SCMAT Exclusive Wrestling Article 2-23-23

35th Annual S.C. North/South All-Star Wrestling Classic

In 1989, the South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association (SCWCA) launched the 1st Annual S.C. All-Star Wrestling Classic.

As we approach the 35th consecutive year holding this All-Star Classic, SCMAT wanted to congratulate the SCWCA for the dedication and national leadership with this elite event.

How did South Carolina achieve the longest active national streak of consecutive annual events for High School Wrestling All-Stars?

Let's start with some background ...

The S.C. North/South All-Star Wrestling Classic has been one of the longest running state All-Star events of its kind.

Only these 3 states had High School Wrestling All-Star events before South Carolina:
Kansas - started in 1987 by the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association
Nebraska - started in 1982 by the Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Association
Pennsylvania - started in 1975 as Dapper Dan and now known as the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic - PA All-Stars vs. USA All-Stars

South Carolina was the fourth state to start and maintain an Annual All-Star Wrestling Classic.

Then the 2020 and 2021 COVID challenges hit.

The Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic cancelled their Wrestling All-Star Classic on March 12 2020, two days before the event was to be held.

Kansas cancelled their Wrestling All-Star Classic between 2020-2022, as they continue working on a return of their Classic.

Nebraska cancelled their Wrestling All-Star Classic in 2020.

South Carolina not only held our Wrestling All-Star Classic on March 7, 2020 but we also navigated a tougher 2021 season, as Wrestling became the first North South All Star event to be held in S.C. that season, when the event was held March 13, 2021 at Dreher High School.

Our S.C. Wrestling Coaches Association worked to great lengths to meet safety concerns, guidelines for gym compacity, overnight restrictions by some school districts and numerous logistics.

That effort by the SCWCA in 2021 was rewarding in so many ways - for the wrestlers and fans - as well as unknowingly achieving a record!

South Carolina and the SCWCA can be proud of the achievement, earning the longest active national streak of consecutive annual events for High School Wrestling All-Stars!

The rest of this article will focus on a few exciting years when the All-Star Classic started.

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.

Here are a few great newspaper articles when the SCWCA launched the 1st Classic:

The State article from 1989 on the first All-Star match in S.C.

Herald-Journal article from 1989 on the first All-Star match in S.C.

Here is a great newspaper article from 1992 on the North vs. South format starting:

The State article from 1992 on the All-Star Classic shifting to a North/South event

Coach John Checkovich, who started the wrestling team at Brookland-Cayce in 1968-1969 when S.C. wrestling first began, would become a key leader and organizer of our All-Star event for many years.

Here is a great newspaper article on Coach Checkovich's retirement and what he meant to our sport:

Coach John Checkovich retirement - Brookland-Cayce wrestling

Many thanks go out to the coaches and volunteers involved over 35 years, as well as numerous key sponsors such as Best Western at North Myrtle Beach. Special thanks to Coach John Checkovich, Coach Ken Wilson, Coach Charlie Clay and the current North Myrtle Beach coaches, for many years of organizing and hosting the event.

Finally, here are a few links at SCMAT that maintain the history of our All-Star Wrestling Classic:

All Star Classic from 1989-present

All Star Classic - SCMAT Recordbook

SCWCA Annual Awards presented at All Star Classic

Thanks again to the S.C. Wrestling Coaches Association ... and all the best to the 2023 North/South All-Stars!

thanks,

Mark Buford

SCMAT