Hanahan loses state title berth

The Hanahan High School wrestling team's dream of its first state championship came to an abrupt end Thursday afternoon when High School League commissioner Jerome Singleton ruled that the Hawks used an ineligible wrestler in Hanahan's 34-33 victory over three-time defending state champion Loris on Wednesday night in the Class AA Lower State championship.

The forfeit means Loris will compete for the state championship Saturday in Columbia.

High School League rules state that a wrestler cannot compete more than one class above his actual weight in any match. Hanahan wrestler Koffi Dwira, who is certified to wrestle in the 125-pound category, competed in a higher weight class than is permitted by the High School League when he wrestled in a holiday tournament earlier this season. He won Wednesday night in the 125-pound division with a 12-5 decision over Jamar Gore. But Singleton said he became ineligible when he competed in a weight class outside the league's parameters during the regular season.

The sport uses preseason testing to determine a healthy body weight for competition.

Singleton awarded Gore a victory by forfeit, which gave Loris a 39-31 win.

Hanahan athletic director Charlie Patterson said his school plans to appeal Singleton's decision to the organization's executive committee today. The school must act quickly because the state championship is set for 1 p.m. Saturday at Ridge View High School in Columbia. For now, it's Loris versus Woodruff in the championship.

"We're proceeding like we're going to Columbia on Saturday," Patterson said. "Hopefully, they will hear our side of the story and rule in our favor."

Singleton said his ruling was a case of a wrestler competing in the incorrect weight class.

"We ruled a forfeit in that weight class," Singleton said. "This was not a punishment of a team. It was a ruling on one weight class. We did not punish the entire team. If we would have done that, it would have meant making them forfeit every weight class."

Patterson said the basis of his school's appeal will be that the rule cited doesn't appear on the Internet or in the National Federation of High Schools' rule book.

"The rule they are basing it on is not in the National Federation handbook," Patterson said. "It is supposedly found on a two-page handout that we've never seen. We've talked to some well-known and respected coaches from around the state who did not know of this."

Patterson said the school sent information regarding the case to the High School League and expects to hear from the executive committee this morning.

Hanahan coach Ray Adkins guided the Hawks to a 34-7 record and the No. 3 ranking in the state heading into the Lower State match against Loris.