South Carolina Wrestling News
SC Wrestling News 2022-2023
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Congratulations to Zao Estrada (Hilton Head H.S.) the National Champion at 112 lbs. at the 2023 USA Wrestling National Recruiting Showcase!---------------------------------------------------
Congratulations to Patrick Brophy (The Citadel, Chapin H.S.) representing the Charleston Regional Training Center, reaching the final 12 at 92kg at the U20 US Open Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas!---------------------------------------------------
Congratulations to David Hunsberger (Lander University, Byrnes H.S.) being named NCAA D2 Men's Rookie of the YearMANHEIM, Pa.- Shawn Streck of Central Oklahoma is the 2023 NCAA Division II Men's Wrestler of the Year and David Hunsberger of Lander is the 2023 NCAA Division II Rookie of the Year, announced Friday by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) after a vote of the Division II Coaches.
Streck, the 2023 National Champion at 285 pounds at the 2023 NCAA Division II National Championships, completed a 26-0 unblemished season. The redshirt junior helped Central Oklahoma to the 2023 NCAA Division II team national title, and was also the Super Region 4 champion and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Wrestler of the Year this season.
"Shawn has an amazing work eithic and is an outstanding leader," Central Oklahoma Head Coach Todd Steidley said. "He always leads by example and we are fortunate to have him represent the University of Central Oklahoma."
Streck was voted the Division II Men's Wrestler of the Year from the following list of Super Regional finalists:
Super Region 1: Eric Bartos, Mercyhurst
Super Region 2: Logan Hall, Lander
Super Region 3: Zackary Donathan, Tiffin
Super Region 4: Shawn Streck, Central Oklahoma
Super Region 5: Nick Novak, Nebraska-Kearney
Super Region 6: Josiah Rider, Adams State
Hunsberger, a true-freshman for National Runners-Up Lander, finished fourth at the NCAA Division II National Championships at 165 pounds. The Bearcat closed out his 2023 season with an overall record of 29-5, and was also a Super Region 2 Champion and the Southern Athletic/Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year.
"We are extremely proud of David, for him to step in as a true freshman and do what he did is phenomenal," Lander Head Coach RC LaHaye said. "We are equally excited about his future as a Bearcat and to see what he can do in the next few years."
The six Super Regional finalists for Rookie of the Year were:
Super Region 1: Jake Neffenegger, Mercyhurst
Super Region 2: David Hunsberger, Lander
Super Region 3: Nate Barrett, Ashland
Super Region 4: John Gholson, William Jewell
Super Region 5: Shane Corrigan, UW-Parkside
Super Region 6: Keegan Gehlhausen, Chadron State
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Congratulations to Lander University on their National Runner-up finish at NCAA D2 Nationals!Lander wrestling finishes in second place at the NCAA National Wrestling Championships
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA – The No. 2 Lander wrestling team finished as the National Runners-Up at the 2023 NCAA Div. II National Wrestling Championships.
In just its fourth season as a program, the Bearcats finished with 78 points while Central Oklahoma took first place with 121 points. St. Cloud State finished third with 64.5 points.
Lander saw six wrestlers place in the top eight, with four finishing in the top five of their respective weight class.
James Joplin - 125 lbs. (4th, All-American)
Elijah Lusk - 133 lbs. (8th, All-American)
Zeth Brower - 141 lbs. (5th, All-American)
Jack Tangen - 149 lbs.
Gage Bernall - 157 lbs.
David Hunsberger - 165 lbs. (4th, All-American) (wrestled at Byrnes)
Logan Hall - 184 lbs. (2nd, All-American)
Anthony Yacovetti - 197 lbs.
Juan Edmond-Holmes - 285 lbs. (6th, All-American)
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Congratulations to South Carolina's Brieana Delgado (Hillcrest) on this National award and recognition!The NWCA Names Central Methodist's Delgado NAIA Women's National Coach of the Year
Jamestown, ND - On Thursday at the site of the Inaugural NAIA Women's National Championships, the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) announced the winner of the NAIA Women's Coach of the Year award, as voted on by their peers. This award recognizes the exceptional effort made by coaches throughout the season in developing and enhancing their program on campus and in the community. Defense Soap, the official hygiene partner of the NWCA, presented the award.
Guy Sako, the Founder and CEO of Defense Soap, expressed his pride in partnering with the NWCA to promote the use of their hygiene products and educational resources that help keep wrestlers on the mat.
