Bryant Blanton (Summerville/Newberry College) ------ JC Oddo (Eastside/The Citadel) ------- Brantley Hooks (Byrnes/Bucknell University)
The S.C. North/South All-Star Wrestling Classic is getting ready to hold our 26th year for the event from March 6-March 8 at North Myrtle Beach High School. Many wrestling greats have been through the grassroots of wrestling in South Carolina and have competed on the collegiate level. Bryant Blanton, JC Oddo and Brantley Hooks are highlighted above from their high school days. They were each honored with a "Wrestler of the Year" award at the North/South All-Star banquet. The S.C. All-Star match is rich in history and we are fortunate to have a Coaches Association that has made this event such a tremendous success. To take you back in time 26-something years ago ... before every current senior All-Star was born ... The first All-Star match was held in 1989 at Brookland Cayce High School. It was a one-day event held on Saturday. The event would run for three years as just an All-Star match before converting in 1992 to the team format with North versus South. Herald-Journal article from 1989 on the first All-Star match in S.C. The idea for the All-Star match came out the SC Wrestling Coaches Association with Coach Jim Barnes (Rock Hill) getting primary credit from his peers. The Coaches would often get together to talk about ways to improve wrestling in the State of S.C. and the idea for the All-Star match came out of one of those get togethers. As Coach John Checkovich recalled it was probably over a bucket of chicken in Columbia. Coach Checkovich, who started the wrestling team at Brookland Cayce in 1968-1969 when S.C. wrestling first began, would become the leader and organizer of our All-Star event for many years. All of the coaches were involved pulling meals together, donating T-shirts, giving money to the event ... what ever it took, they found a way to make it succeed! Coach Jim Barnes would later be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2007 Coach John Checkovich would later be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2008 When Coach Checkovich retired in 2000, the All-Star Classic remained at Brookland-Cayce for one year, through 2001. With the event being financially challenged every year, The SC Wrestling Coaches Association and Coach Ken Wilson moved the event to Spring Valley. Coach Wilson saw an opportunity to change the format and draw more interest from wrestling fans. Coach Ken Wilson and his Spring Valley assistants, Coach David Henderson and Coach Tom Smith, started expanding the pairings to create Featured matches. During the 2002 North-South All-Star Classic, Careef Robertson (171-4A-Dutch Fork) was matched up against Brent Poynter (160-3A-Eastside) in the middle of the match. This was the "State Champ vs. State Champ" premier format that everyone wanted to watch. Careef Robertson was 45-1 with his only loss coming in double OT to a Paulsboro, NJ wrestler while in Virginia for the Deep Creek Hornet Holiday Classic. Brent Poynter was 51-0 on the season. Both wrestlers were 2x state champions. Robertson gained a decision in the match and many fans still remember the excitement of these two being matched up. By the next year, the new format was born and the 2003 All-Star program promoted a new "State Champ vs. State Champ" addition to the event. Hence, the first Dream match came in 2003 and has been noted by many as one of the most exciting Feature matches to date. At Spring Valley that year, after 6 premier "State Champ vs. State Champ" matches were held on 2 mats, they closed down to one mat for the final bout. Fans and wrestlers all came down and surrounded the mat to watch a thrilling match between TJ Selke (Dutch Fork) and Alex Piper (Hilton Head). Alex Piper was 56-0 on the season and the 4A State Champ at 145 lbs. TJ Selke was 39-1 on the season, with his only loss coming in Virginia, and he had won a 4A state title at 140 lbs, his second title. Selke would win 3-2 and a photo of the match would end up on the cover of Wrestling USA Magazine.
The All-Star event has grown from a 1-day event on a shoe string budget to a 4-day event with Coaches
arriving on Wednesday, Wrestlers arriving on Thursday and the North-South All-Star matches occurring
on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. The coaches have done an amazing job with organizing hotel
accomodations, exceptional meals, warm-ups for the wrestlers, etc. Coach Charlie Clay of North Myrtle
Beach H.S. was the cornerstone for this event moving to NMB and gaining greater stature. He was largely
responsible for taking the event to the next level, gaining major sponsors like Best Western and Outback,
and making the expanded 4-day event a career highlight moment for 70-80 seniors and coaches every year.
