With each passing match, Hanahan wrestling coach Ray Adkins could feel the pressure inside building until he was about to explode.
When C.J. Christie pinned his man in the 215-pound match to clinch a third-round playoff victory over upset-minded Ashley Ridge Monday night at HHS, the release was one of relief and jubilation.
Then heavyweight Trey Farley put the finishing touches on the 47-24 win by pinning his man in a match the Hawks could have forfeited, further adding to the euphoria.
“I was real pleased with the middle of the lineup,” Adkins said. “Kofi (Dwira) got things started for us… He helped us get the momentum back. I’m real proud of their effort and determination to win.”
The Hawks (33-7) are now the only local wrestling team still alive in the postseason. Goose Creek was knocked off Monday 43-33 by Summerville in the third round of the Class AAAA playoffs.
Cane Bay was ousted Saturday, 54-18, by Ashley Ridge in the second round of the Class AA playoffs and Stratford was eliminated last Wednesday with a 46-18 loss to Lexington in the second round of the Class AAAA playoffs.
Top-seeded Hanahan moves on to face three-year nemesis Loris (38-7) in the Class AA Lower State finals Wednesday at HHS. Second-seeded Loris, which has ended Hanahan’s season each of the last three years, advanced with an easy victory over Edisto Monday.
‘We’re encouraging students and everybody to come out,” Adkins said.
A year ago, Loris knocked off the Hawks 59-3 in the third round of the playoffs.
The winner Wednesday advances to Saturday’s championship match at Ridge View High School against either Palmetto or Woodruff.
The Ashley Ridge match got off to a rocky start for the Hawks.
The Hawks were given a forfeit at 103 pounds and the usual 103-pounder, J.J. Johnson, and 112-pounder Jeff Brule – typically automatic victories – were both pinned wrestling up a weight class. And Hanahan was deducted a point after Johnson threw his head gear.
“We tried to bump some kids up and that bit us,” Adkins said.
So Hanahan trailed 12-5 before mounting a comeback.
Dwira’s pin at 125 pounds was the first of three straight for the Hawks. Michael Wolfe and Francis Boykin recorded pins too and the Hawks led 23-12 but were still not comfortably ahead.
“I was really sweating it,” Adkins said, “but Kofi got the momentum back for us.”
Cody Hancock and Dennis Flores earned wins on points -- Flores got his winning points at the buzzer -- around a Hanahan forfeit at 145 pounds to make it 29-15.
After Ashley Ridge got a win by decision at 160 pounds, Nic Thompson pinned his man in the 171-pound match to put Hanahan within reach of the clinch at 35-21.
The Swamp Foxes delayed Hanahan’s victory celebration by winning on points at 189 pounds before Christie locked in the Hawks’ victory and Farley tacked on the exclamation point with a third-period pin.
“Trey didn’t have to wrestle but he wanted to go out there,” Adkins said. “He really wanted that match. That’s the type of program we are. If a kid wants to wrestle, we’re going to put him out there.”