West Oak (SC)

Head Coach: Derek Strobel (2nd year at West Oak; 23rd year of Coaching)

Staff: Adam Duncan, Rick McGlaughlin

Usually when a team has to replace the level of talent that graduated for the Warriors a year ago, they take a step back and ready themselves to make a run again in a year or more. That isn’t the case with the 2022-23 edition of the West Oak Warriors. Last year’s 3A State Champs lose hammers AJ Dickerson, Jeremy Dobbs, and Dylan Burgess, but the quality that they return and the continued development of those ready to step in has to make West Oak one of the favorites to win it all again in 2022-23.

Let’s start with the 5 returning state point-getters. West Oak should be led by returning State Champions Teague Strobel and Damein Thaxton as well as State Placers Cael Davis, Landon Allen, and Jaxton Freeman. Strobel showed he is not just a South Carolina talent after making the podium at NHSCA’s in March. He is one of the top Juniors in the Southeast and amongst the top 113-120’s around. The above five alone could carry a team to a title and we are not even mentioning 2021 State Qualifier Grant Mobley or 2020 State Runner-up Josh Collins who will look to make an impact in their final season as well.

West Oak also has a ton of other hammers ready to step in and make their mark in 22-23 (if they can fight their way into a stacked lineup). Freshmen AJ De La Cruz and Peyton Durham will look lock down the 106 lb. spot and a bevy of sophomores will look to break into the lineup as well and make some noise. Keep an eye on Anthony Preoli, Ryan Addis, and Marcus Thaxton to have outstanding sophomore campaigns. The Warriors also return a ton of Juniors and Seniors including Carson Williams, Corbin Dickson, Jared Cruz, Lane Allen, Patrick Rholetter, Connor Stancil, Evan Ballew, and Ezequiel Burgos who will look to secure their spot in a very competitive lineup from top to bottom.

“Our team has put in the work this summer. We have guys that will push to be starters throughout the season. Our depth is where we needs it to be. We have a great schedule set up for the team. We are looking forward to getting on the mat and competing for a state title.”

— Coach Strobel

NOTE: All mentions of placers and qualifiers in the body are based on the 2021-22 season. If a wrestler placed higher or lower in a previous year it is not captured above.

Crescent (SC)

Head Coach: Jordan Hawthorne (1st year)

Staff: Antonio Tillman, Ethan Hannah, Skipper Hewell

Crescent finished 2nd in 1A/2A in 21-22 and will make the move back up to 3A this coming season. The tigers graduated 2022 State Champions Aquan Taylor and Kade Williams, but return State Champs Brady Adams and Elijah Richey as well as State Placer Kamrun Gentle (3rd at 170). Those three will set the tone of Crescent in a very competitive 3A classification.

How high the team climbs may come down to the continued development of Jay Adams, Landon Snelgrove, Jayden Hicks, and JT Burgess … all four will be counted on to step into the Tigers lineup. Keep an eye on newcomer JB Tripp would could make an impact in his freshman campaign.

“We have a talented senior group, who have all tasted success and young guys ready to make a name for themselves. Led by state champs Brady Adams and Elijah Richey, alongside state placer Kamrun Gentle who will be the cornerstones of our team. Our guys are ready for the jump back up to 3A and are hungry to compete with the top teams. We will continue to put in the work through the fall to chase our winter goals!”

— Coach Hawthorne

NOTE: All mentions of placers and qualifiers in the body are based on the 2021-22 season. If a wrestler placed higher or lower in a previous year it is not captured above.

High Point downed last year’s State Champs, Crescent, on the strength of 5 finalists and 2 Champs (Luke Johannes at 106 and Lukas Crosby at 138). Johannes had to win two tough ones - a 10-8 decision over Charlie Spires of Pelion in the semis and a 7-5 decision over Danterious Randall of Ninety-Six in the finals. Crosby had a much different path - he had 2 falls and a 9-0 major decision on his way to the top step. He outscored his 3 opponents 28-2. They key for High Point was that each of the 7 wrestlers they brought to the state tournament made the podium. Jay Brower was 2nd at 113, Brendan Ross was 2nd at 160, Said Gasimov was 4th at 182, Nick Ramirez was 2nd at 195, and Jeremiah Jackson was 3rd at 220.

Crescent began with one fewer wrestler than High Point … they made up ground with 4 Champs, but couldn’t match High Point on the backside of the bracket. Ninety-six brought 9 to the dance - put 3 in the finals and crowned 1 champ (Martavis Mason). Ninety-six made things interesting on the backside as 5 wrestlers came back through to make the podium, but came up just short for 2nd in the team race. Timberland finished 4th and had the toughest medal round as each of their 7 placers lost in that final match … 4 in the finals and 3 in the consolation finals (or you could have seen Timberland in the top 3). Pelion finished a distant 5th, but had one champ in Jacob Osmanski at 160 (a thrilling 10-9 decision over Brendan Ross of High Point).

Interested in the brackets or more detail visit the trackwrestling page.