Coach Bob Bonheim arrived at Furman in 1966 and promptly initiated the first S.C. High School Invitational Wrestling Tournament in January 1967. 1966-1967 season The first annual Furman University Invitational High School Wrestling Tournament, held on January 21 1967, provided a private school Spartanburg Day School with a chance to get their due recognition. Four additional schools had just started their varsity wrestling programs between 1965 and 1966 ... the results of this first S.C. high school wrestling tournament follow: Top five teams: 1st - Spartanburg Day School - 111 points 2nd tie - Daniel - 89 points 2nd tie - CA Johnson - 89 points 4th - Belton-Honea Path - 40 points 5th - Westminster (now West-Oak) - 39 points 1967-1968 season January 20, 1968 was the Saturday for the second annual Invitational at Furman. Eight teams participated with the following results: Top three teams: 1st - Jefferson, GA 2nd - Stephens County, GA 3rd - Daniel Other teams included Spartanburg Day School, Belton-Honea Path, Pendleton, Seneca and Westminister.
Photos from 1968 Spartanburg County Day School Yearbook
1968-1969 season 18 schools participated. No results have been found yet, though from one newspaper article in 1971 it was stated Spartanburg High School won the 1969 tournament. This was the first year the SC High School League (SCHSL) sanctioned wrestling. 1969-1970 season January 10, 1970 was the Saturday for the fourth annual Invitational at Furman. St. Andrews High School would win the 1970 tournament. Top two teams: 1st - St. Andrews - 111 points 2nd - Spartanburg - 100 points Article in The News and Courier on the 1970 Tournament Article in The Herald Journal on the 1970 Tournament 1970-1971 season January 9, 1971 was the Saturday for the fifth annual Invitational at Furman. 20 schools participated in the fifth annual Invitational at Furman. Spartanburg High School would win the 1971 tournament. Top four teams: 1st - Spartanburg - 96 points 2nd - Bishop-England - 74 points 3rd - Dreher - 69 points 4th - St. Andrews - 64 points Article in the Herald-Journal on the 1971 Tournament - article on page 12 (so scroll pages right, then zoom twice) 1971-1972 season January 22, 1972 was the Saturday for the sixth annual Invitational at Furman. Spartanburg High School would win the 1972 tournament. Top five teams: 1st - Spartanburg - 85 points 2nd - A.C. Flora - 63.5 points 3rd - Bishop-England - 60 points 4th - Dreher - 56.5 points 5th - Union - 44.5 points Article in the Herald-Journal on the 1972 Tournament 1972-1973 season January 20, 1973 was the Saturday for the seventh annual Invitational at Furman. 18 schools participated in the seventh annual Invitational at Furman. Fort Johnson High School would win the 1973 tournament. Top four teams: 1st - Fort Johnson - 89 points 2nd - Summerville - 85 points 3rd - Spartanburg - 66 points 4th - Bishop-England - 52 points Article in the Herald-Journal on the 1973 Tournament 1973-1974 season January 19, 1974 was the Saturday for the eigth annual Furman Invitational held at Greer Middle School. Summerville High School would win the 1974 tournament. Top four teams: 1st - Summerville - 167.5 points 2nd - Greer - 121 points 3rd - Spartanburg - 96 points 4th - Airport - 76.5 points Article in the Herald-Journal on the 1974 Tournament Coach Bob Bonheim would leave Furman to coach at Liberty University in 1974, so it's probable the Furman University Invitational High School Wrestling Tournament dissolved sometime after this last documented year.