Brieana Delgado, the head coach at Central Methodist, has been named the NAIA Women's National Coach of the Year for 2023. Delgado is in her fourth season and has led the program since launching in 2019. This season her team was ranked 7th in the final NAIA Coaches Poll and ended with a 11-3 dual record. Recently, the squad took 3rd place at the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championships where they qualified 10 wrestlers to compete in the upcoming national tournament.
Mike Moyer, the NWCA Executive Director, said, "This is such an incredible weekend with the Inaugural NAIA Women's Championship and I'm very excited to help recognize Coach Brieana Delgado as the winner of this year's NAIA Women's National Coach of the Year. Brieana in her short time has done it all at Central Methodist and has built one of the top programs in the country. Good luck to all of the participants at weekend's championships."
2023 NAIA WOMEN'S COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD FINALISTS
Mid-South Conference | Ashley Flavin, Life University
Sooner Athletic Conference | Jose Lazo, Texas Wesleyan University
Heart of America Athletic Conference | Brieana Delgado, Central Methodist University
Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference | Dalton Weidl, Ottawa University
Cascade Collegiate Conference | Gabrielle Wayhrich, Southern Oregon University
ABOUT THE NWCA
The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a non-profit organization for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with a primary emphasis on developing coaches who work in academic environments. The three core competencies of the NWCA are: Coaching Development, Student-Athlete Welfare, and the Promotion of Wrestling.
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Congratulations to Lander University's Coach RC LaHaye on this NCAA D2 award finalist recognition!The NWCA Names Parkside’s Becker NCAA Division II Men’s National Coach of the Year
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – On the eve of the 2023 NCAA Division II National Championships, the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) honored the six finalists for NCAA Division II Men’s Coach of the Year and announced the winner as voted on by the coaches of NCAA Division II. This award is presented to the coach that has demonstrated outstanding effort throughout the season in developing and elevating their program on campus and in the community. Defense Soap, the official Hygiene partner of the NWCA, is the presenting sponsor of the award.
Founder and CEO of Defense Soap, Guy Sako, expressed his pride in partnering with the NWCA to continue their mission of keeping wrestlers on the mat with their hygiene products and educational resources.
This year’s NCAA Division II Men’s National Coach of the Year is Nick Becker of Wisconsin-Parkside. Becker is in his second year as head coach of the Rangers, and has led his alma mater to its program-first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) title this season, behind an 11-0 dual record that included a victory over St. Cloud State that handed the perennial powerhouse Huskies their first home loss since 2010 and first NSIC loss since 2011. Becker and his Rangers have five National Qualifiers, with all five seeded in the top 6.
“It is a great honor to name Nick Becker as our 2023 Defense Soap NCAA Division II Men’s National Coach of the Year,” Jackie Paquette, NWCA Deputy Director said. “Coach Becker and his program have had a terrific season and it has been great to watch him grow into his role as head coach for UW-Parkside. Congratulations to Nick and his staff on a great regular season.”
2023 NCAA DII MEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD FINALISTS
Super Region 1: Pat Pecora, University of Pitt.-Johnstown
Super Region 2: RC LaHaye, Lander University
Super Region 3: Shawn Nelson, University of Findlay
Super Region 4: Todd Steidley, University of Central Oklahoma
Super Region 5: Nick Becker, University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Super Region 6: Mike Mendoza, Colorado Mesa University
ABOUT THE NWCA
The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a non-profit organization for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with a primary emphasis on developing coaches who work in academic environments. The three core competencies of the NWCA are: Coaching Development, Student-Athlete Welfare, and the Promotion of Wrestling.
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Congratulations to Limestone University's Coach Brandy Green on this NCWWC award finalist recognition!NCAA Women's Wrestling Teams Reach Critical Milestone
Cedar Rapids, IA – The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) announced the winner of the National Coach of the Year for the NCWWC at the Alliant Energy Powerhouse Arena. The award was presented by Defense Soap, a company that provides hygiene products and educational resources for wrestlers.
Guy Sako, Founder and CEO of Defense Soap, expressed his pride in partnering with the NWCA to support their mission of keeping wrestlers on the mat through good hygiene practices and education.
Paulina Biega from Sacred Heart University was awarded the Defense Soap NCWWC’s National Coach of the Year for 2023. Biega has been leading the Sacred Heart Women’s program for two seasons and has achieved remarkable success this year, including a 7th place finish at the NWCA National Dual Championships and an NCWWC Region I Championship, with ten athletes qualifying for the NCWWC Tournament.
