Lugoff-Elgin, recently elevated to the No. 1 ranking in Class 3A wrestling by scmat.com, nipped third-ranked Chapin 33-29 on Tuesday to nail down the Region 4-3A championship.
The Demons broke open the tight match with four straight wins between 160 and 215 pounds to take a 25-12 lead with six bouts to go. The Eagles closed within 25-23 with three matches left before back-to-back major decisions by Chris Branham and Tony Murphy at 119 and 125 sealed the deal for L-E.
The teams traded wins at the outset. Chase Owens got Chapin off fast with a pin at 135, but L-E counted with a major decision at Alonzo Grant (140) and a three-point decision by Jacob Burr (145) for a 7-6 Demons lead. Scott Swindell counted with a 13-6 win at 152 to give Chapin the lead back at 9-7, but that would be the last advantage of the match for the Eagles.