Coach Clay announced his retirement from coaching wrestling at the end of the 2008 season and though he remains
involved in the North/South All-Star event, Coach Andrew Baeli at NMB continues the great tradition on The Strand.
Here is a history of the All-Star Classic:
1989, 1990, 1991 - top 4 seniors, all classes, known as the SCWCA All-Star Classic
1989
1989 South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic
1990
1990 South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic
1991
1991 South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic
1992
In 1992 the format changed to a team concept with North versus South
4A North 36, South 18
3A-2A-1A South 29, North 26
1992 South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic
1993
4A South 31, North 23
3A-2A-1A South 31, North 27
1993 South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic
1994
4A North 40, South 18
3A-2A-1A South 38, North 18
1994 South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic
1995
4A South 35, North 15 (validating if South had 32)
3A-2A-1A South 21, North 15
1995 South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic
1996
4A North 34, South 24 (validating if North had 31)
3A-2A-1A North 38, South 23
1996 South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic
1997
4A South 38, North 31 (validating if South had 39)
3A-2A-1A South 62, North 18 (validating if South had 65 and North had 15)
1997 South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic
1998
4A South 36, North 33
3A-2A-1A North 43, South 32
1998 South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic
1999
4A North 38, South 32
3A North 34, South 24
2A-1A North 32, South 24
1999 South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic
(Rulon Gardner speaks at the 1999 SC Wrestling All-Star Banquet one year before winning Olympic Gold)
2000
4A South 32, North 32 (South wins by criteria, most individual wins 9-8)
3A North 51, South 21
2A-1A South 30, North 21
2000 South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic
2001
4A South 49, North 12
3A South 55, North 10
2A-1A North 31, South 23
2001 South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic
2002
South 120, North 37
2002 South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic
2003
North 97, South 82
2003 South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic
2004
South 84, North 76
2004 South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic
2005
South 87, North 69
2005 South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic
2006
North 77, South 70
2006 South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic
2007
South 81, North 68
2007 South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic
2008
North 80, South 56
2008 South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic
2009
South 53, North 46
2009 South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic
2010
South 87, North 69
2010 South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic
2011
1st Place match 4A/1A North 46, 3A/2A North 30
3rd Place match 3A/2A South 36, 4A/1A South 27
Semi's match 4A/1A North 61, 3A/2A South 24
Semi's match 3A/2A North 36, 4A/1A South 33
2011 South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic
2012
1st Place match 3A/2A North 49, 4A/1A North 26
3rd Place match 4A/1A South 32, 3A/2A South 24
Semi's match 4A/1A North 43, 3A/2A South 42
Semi's match 3A/2A North 43, 4A/1A South 31
2012 South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic
2013
1st Place match 4A/1A South 46, 3A/2A South 41
3rd Place match 4A/1A North 49, 3A/2A North 22
Semi's match 4A/1A South 54, 3A/2A North 27
Semi's match 3A/2A South 47, 4A/1A North 36
2013 South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic
South (Lower State) leads the North (Upper State)
in the all time series 21-18
Locations for the All-Star event over the years:
Brookland Cayce - 1989-1993, 1995-2001
Lexington - 1994
Spring Valley - 2002, 2003
North Myrtle Beach - 2004 to present
One of the great traditions that came out of the North/South All-Star event was the
"Wrestler of the Year" awards given out by the SC Wrestling Coaches Association.
