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Published: Thursday, Mar. 25, 2010 / Updated: Thursday, Mar. 25, 2010 10:14 PM

Brotemarkle becomes Fort Mill’s first national champion

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- 

In his first national tournament, Gold Hill Middle school sixth grader John Brotemarkle, 11, pulled off the impossible and became Fort Mill High School’s first national champion.

Brotemarkle won the 65-pound weight class at the National High School Coaches Association National Middle and Elementary Wrestling Championship in Virginia Beach, Va.

The younger brother of former two-time state champion from Fort Mill High James Brotemarkle, John beat four other wrestlers in a round robin tournament format. Brotemarkle had just five wrestlers in his weight class, including himself.

He opened the tournament with a bye in the first round, and then beat Mason Satterfield of Ohio in the second round, 6-4.

In the third round, he pinned Nathan Murphy of New York in just 37 seconds and then beat John Manning of Utah in a close, 1-0 match in the fourth round.

In the fifth and final round, he beat Virginia’s Hunter Owens 4-0 to become Fort Mill High’s first national champion. Coming into the national finals, Brotemarkle was third in the South Carolina’s Youth State Championship.

Fort Mill High head coach Chris Brock spoke with pride about his wrestler. Brock has said he wouldn’t be surprised if Brotemarkle becomes Fort Mill High’s first four-time state champion.

“He wrestled kids from four states, all of which were tops in their state,” Brock said.

Despite being just 11-years-old, Brotemarkle has been wrestling for six years. Brock said he wasn’t surprised at his young star.

“I knew he was capable of it,” Brock said. “That is why I encouraged him to go.”

Fort Mill’s other young wrestler, Springfield Middle School eighth grader Tyler Turner, finished seventh in the 90-pound weight class after going 3-2 in the tournament and earning All-American status.

Fort Mill High School's two-time state champion Max Simons will begin his national title quest Friday.