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Published: Monday, Dec. 03, 2012 / Updated: Monday, Dec. 03, 2012 01:38 PM

Warriors runners-up in Mike Kersey tournament

INDIAN LAND -- 

The Indian Land High School wrestling team hosted the second annual Mike Kersey Memorial Invitation Saturday, placing seven wrestlers on the way to a second-place team finish.

Being behind Sun Valley all day, Indian Land, South Meck and Clover battled for second place. Indian Land took the runner-up title after the Warriors were able to capture a win in a crucial match.

“It came down to our heavyweight match for second place,” said coach Rondale Truesdale, a 2005 state champion in the 189-pound weight class.

Indian Land did land a chunk of its lineup in the finals Saturday.

Freshman Dalen Byerley won the 113-pound weight class and was the only Indian Land wrestler who won an individual title.

Another freshman, Thomas Seamon took second in the 106-pound weight class. Taylor Pendelton, a junior, took second at 126 pounds and senior Dylan Deese was second at 195.

Juniors Devin Curtsinger (138), Eric Komorous (182) and Austin Currance (Hwt.) all took third in their weight class.

The invitational was renamed in honor of the late Mike Kersey, the Indian Land wrestling coach and teacher who was killed in an ATV accident last year. Kersey had started the annual tournament, then known as the Warrior Invitational.

Truesdale, in his second year as head coach, said he looks forward to the rest of the season.

The team will compete in the Bamberg Wrestling tournament Saturday.

“The tournament has a really stiff competition. There are multiple teams that are really strong, so it should a tough invitational that will show us our competition,” Truesdale said.

The 2011 Regional champs, the team looks forward to Regionals and the Upper State Tournament this year.

“Regionals will show us where we need to be at in the competition for the Upper State Tournament,” Truesdale said.

“We have a great group of kids and parents who do so much and never get enough credit,” Truesdale said.