The Gazette
The Trojans sent two wrestlers to the Class A-AA state championships for the first time in the school’s wrestling history.
Jacquiel Hunter (103 lbs.) and Rashawn Howell (152) qualified for the state championship tournament by placing first and third in their respective weight classes.
“We had a very good showing for Cross this weekend,” said coach Paul Herman.
Hunter took the top seed in his weight class with wins against Bamberg, Aynor and in the finals against Josh McDermitt from Academic Magnet. Hunter is ranked number one in the state at 103 pounds and holds a 38-3 record.
The day’s big surprise came at the 152-pound weight class when Rashawn Howell wrestled out of the loser’s bracket to place third and qualify for next week’s state championships in Anderson.
“This was a great moment for Rashawn, for myself and for Cross wrestling,” Herman said. “This was an accomplishment that was long overdue to great young man.”
Last year Howell stood poised to lay claim to a state championship ring when he fell ill and missed three weeks leading up to the Lower State championships.
“Rashawn was cleared to wrestle two days prior to the Lower State,” Herman said. “But missing three weeks of practice in a sport like wrestling isn’t a good thing heading into a tournament with the best A/AA has to offer.”
Howell took a tough loss in the semi-finals to Jabarri Williams of Edisto but was able to refocus and wrestle back to qualify, Herman said.
Other Cross wrestlers Malcolm Shepherd (215), Ali Shepherd (130), Darius Gibson (125), Achanti Crowder (140), Trey Levine (285) and Taishawn Joy (135) wrestled well according to Herman but were unable to wrestle back through the tournament to qualify.
Howell and Hunter mark the first time more than one Cross wrestler has qualified to wrestle for a state championship. Hunter is a two-time qualifier and Herman feels the sky is the limit.
“The joy I felt seeing the hard work pay off for these two athletes was great, but the thought of seeing either of their hands being raised next week is almost overwhelming,” the coach said.
Howell will face off against Cheraw’s Darius Little in the day’s first match. Hunter’s opponent, a fourth seed, has not yet been determined.
“The exciting part is I know both will lay it all the line this week in practice with the hopes of being crowned the first state champion in Cross’s short wrestling history,” Herman said.
The individual state championship will be held Saturday at the Anderson Convention Center in Anderson.
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