The 2006 SC 4A State Wrestling Duals Tournament started off this past Wednesday with very few surprises. Wando had lost to Battery Creek twice in the regular season and pulled a mild upset in Round 1 of the playoffs, but other than that, the outcomes were as we expected here at SCMAT. Round 2 gets harder with the predictions, so let’s dig in to some more 4A wrestling bracketology.
Round 2 (2-6-06) - SCMAT Breakdowns
Upper State
Northwestern at Westside
Westside, ranked #8 in the state, is a slight favorite in this match-up due to having the advantage of being at home and also having a little more depth across the lineup to win the majority of the 14 weight classes. This will be close however, and we cannot forget the Round 2 victory Northwestern pulled last year over Lexington, 36-30. In Round One, Northwestern (ranked #10) received 10 forfeits and easily dispatched of Orangeburg-Wilkinson’s 4 wrestlers 78-6, in only 12 minutes! Northwestern certainly has more history than Westside with being in the playoffs and winning big matches, but we believe Coach McCormick is poised to have Westside in a break out season and making it to the next round. In Round One, Westside handled Mauldin 44-24 after an earlier season contest in which Westside only won 40-39. Westside is appearing to be peaking at the right time.
SCMAT Prediction – Westside
Rock Hill at Hillcrest
Rock Hill did what they needed to do in Round One by traveling to White Knoll and knocking them out by a 42-30 score. One of White Knoll’s top wrestlers didn’t make weight, costing the team a likely opportunity to be knotted up at 36-36. Such is life, and Rock Hill wins. Hillcrest defeated Easley 55-18 and continues to send a message out that they will be the team to beat in the Upper State. Rock Hill has made the State Finals the last two seasons, losing to Summerville both times, but this season won’t be as easy, and here at SCMAT, we believe Hillcrest takes this Round Two matchup by a comfortable 10-20 points. The best match will be at 125 lbs. between 3rd ranked Aaron Pettry of Hillcrest (Jr., 2004 112 SQ) and 4th ranked Demetrius Williams of Rock Hill (Sr., 2005 119 SQ, 2004 112 SQ).
SCMAT Prediction – Hillcrest
Dorman at Fort Mill
Fort Mill received a bye in the first round, so we cannot tell if this team is ready to peak or not. Dorman has grown tougher as the season progressed, and we believe they will give Fort Mill a tougher match than most expect. In Round One, Dorman slipped past Laurens 44-30. Coach Brock at Fort Mill has been in this spot before and won the first three rounds and made the Upper State Finals the last three years. They are a hot team every February, and we expect this to be another year of getting Round Two completed with a “W”. Round 3 will be tougher, but we will save our predictions on that matchup for next week. The best match will be at 130 lbs. between 3rd ranked Thomas Shaw of Fort Mill (Sr., 2005 119 4th) and 5th ranked Giazzi Segarra of Dorman (Fr.)
SCMAT Prediction – Fort Mill
Byrnes at Lexington
This will be one of the better matches in Round Two! Ranked #5 in the State, Lexington will have their hands full against the #7 ranked team from Byrnes. In Round One, Lexington blanked York 73-0 and Byrnes scored big to defeat Greenwood 56-22. Lexington will likely have the nod in 8 weight classes so if Byrnes pulls any upsets this could get very interesting. Home advantage goes to Lexington, and that will make the difference in this round two dual, though look for Byrnes to show off their Individual talent at Furman in a few weeks. If Lexington ends up making it to the State Dual Finals in one week, they will definitely have the toughest road with Byrnes (#7), Fort Mill (#6) and Hillcrest (#2) in their probable path. The best match will be at 215 lbs. between 5th ranked Ilia Karakhnishvili of Byrnes (Sr.) and 6th ranked Joel Wilkes of Lexington (Sr., 2005 215 SQ).
SCMAT Prediction – Lexington
Lower State
Wando at Dutch Fork
Wando pulled the noisemaker out in Round One and gained revenge over Battery Creek, 34-29. Maybe this Wando team is peaking?! But, this is not the side of the bracket you want to be on if your team has to travel to Dutch Fork next! Dutch Fork won their opening round match by forfeit over Marlboro County. <soapbox on>Did anyone else feel like me - that if you make the playoffs you need to show up for your match? Maybe the bus broke down and I missed the real story. What impressed me was Orangeburg-Wilkinson taking 4 wrestlers to Northwestern, with no mathematical way to win. O-W earned my respect for giving their wrestlers playoff experience after sweating all season long for that moment.<soapbox off> Anyway, Dutch Fork won the Dual State Title back in 2003 and finished as State Runner-ups in five other seasons (1996 (AAA), 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2002) while Coach BD LaPrad was at the helm. Dutch Fork’s Coach Ken Wilson has this team back in contention for a shot at the title and they gave Summerville fits earlier in the season and only lost 32-27. If the Silver Foxes can peak, they will compete with any team in the state. Dutch Fork will win this by a comfortable margin. The best match will be at 215 lbs. between Iouli Burroughs of Dutch Fork (So.) ranked 7th and 9th ranked Sean Deaton of Wando (Sr., 2005 215 SQ), who has battled injuries this year.
