White Knoll wrestling’s first state title trip one to build on for the future
White Knoll wrestling’s first state championship appearance didn’t end with a title, but coach Kyle Kimrey didn’t have any regrets in the team’s journey.
Shortly after the match ended, Kimrey had his hands in air thanking the loud and boisterous crowd that made their way to Dreher High School to see the Timberwolves take on Hillcrest for the Class 5A state championship. The top-ranked Rams put White Knoll in a hole from the start on their way to repeating as state champs with a 51-12 victory.
“We had a great experience and run in the lower state,” said Kimrey, the former state champion wrestler at Dutch Fork. “We learned to wrestle as a team. We didn’t wrestle our best tonight, but I’m proud of the kids, and I’m proud of the seniors. They bought into what it takes to get to this stage. I am just super proud. It was a fun, fun season. We had a blast.”
White Knoll advanced to the championships by winning all four matches on the road, including at Summerville on Wednesday to the lower state championship. It was only the second time in school history a boys sports team at White Knoll made a championship appearance. The 2010 baseball team was the other as it won the Class 4A title.
The foundation for White Knoll’s title run began three years ago when Kimrey took over the program. He said he had to change the culture of the program, and the players started to buy in. Selwyn Porter won an individual state title that year, the school’s first at the 5A level, and sophomores from that team are now seniors.
Then, White Knoll had additions to the program such as senior Nick Taiste, a SC State football signee who hadn’t wrestled until this year. Taiste said Kimrey has been on him to wrestle for three years before going out this season.
Taiste was one of the Timberwolves’ winners on Saturday with an exciting 4-1 in overtime over Jacoreyn Byrd. Other White Knoll winners included Quentin Dodd (132), Jack Scott (152) and Tyler Shealy (195). Scott needed a takedown in the final seconds to defeat Joan Martinez-Salas.
“Since the preseason we had dreams of getting here,” Taiste said. “We didn’t win the whole thing, so there is a little disappointment with that. But to be the best team in White Knoll history is truly amazing. They’re going to be back here next year.”
