By Thomas Grant Jr.

The preseason No. 1–ranked Cardinal Newman wrestling team is off to a strong start to the 2025 season.

The Cardinals claimed the team championship at the Cardinal Holiday Classic held over the weekend on their home mats, finishing with 164 total points. Cardinal Newman outpaced a competitive field that included Westside, South Aiken, Blythewood and Waccamaw.

Four Cardinal wrestlers earned first-place finishes, led by Eli Lorang, who captured the 120-pound title and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Lower Weight Wrestler. Carter Lirgg won at 113 pounds, Triston Johnson claimed gold at 150 pounds and Shayne Ross took first at 144 pounds.

Cooper Smythe finished as runner-up at 144 pounds, while Jack Turner placed third at 126 pounds to round out Cardinal Newman’s top individual performances.

As the season gets underway, Cardinal Newman sits atop the preseason SCMAT.com SCISA rankings, followed by Hammond, Ben Lippen, John Paul II and Heathwood Hall in the Top 5.

In Class 5A Division I, Blythewood remains a program to watch, with both the boys and girls teams appearing in the preseason rankings. The Blythewood boys are ranked ninth in the state, while the girls team checks in at No. 5.

With early-season success and a roster loaded with proven talent, Cardinal Newman appears poised to live up to its preseason billing as one of the top wrestling programs in South Carolina.

(Photo from Cardinal Newman High School)

PRESEASON SCMAT.COM RANKINGS
(SCISA)

  1. Cardinal Newman, 2. Hammond, 3. Ben Lippen, 4. John Paul II, 5. Heathwood Hall, 6. Pinewood Prep, 7. Camden Military, 8. Porter Gaud, 9. Greenwood Christian School, 10. Trinity Collegiate, 11. Northwood Academy, 12. Patrick Henry, 13. Augusta Christian School, 14. Colleton Prep, 15. Thomas Heyward, 16. Thomas Sumter Academy, 17. Palmetto Christian Academy, 18. Our Lady of the Rosary, 19. Holly Hill Academy

(GIRLS)

  1. Rock Hill, 2. Greenwood, 3. River Bluff, 4. Boiling Springs, 5. Blythewood, 6. White Knoll, 7. Marlboro County, 8. South Florence, 9. Chester, 10. Northwestern, 11. South Pointe, 12. Gilbert, 13. Goose Creek, 14. Wando, 15. Hilton Head, 16. Stratford, 17. Clover, 18. Union County, 19. Lancaster, 20. Gaffney

(BOYS)
Class 5A Division I

  1. Carolina Forest, 2. James Island, 3. Ashley Ridge, 4. Clover, 5. Stratford, 6. Summerville, 7. Boiling Springs, 8. Byrnes, 9. Blythewood. 10. Fort Dorchester, 11. Lexington, 12. Rock Hill, 13. Dorman, 14. Mauldin, 15. Wando, 16. River Bluff, 17. Cane Bay, 18. Wade Hampton, 19. Dutch Fork, 20. Spartanburg