By Thomas Grant Jr.
Only one Lexington County school remained in the running for a state wrestling title.
Gilbert reached the Class 3A Lower State final Wednesday to face Dreher after defeating Darlington and Waccamaw at home Feb. 3 and Aynor 49-30 on the road Monday.
Ironically, Dreher is the site of the South Carolina High School League finals Saturday.
Aynor had posted a 56-22 second-round win over Brookland-Cayce, who opened the playoffs with a 42-39 win over Lakewood.
In Class 5A, both River Bluff and Chapin reached the third round of the Lower and Upper State playoffs, respectively. The second-ranked Gators won their first two rounds Saturday over Wando and Ashley Ridge 46-27.
On Monday, it was host to Goose Creek in the third round in The Swamp. The visiting Gators jumped out to a 18-0 lead before the home team Gators scored three straight pinfalls to tie the match.
Goose Creek won its next two matches before River Bluff got a pinfall win by Allen Quiaem at 113 points to get within 25-24. The visiting Gators won three straight matches, allowing them to forfeit the final match for the 40-30 victory.
Goose Creek will face Summerville at home in the Lower State final. The Green Wave opened the playoffs with a 61-12 win over Dutch Fork.
In the Upper State, Chapin defeated its first two opponents Gaffney 54-30 and Hillcrest 49-21 before losing to Fort Mill 35-31 on Monday.
Earlier in the first round, Lexington was eliminated by J.F. Byrnes 45-36.
In Class 4A, Irmo edged North Myrtle Beach 37-36. The Yellow Jackets were tied with the Chiefs at the end of regulation but won on a criteria.
Irmo was promptly eliminated in the second round by May River 78-3.
SCMAT.COM RANKINGS
(Class 5A)
1. Summerville, 2. River Bluff, 3. Fort Mill, 4. Chapin, 5. Hillcrest, 6. Boiling Springs, 7. Goose Creek, 8. Stratford, 9. T.L. Hanna, 10. Carolina Forest, 11. J.F. Byrnes, 12. Gaffney, 13. Dorman, 14. Rock Hill, 15. Clover, 16. Lexington, 17. White Knoll, 18. Blythewood, 19. Cane Bay, 20. Ashley Ridge
(Class 3A)
1. West Oak, 2. Chester, 3. Crescent, 4. Powdersville, 5. Travelers Rest, 6. Belton-Honea Path, 7. Palmetto, 8. Fountain Inn, 9. Clinton, 10. Woodruff, 11. Aynor, 12. Waccamaw, 13. Union County, 14. Phillip Simmons, 15. Battery Creek, 16. Daniel, 17. Dreher, 18. Gilbert, 19. Beaufort, 20. Loris
(Class 2A)
1.Chesnee, 2. Ninety-Six, 3. Liberty, 4. Dixie, 5. North Central, 6. Edisto, 7. Buford, 8. Timberland, 9. Mid-Carolina, 10. Academic Magnet, 11. Landrum, 12. High Point Academy, 13. Cheraw, 14. Bishop England, 15. Lewisville, 16. Pelion, 17. Abbeville, 18. Marion, 19. Bridges Prep, 20. Fairfield Central
