Summerville’s losses came to Lexington and York, who are both ranked among the Top 10 for their classification.
“We are putting in the work in the practice room because this match with Fort is big,” Summerville coach Darryl Tucker said. “It’s important to be ready for this next stretch we have ahead of us.”
The Patriots had to wrestle without two of their key grapplers against the Swamp Foxes as Orin Mallard (160-pound weight class) and Elijah Whiteside (170) were injured. That didn’t stop them from winning nine of 14 weight classes, including six by pin.
Matteo Vargo (126), Tharin Morris (132), Chandler Amaker (145), Hunter Ellis (170), Dylan Bancroft (195) and Maxwell Garrido (220) all pinned their Ashley Ridge opponent. Jason Rodriguez (120) claimed a 9-7 decision and Donny Greer (182) claimed a 6-1 decision. Rayshawn Springs (138) won by technical fall.
Ashley Ridge earned bonus points in four weight classes. Heavyweight Kamryn Petrick and Joseph Marsar (113) pinned their Fort Dorchester opponent.
Weston Eadie (152) earned an 11-2 major decision and Ben Singletary (106) won by forfeit. Swamp Fox grappler Jackson Diamond (160) earned a 6-5 decision.
