By Thomas Grant Jr.
The high school wrestling season comes to a close this weekend with the individual state championships at the Anderson Civic Center.
Among the finalists are the Class 5A Lower State girls’ wrestling champions from White Knoll. In the Lady Timberwolves’ first season, they finished first out of 51 schools represented in the South Carolina High School league girls Lower State last weekend at South Florence High School.
In the Traditional Format, the team earns points based on individual performance, and placements.
Leading the way was 172-pound champion Irie Edwards. Shayanna Shell finished in second and Chandler Branham and Naomi Priester both placed fourth. Along with victories by teammates Sophia Smoak, Rina Bouknight and Abby Phillips, White Knoll was able to outpoint the host school for the Lower State title.
Another individual qualifier was Aniya Ruiz of Swansea. She placed first at 237 pounds. Rory Travis of Gilbert also qualified at 157 pounds in finishing in third place.
Here’s the list of boys’ state qualifiers:
Class 2A
PELION – Landon Byrd (113 lbs. – 1st place), Hunter Rawl (157 lbs. – 4th place) and Colin Williams (165 lbs. – 3rd place)
Class 3A
SWANSEA – Mekhi Hampton (138 lbs. – 1st place) and Chase Alley (150 lbs. – 1st place), Kasiah Harkless-Adams (285 lbs. – 2nd place) and Patrick Larry (175 lbs. – 3rd place) and Landon Cunningham (132 lbs. – 4th place)
Class 4A
GILBERT – Jack Turner (113 lbs. – 1st place), Devin Lirgg (138 lbs. – 1st place), Shane Wise (157 lbs. – 2nd place), Inman Burkett (215 lbs. – 3rd place) and Comer Gilbert (106 lbs. – 4th place)
Class 5A
LEXINGTON – John Marcum (165 llbs. – 3rd place), Joshua Kubinak (150 lbs. – 3rd place) and Carlson Kilcrease (190 lbs. – 3rd place)
RIVER BLUFF – Will Edwards (126 lbs. – 3rd place), Peter Vaporis (120 lbs. – 4th place), Riley Brown (157 lbs. – 4th place) and Gavin Boozer (165 lbs. – 4th place)
(Photo by White Knoll Athletics)
