Panthers aim to remain a contender
Running back Grayson Salego is one of several starters who should return to the Panthers’ football team next season. Photo by Roger Lee.
By Roger Lee
Contributing Writer
Summerville – While it surely won’t be easy, Pinewood Prep aims to chase a three-peat in football next season.
The Panthers (10-3) dominated the 2025 SCISA 3A title game Nov. 22, scoring eight touchdowns while limiting Wilson Hall (11-2) to only two to claim a 55-13 victory and the Panthers’ second consecutive SCISA 3A Football Championship.
“At the start of the year with all the new people we had and the guys we lost it felt kind of iffy, but we got better and better each week,” said Pinewood coach DeVonte Holloman. “I’m really proud of the kids and my coaching staff. There are a lot of unselfish guys in both of those groups. Our kids did a good job of staying focused and really ramped it up in the playoffs.”
The Panthers only had about a dozen seniors this season so it stands to reason many contributors will be back with more experience. That doesn’t mean the seniors, particularly the starters, won’t be missed.
Junior quarterback Silas Brawner completed 182 passes this season for 3,414 yards and nine touchdowns. His favorite target was senior Jayden Alexander who had 58 receptions for 1,296 yards and 16 TDs. Junior Lavoris Lucas had 52 catches for 975 yards and 13 TDs. Junior Heyward Moore has 31 catches for 560 yards and five TDs. Junior Tre Green has 31 catches for 457 yards and 10 TDs.
Junior Grayson Salego led the team in rushing with 106 carries for 814 yards and 14 TDs. Lucas had 40 carries for 349 yards and four TDs. Freshman Jeremy Kendall had 49 carries for 215 yards and four TDs.
Senior Will Watson led the team in tackles with 88 including 52 solo stops and 21 tackles for a loss. Freshman Nathan Good had 78 including 28 solo stops and 11 tackles for a loss while junior Jacob Sweet had 68 tackles including 32 solo stops and 20 tackles for a loss. He also led the team in sacks with 8.
Sophomore Mikey Williams and Watson both had three interceptions and Sweet had three fumble recoveries.
Panthers Wrestling
While Pinewood wrestlers have competed as individuals, it has been more than 10 years since the school had enough athletes come out for the sport to field a full team. That changed this season and the Panthers are having some success.
“Pinewood Wrestling is back as a competitive dual team and we are just getting started,” said Pinewood coach Van Collins. “When I came here last year one of my goals was to get us back to competing in this setting. We started with just a couple of kids and the word started spreading and the team started building.”
As an athlete, Collins was a member of three Summerville Wrestling state championship teams and a multiple-time state qualifier for the Green Wave.
“I have a great support system here and a great coaching staff helping me out,” he said. “We started out with just me and some of the parents and then brought Cedrick Stewart on from the football team and he comes from a wrestling background so that has really helped.”
Pinewood picked up two wins earlier this month. On Dec. 10, it hosted a tri-match with Thomas Sumter and Porter-Gaud. The Panthers defeated Thomas Sumter 51-30 and nearly beat their Lowcountry rival, but lost the match on a tiebreaker as the Cyclones walked away with a 43-42 victory.
“I feel like we should have won the Porter-Gaud match; we were so close,” Collins said. “The energy we brought and the excitement is a success for me considering this is our first home match.”
Pinewood only has one senior on the team, but Collins says the Panthers do have some guys on the rise. Senior Tanner Smoak has wrestled year-round since last season. Heavyweight Carlie Muckelvaney transferred from Summerville and has only lost one match this season. Nico Guarino is only a seventh-grader, but Collins says he has a lot of heart and fight. Wyatt Rucker got a big win at 165 against Thomas Sumter.