Here is a history of this annual award given out at the North/South All-Star banquet:
2012-2013
S.C. Senior Wrestler of the Year - Dennis Flores - Hanahan
4A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Will Thomas - Dorman
3A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Label Lewis - Hilton Head
2A-1A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Player Long - Bamberg-Ehrhardt
2011-2012
S.C. Senior Wrestler of the Year - Jordan Wigger - Summerville
4A Senior Wrestler of the Year - T.J. Dudley - Irmo
3A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Cortez Starkes - Greenville
2A-1A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Ethan Nobles - Aynor
2010-2011
S.C. Senior Wrestler of the Year - Aaron Hansen - Summerville
4A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Weston Beck - Rock Hill
3A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Stuart Hope - Chapin
2A-1A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Jamar Gore - Loris
2009-2010
S.C. Senior Wrestler of the Year - Ian Harper - Chesterfield
4A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Seiji Borja - Fort Dorchester
3A Senior Wrestler of the Year - John Hunnicutt - West-Oak
2A-1A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Akkerian Gilliam - Woodruff
2008-2009
S.C. Senior Wrestler of the Year - Eddie Coles - Eastside
4A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Brandon Feix - Fort Mill
3A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Eric Rholetter - West Oak
2A-1A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Zane Newton - Emerald
2007-2008
S.C. Senior Wrestler of the Year - T.T. Prayther - North Myrtle Beach
4A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Robert Quinn - Fort Dorchester
3A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Corbin Martin - Eastside
2A-1A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Dalton Harper - Chesterfield
2006-2007
S.C. Senior Wrestler of the Year - J.C. Oddo, Eastside
4A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Christain Johnson, Summerville
3A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Winfred McMoore, Berea
2A-1A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Pat Stanley, Bishop England
2005-2006
S.C. Senior Wrestler of the Year - Brantley Hooks, Byrnes
4A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Bryant Blanton, Summerville
3A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Matt Leach, Eastside
2A-1A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Derek Royster, Woodruff
2004-2005
S.C. Senior Wrestler of the Year - J.J. Davis, Byrnes
4A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Stryker Huffman, Fort Dorchester
3A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Ronnell Harper, Belton-Honea Path
2A-1A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Damien Pegues, Cheraw
2003-2004
S.C. Senior Wrestler of the Year - Gerald Turner, Summerville
4A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Andrew Young, Summerville
4A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Ian Barker, Summerville
4A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Kyle Kimrey, Dutch Fork
3A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Chris Humphries, Riverside
2A-1A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Donte Isaac, Cheraw
2002-2003
S.C. Senior Wrestler of the Year - T.J. Selke - Dutch Fork
4A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Nick Leone - Dutch Fork
4A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Alex Piper - Hilton Head
3A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Theo Meryanos - Carolina Forest
3A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Brian McFadden - Lake City
2A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Darius Caldwell - Swansea
1A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Harley Lail - Indian Land
2001-2002
S.C. Senior Wrestler of the Year - Careef Robertson - Dutch Fork
4A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Andy King - Fort Mill
3A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Watch Brockington - Lake City
2A-1A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Matt Brigman - Swansea
2000-2001
S.C. Senior Wrestler of the Year - Rodney Wallace - Bamberg-Ehrhardt
4A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Steven Kamyk - Fort Dorchester
3A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Ryan McClester - Lugoff-Elgin
3A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Jeff Courson - Lugoff-Elgin
2A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Marquis Ratliff - Cheraw
1A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Matt Gibson - Indian Land
1999-2000
S.C. Senior Wrestler of the Year - Ben Connell - Lugoff-Elgin
4A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Marcus Cherry - Rock Hill
3A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Brent McCorkle - Eastside
2A-1A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Jeremy Mosely - Chapin
1998-1999
S.C. Senior Wrestler of the Year - Chris Collins - Rock Hill
4A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Ben LaPrad - Dutch Fork
3A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Ben Bindewald - Riverside
2A-1A Senior Wrestler of the Year - Kenny James - Swansea
Prior to 1998-1999, the Charleston based Magazine "High School Sports Report" covered our
annual wrestling awards, starting in 1994. No records are available fom 1994-1998, though
we have pursued getting the awards list from the High School Sports Report with no luck.
