The Fort Mill wrestling program further solidified its reputation as a state powerhouse Wednesday night, securing its fourth consecutive Class 5A, Division II state championship. The Yellow Jackets delivered a commanding 52-11 performance against Lugoff-Elgin at White Knoll High School, finishing the season with a perfect 31-0 record.
The victory marks the second straight undefeated season for Fort Mill, a team that has lost only three dual matches over the past four years. While Lugoff-Elgin entered the finals as the second-ranked team in the state, they struggled to contain a Fort Mill lineup that led from nearly start to finish.
The dual began at 132 pounds with a Lugoff-Elgin victory, but the Yellow Jackets quickly took control. A string of wins by Cooper Van Beynum (138), Jayden Nguyen (144), Keenan Coston (150), Lincoln Greene (157), and Broden Mitcheson (165) pushed the score to 22-3. Greene, a senior who has been a part of all four championship teams, contributed a 16-0 technical fall to the effort.
After a brief response from the Demons at 175 pounds, Fort Mill resumed its scoring run. Krystian Villatoro secured a first-period pin at 285 pounds, and Peter Escudero clinched the title at 106 pounds with a 19-4 decision. Morrison Murphy, Luke Van Beynum, and Grayson Wallen closed out the night with additional victories.
This win represents the third time this season Fort Mill defeated Lugoff-Elgin, with each margin of victory widening. While the team title is decided, the Yellow Jackets will now shift their focus to individual tournaments to close out the season. For Lugoff-Elgin, the loss marks their fourth straight year as state runners-up.
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Patrick Byrne lives in Tega Cay with his wife and two daughters. After 25 years working for a Big 4 bank, he retired to pursue his passion for writing. Additional articles and content can be found on his blog (reverian1776.blogspot.com) and freethepeople.org.
Patrick can be reach via email at [email protected]
