Published: Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2011 / Updated: Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2011 11:53 AM
Jackets wrestlers flying under radar
FORT MILL --
Last season, the Fort Mill High varsity wrestling team came into the season ranked No. 1 with a target on its back.
This year, they open the season ranked seventh and are flying under the radar, a spot head coach Chris Brock said he doesn’t mind.
“It’s really no difference,” he said. “Things didn’t work out for us last year. It’s nice to be overlooked a little bit and then make a statement.”
Brock is returning a core group from last year, including senior Nick Sinicrope, who won a state championship at 189 pounds; and state qualifiers Seth Frase and Nick Leitten, just to name a few.
“We have big expectations of them,” Brock said. “What we have coming back are a lot of kids that have been in the program for a long time. There is no substitute for experience in this sport.”
Also returning this year with a lot of mat time under their feet is seniors Drew Cunningham, Michael Mockridge and Brian Daubenspeck.
“We should be pretty solid,” he said.
One thing that is different in the sport this season is changes in weight classes. There are still 14 classes, but instead of the lightest being 103 pounds, it’s now 106 pounds and there is the addition of the 195-pound weight class, which Brock said should help his squad.
“It opens the door for another kid who may not have started for us,” Brock said.
This year, Region IV-AAA won’t be any easier as Chester comes into the season ranked second in the state. York is ranked eighth and South Pointe is ranked 11th, giving Fort Mill a lot to contend with in region competition. Even still-developing Nation Ford is ranked 18th in the state in pre-season polls.
“Chester is tough,” Brock said. “We are going to have our hands full with them.”
Only the top two in the region will make the playoffs.
Fort Mill opens Nov. 29 at Indian Land and will host its first home match the next day against Clover.
The Nov. 30 match will be the second annual Main Event match for Fort Mill in efforts to raise awareness and funding for the Fort Mill wrestling program. Pizza and great prizes are included in the $8 ticket. Some of the prizes given away this year include a three-month YMCA membership, DuPont race shop tours, $50 gift cards to Fleming Steak House and an IPad.
The varsity match starts at 7:30 p.m., middle school and JV matches will take place prior to the varsity match.
The team will in six wrestling tournament this season and host its annual Beef o’ Brady’s Invitational Dec. 9-10 at Fort Mill High.
Fort Mill’s region schedule starts Jan. 12 at Chester.