By Thomas Grant Jr.
The quest began this week for Cardinal Newman’s first SCISA wrestling title since 2018.
The Cardinals picked up momentum by clinching the top seed by ending the regular season with the 42-34 win over second-seed Hammond School. They opened the post-season Tuesday at home with a 56-27 first-round win over Camden Military.
Cardinal Newman will face Northwood Academy in Thursday’s 6 p.m. semifinal at home with the final taking place Saturday at Hammond School.
“We’ve been working hard,” said head coach Cole McCarter, who holds the school record for victories as a wrestler (155) and picked up his 100th victory as a head coach. “I think for our guys – knowing that we’re going to be at home, knowing that we kind of now have a little bit of a target on our back there because we are number one – we just wrestle better with a little bit of a chip on our shoulders and take the attitude of just never satisfied. I’m hoping that we just continue to wrestle well and put our best foot forward each day and get back in the room and get better.”
The Cardinals also had six wrestlers earn gold medals in the SCISA Middle School tournament. Crowned as state champions were L.J. Murphy, Ethan Gottlieb, Charles Kennedy, Zander Yarnall, Vincent Morris, and Matthew Hinton.
On the public school side, Blythewood boys had six state qualifiers following the Region 3-5A tournament at Clover High School. Desmond Macklin finished first at 157 lbs., Rolland Boisvert (113 lbs.) finished second and Caleb Cazares (126 lbs.), Dillon Boyer (106 lbs.), Jayden Simon (215 lbs.) and Ryan Madison (285 lbs.) placed third.
The Bengals will open the Class 5A team tournament Saturday against Woodmont at the home of the Region 2-5A champion.
On the girls side, Blythewood won the Upper State tournament this past weekend at Blythewood High School. The Lady Bengals’ Tiyanna Mack (132 lbs.) took first place and Keaundrea Bateman (127 lbs.) and Abby Ely (172 lbs.) placed third.
At the Lower State tournament at South Florence High School, Jazmine Williamson of Ridge View finished first at 157 lbs. and teammate Ramiya Johnson (237 lbs.) placed second.
FINAL SCMAT.COM SCISA WRESTLING RANKINGS
1. Cardinal Newman, 2. Hammond School, 3. John Paul II, 4. Northwood Academy, 5. Ben Lippen, 6. Heathwood Hall, 7. Greenwood Christian School, 8. Camden Military Academy, 9. Augusta Christian School, 10. Thomas Heyward Academy, 11. Trinity Christian, 12. Patrick Henry, 13. Colleton Prep, 14. Orangeburg Prep, 15. Porter Gaud, 16. Pinewood Prep, 17. Thomas Sumter Academy, 18. Palmetto Christian Academy
(Photos from Cardinal Newman High School)
