Congratulations to Xavier "X" Johnson (former Edisto H.S. wrestler) for winning the 2021 Pan-American Greco-Roman Championships as well as the 2021 U.S. Senior Nationals in Greco-Roman and being named MOW. Stories under the SCMAT News section.

Finals video for Xavier at U.S. Senior Nationals
Interview with Xavier "X" Johnson

Zao Estrada (Hilton Head) was a double winner at USA Wrestling Nationals last week, winning USA Wrestling Girls Folkstyle Nationals (16U 112 lbs) as well as USA Wrestling National Recruiting Showcase (112 lbs). These two National tournaments were held in Iowa from March 25-28.

Congratulations Zao, the Estrada family and Hilton Head wrestling!

South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association Annual Awards - presented at the SCWCA North-South All-Star Wrestling Classic

S.C. Senior Wrestler of the Year - Chris Compton - Byrnes (Coach Russ Howard)
5A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Kaleem Heard - Northwestern (Coach Leon Boulware)
4A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Eli Hall - Maye River (Coach Ashley Powell)
3A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Ryan Dobbs - West-Oak (Coach Greg Brewer)
2A-1A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Kalab Haven - North Central (Coach Jason Brazell)

Monday, March 8 is International Women's Day 2021 ... and SCMAT would like to celebrate the accomplishment of one of our state's best wrestlers:

March 8 - SCMAT Exclusive - Zao Estrada S.C. wrestling History

Concluding our series, entitled 10 wrestlers from South Carolina that inspired our state ... and influenced the SCMAT record book:

March 4 - SCMAT Exclusive - Day 10 - T.J. Dudley

Next in our series, entitled 10 wrestlers from South Carolina that inspired our state ... and influenced the SCMAT record book:

March 3 - SCMAT Exclusive - Day 9 - Clay Walker

Next in our series, entitled 10 wrestlers from South Carolina that inspired our state ... and influenced the SCMAT record book:

March 2 - SCMAT Exclusive - Day 8 - Ike Anderson

Congratulations State Duals Champions - Hillcrest (5A), Eastside (4A), Belton-Honea Path (3A), Crescent (2A-1A)

SC State Duals Finals are set:
State Finals (2/20) - Round 3 - Round 2 - Round 1

SCHSL will update these State Duals brackets:
5A State -- 4A State -- 3A State -- 2A-1A State

Next in our series, entitled 10 wrestlers from South Carolina that inspired our state ... and influenced the SCMAT record book:

February 25 - SCMAT Exclusive - Day 7 - Brittany Delgado and Brieana Delgado

Next in our series, entitled 10 wrestlers from South Carolina that inspired our state ... and influenced the SCMAT record book:

February 24 - SCMAT Exclusive - Day 6 - Tom Borrelli

Next in our series, entitled 10 wrestlers from South Carolina that inspired our state ... and influenced the SCMAT record book:

February 23 - SCMAT Exclusive - Day 5 - Sammie Henson

Next in our series, entitled 10 wrestlers from South Carolina that inspired our state ... and influenced the SCMAT record book:

February 21 - SCMAT Exclusive - Day 4 - Ben Connell

Next in our series, entitled 10 wrestlers from South Carolina that inspired our state ... and influenced the SCMAT record book:

February 17 - SCMAT Exclusive - Day 3 - Lamar Thompson

Next in our series, entitled 10 wrestlers from South Carolina that inspired our state ... and influenced the SCMAT record book:

February 9 - SCMAT Exclusive - Day 2 - Shelton Benjamin

SCMAT is starting a new Exclusive article (series) this week for fans to enjoy SC wrestling history over the month of February. About every three days we will add to our series, entitled 10 wrestlers from South Carolina that inspired our state ... and influenced the SCMAT record book.

February 4 - SCMAT Exclusive - Day 1 - Dan Wirnsberger

Super Bowl LV is later today (Sunday) and Tom Brady, quarterback of Tampa Bay, returns for his tenth Super Bowl. Let's reflect on how his Super Bowl fame began!

Would you believe that a former SC wrestler (and football player) from Lower Richland would catch Tom Brady's first Super Bowl touchdown pass on February 3, 2002?

SCMAT Exclusive - SC wrestlers that went on to the NFL

Jackson Stembridge of Bamberg-Ehrhardt (pictured) - returning Three-time State Champion.

Top wrestler lists have been updated below by Coaches (though more can be added)
Jan. 14 * 5A Sr * 4A Sr * 3A Sr * 2A-1A Sr * SCISA Sr *
Jan. 19 * 5A Jr * 4A Jr * 3A Jr * 2A-1A Jr * SCISA Jr *
Jan. 21 * 5A So * 4A So * 3A So * 2A-1A So * SCISA So *
Jan. 26 * 5A Fr * 4A Fr * 3A Fr * 2A-1A Fr * SCISA Fr *

Shelton Benjamin of Orangeburg-Wilkinson (pictured) - will be featured in one of SCMAT's Exclusive articles this month.

Following a standout high school and collegiate wrestling career, Shelton Benjamin broke into the professional wrestling ranks and will be featured in one of SCMAT's Exclusive series this month on "10 wrestlers from South Carolina that inspired our state and influenced the SCMAT record book".

Ben Connell of Lugoff-Elgin (pictured) - winning the 2000 NHSCA Senior Championship.

SCMAT is finalizing the third Exclusive article on the 1999 and 2000 seasons in 2A-1A, with the 2000 season being highlighted later this month. For SC 3A in 2000, the Beast of the Southeast became the Beast in the Nation as Ben Connell would win NHSCA Senior Nationals, be named National winner of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award and named a Wrestling USA Magazine Senior All American.

SCMAT has two Exclusive articles this week for fans to enjoy SC wrestling history over the holidays.

December 24 - SCMAT Exclusive - Part 1, 1999 2A-1A Wrestling State Tournament

December 25 - SCMAT Exclusive - Part 2, 1999 2A-1A Wrestling State Tournament

SCMAT's Guest Columnist M. Murray returns with a new article called 4 FOR 4 (thank you M. Murray!):

4 FOR 4

Jackson Stembridge 1A/2A Bamberg-Ehrhardt
Kalab Haven 1A/2A North Central
Kaleem Heard 4A York Comprehensive
Chris Compton 5A J.F. Byrnes

SCMAT has a Guest Columnist that has contributed articles to preview the season (thank you M. Murray!):

5A Preseason numbers
4A Preseason numbers
3A Preseason numbers
2A-1A Preseason numbers

The 2A-1A 1999 and 2000 State Tournaments would forever change the classification. Later in December, read the SCMAT Exclusive for the story from 20 years ago.

As 2020 continues on, SCMAT will be adding pages at the "SC State Champions" link below for every State Champion in the 52 years of SC high school wrestling:

SC State Champions

South Carolina Wrestling

April 10, 2020

SCMAT is still in progress expanding the website with content from the last 52 years.

Send any updates or feedback to scmat@hotmail.com