The Gazette
Hanahan High won their first AA lower state wrestling title and did so by beating the best team in the lower state, Loris High.
Hanahan, ranked third in class AA entering the playoffs, edged the three-time defending lower state champion Lions, 34-33, to advance to Saturday’s AA state championship match against Woodruff, the winner of the upper state match Wednesday night against Palmetto.
“I thought we were going to win and I’m real proud of the way our kids responded tonight,” said Hawks coach Ray Adkins. “Our kids, the way they have acted all year and responded, I just felt once the playoffs got here we had a new wrestling team that was willing to do whatever it takes.”
Hanahan (34-7) twice overcame double-digit deficits, falling behind, 10-0, after Loris recorded a pin by Dajuan Griffin at 215 and a major decision by Kendrick Butler at 275.
J.J. Johnson put the Hawks on the board with a pin at 103 and Jeff Brule followed with a 10-0 win at 112 to knot the team score at 10. Kwamaine Livingston picked up a pin for Loris at 119 but Hanahan picked up two key wins at 125 and 130.
Koffi Dwira defeated Jamar Gore, 12-5, at 125 and Michael Wolfe pinned Nic Mari in the first period at 130, giving the Hawks a 19-16 lead. Loris (38-8) got a pin from LaQuandrian Bromell at 135, a 9-1 win by Montel White at 140. and a 22-11 win by Harry James at 145 to build a 30-19 lead. Trailing by 11 with four matches remaining Hanahan picked up six easy points when Loris forfeited at 152.
Freshman Dennis Flores then pinned Thomas Jones to give Hanahan a 31-30 advantage heading into the final matches. At 171, junior Nic Thompson overcame a 9-6 deficit to record a 21-14 win over Steven Jenrette, pushing the lead to 34-30.
“Nic is a great example of the character of this team right now,” Adkins said. “Dennis getting a pin at 160 was a big swing of three points. Those were huge points as it turns out.”
The final match of the night came at 189 and Hanahan’s Joseph Clemit avoided a bad loss, falling, 9-8, to Joel Stevens and securing the lower state crown for the Hawks.
“Working with these kids, seven days a week for three months, I knew we could do this,” said Adkins. “We’ve had a really good season and now we’ve beaten the number one team in the state and have a chance to win a state championship.”
Hanahan 34, Loris 33
215 – Dajuan Griffin (L) pin C.J. Christie; 275 - Kendrick Butler (L) maj.dec. Trey Farley, 11-3; 103 – JJ Johnson (H) pin Terrell McCaskill; 112 - Jeff Brule (H) maj.dec. Malcolm Griffin; 119 - Kwamaine Livingston (L) pin Brian Joseph; 125 – Koffi Dwira (H) dec. Jamar Gore, 12-5; 130 – Michael Wolfe (H) pin Nic Mari; 135 – LaQuandrian Bromell (L) pin George Williams; 140 – Montel White (L) maj.dec. Caleb Harvey; 145 – Harry James (L) maj.dec. Frances Boykin; 152 – Cody Hancock (H) wbf.; 160 – Dennis Flores (H) pin Thomas Jones; 171 – Nic Thompson (H) dec. Steven Jenrette, 21-14; 189 – Joel Stevens (L) dec. Joseph Clemit, 9-8.
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