And finally, some interesting trivia from the North/South All-Star event ...
Six Wrestling USA Magazine cover shots have been from the S.C. North/South All-Star event.
2005 North/South All-Star Classic
March 1, 2006 - State Champion J.J. Davis (Byrnes High School) works to turn
Corey Dangerfield (Airport High School) in J.J.’s 18-3 victory.
2004 North/South All-Star Classic
December 15, 2004 - Chris Humphries of Riverside rides legs on Gerald Turner of Summerville but gets
whistled for being potentially dangerous. Turner would win this North-South All-Star match 5-4 in an
epic battle of two multi-state champs.
2004 North/South All-Star Classic
Fall 2004 Buyers Guide - Chris Humphries of Riverside vs. Gerald Turner of Summerville
2004 North/South All-Star Classic
Spring 2005 Buyers Guide - Matt Silverberg of North Myrtle Beach vs. Timothy Taylor of Lake City
2003 North/South All-Star Classic
September 15, 2003 - State Champion at 145 lbs. Alex Piper of Hilton Head High School, shoots a single leg
on 2x state champion at 140, T.J. Selke, Dutch Fork. Selke won 3-2 and was honored with the South Carolina
Wrestler of the Year Award. Photo from the North-South All-Star match.
1994 North/South All-Star Classic
February 15, 1994 - At the North/South All-Star Classic, Brian Collier of Summerville secures the leg
of Union's Mike Clowney to prevent an escape. Brian defeated Mike to finish his senior year at 34-0.
We believe the S.C. North/South event is one of the longest running state All-Star events of its kind.
PA All-Stars vs. USA All-Stars is probably the most well known high school All-Star event,
but most states do not have an All-Star event for wrestling and for the states we have found
holding a similar event, South Carolina appeared to be years ahead of everyone else.
The following list is a draft of what we have found across the country.
First Year listed for each All-Star event in these states with some notes (send updates/corrections to scmat@hotmail.com)
1975 - Dapper Dan (PA All-Stars vs. USA All-Stars) - http://www.wrestlingclassic.com
1982 - Nebraska Est-West All-Star Classic (probably started between 1982-1985, can not confirm yet)
1987 - Kansas Senior Wrestling Classic All-Star
1989 - South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association (SCWCA) North/South All-Star Classic
1991 - Gene Gehl All-Star Wrestling Classic (Wisconsin)
1993 - MSWA Senior All-Star Classic (Maryland vs. Virginia) - (possibly had an All-Star match around 1982)
1994 - Indiana-Illinois All-Star Classic
1996 - South Dakota All-Star meet
1997 - The Wrestling USA/Cliff Keen Dream Team Classic - "Team USA" versus the top wrestlers from a host state
2001 - Utah Amateur Wrestling Foundation All-Star Duals
2002 - N.J. Coaches Association All-Star Invitational
2003 - Utah All-Star Classic
2005 - Oregon A vs. California Semior All-Star Dual - http://www.orcadual.com/
2008 - Illinois vs. Iowa All-Star Classic
2009 - Montana Tournament of Champions All-Star Wrestling Event
2009 - Maine Amateur Wrestling Alliance (MAWA) All-Star Tournament (restarted after 10+ years absence)
???? - Colorado Wrestling All-Star Team (one reference seen for a match in 1981, can not confirm history yet)
???? - Rhode Island
???? - Minnesota-Wisconsin Senior All-Star Classic
Thanks to our S.C. Wrestling Coaches Association for the hard work and dedication to making this
event so successful .... and best wishes to all the 2014 North/South All-Stars!
Wrestlers at the 2014 North/South All-Star Wrestling ClassicIf you notice a correction, addition or just want to comment please send a reply to scmat@hotmail.com thanks, Mark Buford SCMAT