Summerville duo shines in qualifier

Summerville senior Aaron Hansen is gunning for his fourth state wrestling title in as many years, and with two state championships in hand, junior teammate Jordan Wigger is following in his footsteps.

Wigger (119 pounds) and Hansen (125) recorded back-to-back pins against Stratford's Joseph Vasquez and White Knoll's Austin Lee, respectively, in the championship finals of the Class AAAA Lower State individual qualifying tournament, which concluded Saturday at Fort Dorchester High School.

The duo is among the top four finishers in each weight class that advance to the state finals, which will be held next Friday and Saturday at the Civic Center of Anderson.

"I love going after him," said Hansen, who captured state titles at 112 in 2008, 119 in 2009 and 125 in 2010. "It's really great to have a wrestling partner like him, especially going before me. We feed off of one another."

Said: Wigger: "It's really cool having Aaron in the room with me because we help each other get better," Wigger said. "(Hansen) going for four (state championships) definitely inspires me to work harder and try to get to four."

Hansen, who has received scholarship offers North Carolina and Virginia Tech, among others, is currently undecided on his college choice. He is targeting April 1 for a decision.

Wigger, Hansen and Fort Dorchester 152-pounder Daquon Wilson are the state's top-ranked wrestlers in their respective weight classifications, according to scmat.com.

Wilson was forced to watch last year's individual state finals after being diagnosed with mononucleosis, but he will have the opportunity to make up for it this year. The junior turned in a 6-3 win over White Knoll's Zach Dicus in the Lower State championship finals.

Three of Wilson's teammates also came out on top -- Javon Jordan at 103, Nick Maniche at 135 and Myles Moultrie at 285.

Another area wrestler who won win his championship final bout was Goose Creek 215-pounder Darian Simms.

Moultrie held on for a 3-2 victory over No. 1-ranked Asa Gossett of White Knoll after building a 3-0 advantage in the second period.

CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS RESULTS INVOLING AREA WRESTLERS

103 - Jordan (Fort Dorchester) dec. Myers (Lexington) 4-0

119 - Wigger (Summerville) pinned Vasquez (Stratford), 2nd period

125 - Hansen (Summerville) pinned Lee (White Knoll), 1st period

130 - Barfield (Lexington) dec. Perkins (Summerville) 5-0

135 - Maniche (Fort Dorchester) dec. Epting (White Knoll) 6-4

140 - Devine (Sumter) major dec. Williams (Fort Dorchester) 14-4

145 - Lackey (White Knoll) dec. Wright (Wando) 6-1

152 - Wilson (Fort Dorchester) dec. Dicus (White Knoll) 6-3

215 - Simms (Goose Creek) dec. Maldonado (Beaufort) 3-2

285 - Moultrie (Fort Dorchester) dec. Gossett (White Knoll) 3-2