Hanahan headed to state

HANAHAN -- Not only did Hanahan High win their first Class AA duals Lower State wrestling title, the Hawks beat the state's No. 1 team in the process.

Hanahan, ranked third in Class AA entering the playoffs, edged three-time defending Lower State champion Loris, 34-33, to advance to Saturday's Class AA state championship match against Woodruff, a 37-23 winner over Palmetto in the Upper State title match. The state championship is 1 p.m. Saturday at Ridge View High in Columbia.

"I thought we were going to win and I'm real proud of the way our kids responded tonight," said Hawks coach Ray Adkins. "Our kids, the way they have acted all year and responded, I just felt once the playoffs got here we had a new wrestling team that was willing to do whatever it takes."

Hanahan twice overcame double-digit deficits, falling behind, 10-0, after Loris recorded a pin and a four-point win at 215 and 275, respectively.

J.J. Johnson put the Hawks on the board with a pin at 103, and Jeff Brule followed with a 10-0 win at 112 to knot the team score at 10.

Kwamaine Livingston picked up a pin for Loris at 119, but Hanahan picked up two key wins at 125 and 130. Koffi Dwira beat Jamar Gore, 12-5, at 125, and Michael Wolfe pinned Nic Mari in the first period at 130, giving the Hawks a 19-16 lead.

Loris got a pin at 135, a 9-1 win at 140 and a 22-11 win at 145 to build a 30-19 lead.

Trailing by 11 with four matches remaining, Hanahan picked up six easy points when Loris forfeited at 152. Freshman Dennis Flores then pinned Thomas Jones to give Hanahan a 31-30 advantage heading into the final matches.

At 171, junior Nic Thompson overcame a 9-6 deficit to record a 21-14 win, pushing the lead to 34-30.

"Nic is a great example of the character of this team right now," Adkins said. "Dennis getting a pin at 160 was a big swing of three points. Those were huge points as it turns out."

The final match came at 189, and Hanahan's Joseph Clemit avoided a bad loss, falling, 9-8, to Joel Stevens and securing the Lower State crown for the Hawks.

"Working with these kids, seven days a week for three months, I knew we could do this," said Adkins. "We've had a really good season and now we've beaten the No. 1 team in the state and have a chance to win a state championship."

Hanahan 34, Loris 33

215 -- Dajuan Griffin (L) pin C.J. Christie; 275 -- Kendrick Butler (L) maj.dec. Trey Farley, 11-3; 103 -- J.J. Johnson (H) pin Terrell McCaskill; 112 -- Jeff Brule (H) maj.dec. Malcolm Griffin; 119 -- Kwamaine Livingston (L) pin Brian Joseph; 125 -- Koffi Dwira (H) dec. Jamar Gore, 12-5; 130 -- Michael Wolfe (H) pin Nic Mari; 135 -- LaQuandrian Bromell (L) pin George Williams; 140 -- Montel White (L) maj.dec. Caleb Harvey; 145 -- Harry James (L) maj.dec. Frances Boykin; 152 -- Cody Hancock (H) wbf.; 160 -- Dennis Flores (H) pin Thomas Jones; 171 -- Nic Thompson (H) dec. Steven Jenrette, 21-14; 189 -- Joel Stevens (L) dec. Joseph Clemit, 9-8.