Mike Moyer, NWCA Executive Director, praised Biega’s achievements, saying “Recognizing Coach Biega as our 2023 Defense Soap NCAA Women’s National Coach of the Year is an absolute honor. Paulina has done a fantastic job since day one of recruiting athletes and building her program into a national contender.”
The NWCA also announced the winners of the NCWWC Regional Coach of the Year award, with the following recipients:
Region I – Paulina Biega, Sacred Heart University
Region II – Brandy Green, Limestone University
Region III – Tony DeAnda, Northern Michigan University
Region IV – Joe Norton, North Central College
Region V – Travis Mercado, Colorado Mesa University
Established in 1928, the NWCA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of all levels of wrestling, with a particular focus on coaching development, student-athlete welfare, and promoting the sport of wrestling.
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The South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association (SCWCA) would like to congratulate the following wrestlers for being nominated for the SC Wrestler of the year. This award goes to a senior wrestler that is excellent on the mat as well as in the classroom and in the community. The SCWCA is proud to announce the following Nominees:Addison Nickles - Abbeville
Asher Fink - Byrnes
Ben Gulliam - Summerville
Blake Chandler - Liberty
Braedon Bailey - Carolina Forest
Colt Schrader - Eastside
Colton Phares - Beaufort
Damein Thaxton - West-Oak
Eli Strickland - Belton-Honea Path
Ethan Dawson - Timberland
Gabe Juarez - May River
Garrett Williams - Chesnee
Genero De La Garza - Woodruff
Grayson Gollie - St. James
Justin Pardue - Buford
Lukas Crosby - High Point Academy
Martavis Mason - Ninety Six
Matthew Gummere - Chapin
Noah Simpson - Byrnes
Peyton Fisher - Mauldin
Ryan Gallagher - Waccamaw
Santiago Rueda - May River
Ty Tice - Eastside
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2023 South Carolina State Wrestling Individual ChampionshipsFebruary 24-25
Friday’s Schedule:
Weigh in:
8:00 AM Girls
10:00 AM Class 4A
11:30 AM Class 3A
1:00 PM Class 1A/2A
2:30 PM Class 5A
Session 1- Quarterfinals
9:00 AM Girls through quarterfinals
11:00 AM Class 4A
12:30 PM Class 3A
2:00 PM Class 1A/2A
3:30 PM Class 5A
Session 2: Semi-finals
5:30 PM Girls LIGHT weights, 1A/2A, and 5A on mats 1, 3, & 5
5:30 PM Girls HEAVY weights, 3A, and 4A on mats 2, 4, & 6
Saturday’s Schedule:
Weigh-in: 8:00 AM for ALL classes
Session 3- Consolation Rounds
9:00 AM Girls LIGHT weights, 1A/2A, and 5A on mats 1, 3, & 5 and Girls HEAVY weights, 3A, and 4A on mats 2, 4, & 6
12:00 PM Same for Consolation Semi-Finals
2:00 PM Same for Consolation Finals
Session 4: Championship Finals
3:30 PM Parade of Champions
Girls finals on all 4 mats (106 on 1, 113 on 2, 120 on 3, etc)
Awards every 2 like Open
1A/2A on mat 1
4A on mat 2
5A on mat 3
3A on mat 4
Awards will be presented after 113 lb is completed
Cost: $6.00 Friday and $8.00 Saturday ****Coaches- please tell parents it is CASH ONLY!
If you looking down from the head table, mats on the left side of the arena are for semifinals and consolation rounds 5A and 1A/2A. The mats on the right side of the area are for 4A and 3A.
Finals will be: 1A/2A top left, 3A top right, 4A bottom left, 5A bottom right.
A list of hotels in the Anderson, SC area providing rates for the State Tournament held February 24-25, 2023.
Hotels 2023
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Lander wrestling ranked No. 2 in the country in latest NWCA rankingsMANHEIM, PA – The Lander wrestling team continues to move up through the ranks as the Bearcats were ranked the No. 2 team in the Div. II NWCA rankings on Friday, January 20.
Only Central Oklahoma is ranked ahead of Lander, with the Bronchos receiving 77 points and had 10 wrestlers ranked. Lander received 66 points in the latest rankings and had six wrestlers ranked while Nebraska-Kearney rounded out the top three with 63 points and four wrestlers ranked.
Lander was ranked No. 2 in the latest rankings from The Open Mat this past Wednesday.
""We are very proud of the work these guys have put in to this point , and this recognition reflects that." said head coach R.C. LaHaye. "However, at the end of the day this is just a number on a piece of paper, we've still got a lot of wrestling to do."
