Hawks wrestling team counting on new faces in repeat bid | Hanahan News | Our Gazette

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Hawks wrestling team counting on new faces in repeat bid

Published Thursday, December 01, 2011 10:20 AM

By Rob Gantt
The Gazette

Photo by: Rob Gantt/Gazette

Junior J.J. Johnson is one of only a handful of wrestler’s returning for Hanahan.

Defending the crown could be more difficult than it was to win it for Hanahan’s wrestling team.

The Hawks lose eight starters off last year’s championship team that dominated Class AA.

But, Hanahan coach Ray Adkins likes the fire he sees from the group of wrestlers that weren’t as noticeable last winter because of the talented veterans in their way.

“I think this year’s team will be a testament to the type of program we’re trying to build here,” said Adkins, whose team enters the season No. 1 in Class AA by scmat.com. “We graduated seven and we’ve got some guys coming in to fill those slots that we think are capable of helping us compete for another state championship.”

The contingent returning is led by juniors J.J. Johnson and Dennis Flores. Johnson was state runner-up at 103 pounds and Flores was tops at 145 pounds.

Both also went on to earn sophomore all-American honors in Virginia Beach over spring.

Other regular starters returning are 106-pounder Kevin Murray, 132-pounder Kyle Sargent and 145-pounder Haven Horlback.

Bryce Ellis (138), Brian Joseph (138), Cole Zakis (152), Brett Maddox (160) and Forrest Bowman (171) have some varsity matches under their belt.

First-year varsity grapplers include William Murray (113), Nick Wiley (126), Chase Pfaff (126), Cameron Blackmon (182), Lyndon Young (195), Jacob Garibay (220) and Austin Ramsey (HW).

“We had a log jam at a couple of weight classes last year,” Adkins said. “These kids have earned the right to try to prove themselves because they knew last year they were going to have to wrestle JV behind some good varsity starters. They worked hard and those are the type of kids we need to win the state championship because they’re willing to do whatever it takes. Even last year in small roles, it was about the program and not about them. They’ve got that same attitude this year.”

• In the Class AAAA poll, Goose Creek opens at No. 13, followed by Stratford at No. 14.

Fort Dorchester is No. 1 in Class AAAA.

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