SCMAT Prediction – Dutch Fork
Fort Dorchester at Sumter
How would you like to be the 3rd ranked team in the state and have to travel the next two rounds? Sumter has to be pleased to have this as a home match! This is when the current seeding format does not seem to provide justice. Being second in the region to Summerville can do that to a team, so Fort D will pack the bus and head up to Sumter to extend their winning ways. Sumter has really wrestled well this year, and yet they only have one wrestler ranked in the Top 8 at 140 lbs., Brian Lineau. In Round One, Sumter eliminated Spring Valley 43-19. Fort Dorchester will win this dual easily, however, this potentially road weary team could find peaking will be hard to achieve, especially if they have to turn around and travel to a tough Dutch Fork team on Wednesday. Fort Dorchester’s lone home playoff dual match was a breeze as they defeated Stratford 54-10. The best match will be at 140 lbs. between Brent LaChance of Fort Dorchester (Jr.) ranked 6th and Brian Lineau of Sumter (Jr.) ranked 8th.
SCMAT Prediction – Fort Dorchester
Irmo at Goose Creek
Irmo is going to be short several stars, as Manross and Forrest will continue to be out with back injuries. Traveling to Goose Creek will probably mean Irmo’s dual season will come to an end unless they pull a major upset. In Round One, Irmo beat Hartsville 57-21. Coach Len Covington of Goose Creek saw his team in Round One administer a humbling 50-18 victory over a good Beaufort team. The margin of victory was surprising in that match, but this team is desiring respect and they will earn it in this match to advance one more round. Irmo is the lowest ranked team left in the field at #22, but don’t let that factor in since they have a lot of talent in their lineup. The best match will likely be at 112 lbs. between T.J. Thatcher of Goose Creek (Sr., 2005 103 2nd) ranked 2nd and Joey Honeycutt of Irmo (Sr., 2005 112 SQ) ranked 12th.
SCMAT Prediction – Goose Creek
Ridgeview at Summerville
Ridgeview’s ride of glory just ended. After knocking off Conway 44-28 in Round One, Coach Cavins of Ridgeview must now travel to Summerville to see how tough the state’s #1 ranked team really is. Summerville quietly beat West Ashley 60-6 in the last round, losing only 2 of 14 matches. We figure Ridgeview will win maybe 3 matches, but that’s where the train stops. Summerville is the defending 2x 4A State Champions and they are peaking, evident by their 20 point margin of victory over then #2 Fort Dorchester just a week and a half ago.
SCMAT Prediction – Summerville
Round 3 (2-8-06) - SCMAT Projections
Upper State Semi-Finals
Westside at Hillcrest
SCMAT Prediction – Hillcrest
Fort Mill at Lexington
SCMAT Prediction – Lexington
Lower State Semi-Finals
Fort Dorchester at Dutch Fork
SCMAT Prediction – Fort Dorchester
Goose Creek at Summerville
SCMAT Prediction – Summerville
Round 4 (Friday, 2-10-06 at 7:00 p.m.) - SCMAT Projections (Semi-Finals)
at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School starting
Upper State Finals – Hillcrest vs. Lexington
SCMAT Prediction – Hillcrest
Lower State Finals – Summerville vs. Fort Dorchester
SCMAT Prediction – Summerville
Round 5 (Saturday, 2-11-06 at 2:00 p.m.) - SCMAT Projections (State Finals)
at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School starting
State Finals – Summerville vs. Hillcrest
SCMAT Prediction – Summerville
Brackets for the last five SC 4A State Wrestling Duals Tournaments ---
2005 SC 4A State Wrestling Duals Tournament results –
http://www.schsl.org/2004%20brackets/wr%20aaaa.htm
2004 SC 4A State Wrestling Duals Tournament results –
http://www.schsl.org/2003%20Brackets/wr%20aaaa.htm
2003 SC 4A State Wrestling Duals Tournament results –
http://www.schsl.org/2002%20Brackets/02WR4.htm
2002 SC 4A State Wrestling Duals Tournament results –
http://www.schsl.org/brackets/01WR4.htm
2001 SC 4A State Wrestling Duals Tournament results –
http://www.schsl.org/2000/00wr4a.htm
Article by Mark Buford
Wrestling USA Magazine’s SC State Editor