Four Midlands wrestlers win titles, others have strong showings in SC individual championships

Four Midlands wrestlers captured state titles Saturday at the South Carolina High League Wrestling Championships at the Anderson Civic Center.

Two of the champions were from North Central High School - Kalab Haven and Cam Hoffman.

Haven won the Class 2A 182-pound championship with a pin over Antwaun Gantt at the 1:23 mark. It was Haven’s third state title. Hoffman defeated Timberland’s Ethan Dawson by a 9-8 decision for his first title.

Brennan Crout, a runner-up last year, won his first state title in the Class 3A 126-pound division. The Spartanburg Methodist signee defeated West Oak’s Josh Collins by a 7-2 decision.

Will Jeffcoat became Pelion’s first state wrestling champion by winning the Class 3A 285-pound division. He pinned Powdersville’s Connor Graham at the 0:46 mark.

Several other Midlands wrestlers finished in the top four of their weight classes in their divisions.

Second-place finishers were Zach Roberts (North Central), Ja`Quarius Shaw (CA Johnson), Tadrick Hallman (Swansea), Jordan Hightower (Westwood), Sam Emery (River Bluff), Josh Green (Chapin), Shawn Haile (Chapin), Brett Carder (Lugoff-Elgin), Hunter Dixon (Chapin) and Ian Obeso (River Bluff).

Third-place finishers were Fontroy Randolph (Columbia), Elijah Mervin (Columbia), Isiah Black (Columbia), Barrett Crout (Gilbert), William Harmon (Gilbert), Drake Lesher (Westwood), Deonta Strader (Brookland-Cayce), Jacob Vincent (Lugoff-Elgin) and Klay Crossway (Lugoff-Elgin).

Fourth-place finishers were Wade Bowers (North Central), Clenzo Foreman (North Central), Kendell Shaw (CA Johnson), Joshua Coleman (Gilbert), Hunter Brantley (Swansea), Deaken Nicewonger (Pelion), Khwalie Hall (Brookland-Cayce), Jason Garay (White Knoll), Jack Brown (River Bluff), Quinton Boyle (River Bluff), William Rogers (River Bluff) and Walker Anderson (Lexington).

This story was originally published March 1, 2020 at 11:00 AM.