Individually, Lander is represented by James Joplin (#4-125), Elijah Lusk (#6-133), Zeth Brower (#1-141) Logan Hall (#4-184), Anthony Yacovetti (#7-197) and Juan Edmond-Holmes (#8-285).
Joplin, Lusk, Brower, Hall, Yacovetti and Edmond-Holmes are currently combined for a 103-16 overall record and a 61-8 record in duals this season.
The Bearcats recently defeated the No. 2 team in the NAIA, Life University, 19-14 on Thursday and will travel to Mount Olive, N.C., to face the University of Mount Olive and Belmont Abbey on Saturday, January 21.
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No. 5 wrestling returns home to defeat No. 2 NAIA Life UniversityGREENWOOD – The No. 5 Lander wrestling team returned to Horne Arena for the first time since December 3 and took down the No. 2 team in the NAIA, Life University, 19-14 Thursday evening.
Lander moves to 14-2 overall while Life drops to 5-2 overall.
The Bearcats started with three straight wins to begin the match. James Joplin began with a 3-1 decision to put Lander up 3-0. Elijah Lusk then turned in a 7-3 performance to push the lead to 6-0 before Zeth Brower picked up his sixth major decision and 22nd win of the season to give the Blue and Gold a 10-0 lead.
Life would take wins at 149 and 157 to cut into Lander's lead to 10-6.
David Hunsberger would respond with his 21st win of the season with a 6-4 win at 165 to put Lander up 13-6 after getting a pair of takedowns in the third period.
Life would get points back at 174 before Logan Hall notched a win at 184 with a 6-4 sudden victory.
Lander would lock the match up with a 7-3 victory by Anthony Yacovetti that saw an escape and takedown in the third period at 197.
Life would earn a tech fall at 285 to conclude the match with the Bearcats winning 19-14.
The Bearcats hit the road for a tri-meet at The University of Mount Olive as Lander takes on Mount Olive and Belmont Abbey on January 21.
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Coaches,See the application link below for the Coach Nathan Day Memorial Scholarship. This $2200 scholarship is given by the Nate Day family, through the SCWCA, each year in honor of the beloved Coach Day, who passed away in the fall of 2021. Last season the award was presented to Greenville High graduate John Lyda, a young man who lost the first 40 matches of his career as a high school wrestler, but continued on eventually finishing his senior year with a record a 15-15 and enrolling at the culinary institute of America in New York in the fall of 2022.
The Coach Nathan Day Memorial Scholarship Application
Please give this to your senior athletes who you feel meet the criteria of the award and submit to me by February 3rd, 2023. Late submissions will not be considered. The scholarship will be presented at the State Championships on Friday, February 24th by the Day family.
Thomas M. Bell, CMAA
Certified Master Athletic Administrator
TL Hanna High School
864-260-5110 Ext. 85152
thomasbell@anderson5.net
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Congratulations to Coach Don Williams at Waccamaw, winning his 600th Career Dual match last week. Coach Williams coached in Georgia for many years, prior to moving to South Carolina to continue his coaching career at Waccamaw.Photo of Coach Don Williams with his team after his 600th Career Dual win
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Congratulations to Coach Derek Strobel at West-Oak, winning his 500th Career Dual match last week.Photo of Coach Don Strobel with his team after his 500th Career Dual win
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Congratulations to Coach Brieana Delgado (from Hillcrest H.S.) and her Central Methodist (Mo.) Women's Wrestling team reaching #8 in the latest National NAIA Team Rankings. Also, congratulations to Caitlyn Davis (from Hilton Head H.S.) being the #1 Ranked wrestler at 155 lbs. Caitlyn wrestles for Central Methodist (Mo.)2022-23 NAIA Women's Wrestling Coaches' Top 20 Poll – No. 2 - Dec 08, 2022
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Great recognition for former Byrnes standout David Hunsberger ... Congratultions!12/6/2022
David Hunsberger named SACC Wrestler of The Week
GREENVILLE, S.C. – For the second time this season, the No. 4 Lander wrestling team has been awarded a conference weekly award.
David Hunsberger was announced as the South Atlantic Conference Carolinas Wrestler of The Week by the conference office on Tuesday.
Hunsberger went 4-0 at the Carolina Clash this past Saturday. He finished with a tech fall, a pin and two wins by decision.
He started the day off strong as he recorded a 16-0 tech fall against Kentucky Wesleyan before recording a pin against Simon Fraser in the first period in his second match. Hunsberger then recorded a solid 10-5 win by decision that saw takedowns in all three periods along with a pair of escapes in the third period against No. 12 Glenville State.
