Several newspaper articles below capture the significance of this match:
Fort Dorchester forfeits Lower State wrestling title, files appeal with High School League
River Bluff wrestling might get second chance in postseason
Executive Committee to hear FD appeal
Executive committee rules in Fort's favor
River Bluff knocked out of wrestling championship as Fort Dorchester wins appeal
River Bluff knocked out as Fort Dorchester wins appeal
Rock Hill foe set for 5A title match
Rock Hill goes for its 19th state title after wait
Rock Hill upsets Patriots in duals championship match
Bearcats avenge last year, win championship
Rock Hill Bearcats win 5A state wrestling championship
2018 5A State Duals Final (boxscore at link) - Rock Hill 35, Fort Dorchester 33

Some interesting trivia from this match:
1. Fort Dorchester was undefeated (23-0) going into the State Final and had four returning state champions on the roster. Rock Hill finished their season at 43-2.
2. The 5A State Finals was delayed until Tuesday, February 20 (see articles), which was 3 days before State Individuals.
3. The State Title for Rock Hill in 2018 has them in the Recordbook with the most State Titles (19) in SC team history, currently one Title ahead of Eastside (18).
4. Coach Cain Beard has won four State Titles at Rock Hill - (4A) in 2009, 2014, 2015 and (5A) in 2018 ... in addition, in 2023 Coach Beard and the Rock Hill Lady Bearcats made history by winning the first-ever sanctioned state championship in girls wrestling.
5. Fort Dorchester would dominate team points at Traditional State later that week, finishing 80 points higher than the 2nd place team. We would have to go back to 1990 as the last time a team in the highest classification dominated Traditional State in the same way (see below):
2018 5A
1. Fort Dorchester - 156.0 points (Coach Andrew Young)
2. Rock Hill - 76.0 points (Coach Cain Beard)

1990 - 4A (highest classification in 1990)
1. Rock Hill - 176.5 points (Coach Jim Barnes)
2. Summerville - 80.5 points (Coach Steve LaPrad)

This nine-part series will continue next week with #2 on our list of the Greatest State Duals Finals.

If you notice a correction, addition or just want to comment to these historical articles, please send a reply to scmat@hotmail.com

thanks,

Mark Buford