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Wrestling team 15-5, Begins AAAA Wrestling Playoffs Against O-W,
Wigger Should Become Four Time State Champion
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Summerville—The Green Wave grapplers finished 15-5, 3-1 during the regular season and are now preparing to wrestle Orangeburg-Wilkinson in the AAAA team playoffs at Carolina Forest on Feb., 4.
The team is coached by Daryl Tucker now in his fourth season as head coach after serving as an assistant for 8 years. Tucker was also a wrestler at Summerville where he graduated in 1993. He has won 8 state titles as either an assistant or head coach.
“We don’t know anything about them,” said Coach Tucker. “Once the playoffs begin you take nothing for granted. We will have to be ready.”
The team is once again led by senior all-American Jordan Wigger at the 120 category. Wigger has an incredible 161-2 prep career record. He has not lost since two early season defeats in his freshman year.
“Jordan has a dominant 34-0 senior record so far,” said Coach Tucker. “At times he has been frustrated this season because six or seven schools have forfeited to him and he likes to compete. “He should become only the fourth wrestler at the AAAA level in South Carolina to become a four-time individual state champion. Last year we were fortunate to have Aaron Hansen achieve this mark and he is now wrestling at The Citadel.”
Coach Tucker refers to Wigger as a student assistant coach. “He gets right in there and shows moves and techniques to our younger players all the time,” said Coach Tucker. “He’s the next best thing to having a coach on the matt. He leads by example. He is the first kids to practice and one of the last ones to leave.”
Wigger is entertaining numerous college offers with Stanford being his first choice. Cal-Poly, Virginia Tech, North Carolina and Bucknell are also in there too. “I really think he is leaning towards not going to college for the first year so he can report to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and then go on to college after that,” said Coach Tucker. “He made the junior Olympic team last year. He’s been out there already and he is familiar with Olympic coach Bill Zadick. They are real excited about getting him out there.”
The other tri-captains include junior Gavin Perkins at 132 who has a 33-2 record and is ranked number one at his position by scmat.com. “This kid lives, eats and breathes wrestling 7-24,” said Coach Tucker. “He has a great future in the sport.”
The remaining captain is sophomore Chad Wood at 138. Wood is ranked 8th in the state at his weight class by scmat.com. He recently defeated a Cody Williams, formerly top ranked player in his weight class from Fort Dorchester.
At 101 is freshman James Sass, currently ranked number three in the state with a 33-9 record. “He has great potential and he will win a few titles before he leaves here,” said Coach Tucker.
Freshman Cooper Knowles is 10-10 and at the 113 level while freshman Keith Clark has a 12-8 record at 126. At 145, freshman Jamal Lucas is 16-10 and senior Myron Smith has been effective at 152 with a 26-14 work sheet. Will Crawford has battled back from early season injuries at 160 to post an 11-5 record and junior Kyle Sullivan is 16-5 in the 170 weight class.
Freshman Oliver Galante is still developing at 182 with a 5-6 record. Hersell Sharp is 14-13 at the 195 level and senior Cyle Crowder at the 220 slot. At the unlimited weight category spot sophomore Robert Lawson is 12-11 and no more than 210 pounds “soak and wet.”
During the season the Green Wave placed 5th at the Southern Slam in Greenville where Wigger was chosen the MVP of the light weight division (103-145). Wood placed second and Smith 5th at the Slam. At the Outback Invitational in Myrtle Beach Wigger was the MVP and Perkins won his weight class.
“Our only region loss this year was to Fort Dorchester and they are ranked number one in the state,” said Coach Tucker. “We are starting six freshmen so our future is on a solid foundation. We have 56 participants in the jayvee and varsity program.”
What are the goals in the playoffs? “With good leadership, staying healthy and some luck we hope to go a long way in the playoffs. We hope to make it at least to the third round if not the Lower State Finals.”
A big win for the program was a 37-29 win over Beaufort. “We have the toughest wrestling region the state as far as I am concerned,” said Coach Tucker. “Fort Dorchester, Beaufort, Ashley Ridge and ourselves. We are all very competitive.”
The state team finals will take place at Dreher in Columbia on Feb., 11. The individual duals will be held at the Anderson Civic Center in Anderson Feb., 24-25.
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