In a back-and-forth contest against No. 7 West Liberty, Hunsberger fought his way to a 7-6 victory after coming back in the third period with an escape to get within one and then taking the lead with a late takedown for his fourth win of the day.
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December 2, 2022Lander wrestling ranked No. 4 in the nation
MANHEIM, PA. – The National Wrestling Coaches Association released its first regular season poll on Friday as the Lander Bearcats cracked the top five for the first time in program history.
Lander was ranked tied for fourth with Indianapolis with both schools receiving 54 points. St. Cloud State was the No. 1 team in Div. II with 82 points while Nebraska-Kearney was second with 72 points and Central Oklahoma was third with 60 points.
The Bearcats were previously ranked No. 7 in the preseason poll.
Lander also saw five individual wrestlers ranked in the top 12 for their respective weight class.
Elijah Lusk was ranked No. 6 at 133. Lusk is 8-1 on the season with five tech falls.
Zeth Brower maintained his No. 1 ranking at 141. Brower is currently 9-0 overall this season and has a 5-0 record in duals.
Jack Bond was ranked No. 8 at 174 with a 2-1 record in duals this season.
Logan Hall was ranked No. 6 at 184. Hall is 9-0 on the season overall and 5-0 in duals.
Juan Edmond-Holmes rounded out the nationally ranked Bearcats with a No. 5 ranking at 285. Edmond-Holmes has gone 7-1 overall this season and has recorded a win by pin in five matches this season.
Lander hosts the Carolina Clash this Saturday. The Bearcats will welcome No. 7 West Liberty, No. 12 Glenville State, Belmont Abbey, Mount Olive and Simon Fraser.
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The South Carolina Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2023 has been selected and approved for induction by the National Board. They are inducted for Lifetime Achievement to Wrestling:Bill Damude
Mike Frye
BD LaPrad
Tim Wash
Deno White
Congratulations to all these gentlemen on their selection into the 2023 Class of the South Carolina Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame!!
Information regarding the April 2nd, 2023 induction ceremony and how to purchase tickets will be available soon.
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Yannis Charles of Clover H.S. was crowned as a Preseason National Champion at 145 lbs., of the high school division (11th & 12th), at the Brian Keck Memorial Preseason Nationals, held late October in Iowa. The 145 lbs. bracket had 106 wrestlers! Champions represented 12 different states in the Grade 11-12 division: California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas. Congratulations Yannis!---------------------------------------------------
Lander University wrestling newsThe Lander wrestling team is wasting no time establishing regional superiority, as the Bearcats will begin the season as the No. 7 team in the nation.
After finishing 13th at the 2022 NCAA Div. II National Championships behind Zeth Brower'sNational Title at 141, the Bearcats will look to continue to climb the table.
The Bearcats were also named the No. 1 team in the Super Region II preseason poll. Lander and No. 22 Belmont Abbey are the only two teams from Super Region II to be ranked in the top 25.
The Bearcats will also begin the season with six nationally ranked wrestlers. James Joplin (12th –125), Elijah Lusk (8th – 133), Zeth Brower (1st – 141), Jack Bond (10th – 174), Logan Hall (7th – 184) and Juan Edmond-Holmes (5th – 285) are all nationally ranked to begin the season.
West Liberty, who Lander will battle in the Carolina Clash later in the season, is starting the season ranked No.6 in the nation.
The Bearcats begin the 2022-23 season with a South Atlantic Conference Carolinas battle at King University on Wednesday, November 9.
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Columbia's newest Wrestling Club - Innovation HT Wrestling ClubRegistration has started now at the following website
https://htwrestlingclub.wixsite.com/invt-wrestling-club
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2022 Defense Soap Super 32 Challenge - South Carolina placers8 and Under:
80 lbs. - Bycen Bolin- 6th place
11 and Under:
160 lbs. - Will Hair - 5th place
Middle School:
90 lbs. - Shamus Regan - 5th place
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The annual South Carolina Wrestling Officials Association pre season scrimmage will be held on November 19th at River Bluff High School. This year we want to add a 5th mat for female wrestlers only if we have enough interest. Cost would be $5 per wrestler made payable to river bluff. Please reach out to Scott Harmon at 803-331-3923 or coachsh@bellsouth.net if you are interested in bringing your female wrestlers to this event.---------------------------------------------------
SCHSL Realignment for 2022-2024