Defending state champs advance to third round

Patriots cruise past Warrriors in AAAA playoffs

Patriots cruise past Warrriors in AAAA playoffs

Fort Dorchester 55, Wando 21

The Fort Dorchester Patriots used the strength of their lineup to plow through the Wando Warriors, 55-21, and advance to the third round of the AAAA wrestling playoffs with an eye toward defending their state championship.

If there was going to be any doubt as to the outcome, Fort Dorchester eliminated it quickly. The Patriots shot out to a 42-0 lead by virtue of six pins and a forfeit in the first seven matches.

The victory keeps them on a collision course to meet Summerville, a 63-9 victor at Sumter, in the Lower State title match. It would be a rematch of Fort Dorchester's 36-33 win which may have given the Patriots a shot of maturity.

"Now, everyone's got their head on straight," said junior Wesley Dallas, who pinned Alan Wright in the third period. "We got way better. After that Summerville match, we know how winning feels (against the top teams)."

The Patriots' lineup can run hot and cold between elite and average wrestlers. It took the Summerville match to show the less experienced wrestlers that losing against a heavily favored opponent doesn't hurt the team if they can limit the quality of the win.

"We tell them you can't get pinned because we'd rather give up three (team points) than six," Dallas said. "If our guys can push themselves and wrestle hard enough until our strengths come, then that's where our extra points will come."

On Monday, The Patriots will face Dutch Fork, a 61-13 winner against Goose Creek.

Fort Dorchester defeated Dutch Fork, 45-21, earlier in the year at the Battery Creek Duals, but Patriots coach B.D. LaPrad takes nothing for granted.

"We beat them pretty good, but they had a guy hurt and that can affect three weight classes," he said. "They could give us a lot of trouble."

Against Wando, the Patriots had eight pins. The fastest was registered by two-time 285-pound state champion Robert Quinn, who beat Patrick Kiel in 45 seconds. At 125, Alex Redding also picked up a fall in the first minute, pinning Connor Donnermuth in 52 seconds.

Fort Dorchester 55, Wando 21

103—James (W) p. Robinson; 112—Metrejean (FD) p. King; 119—Bugarin (FD) p. George; 125—Redding (FD) p. Donnermuth; 130—Ward (FD) p. Dillon; 135—Reed (FD) wbf; 140—Dallas (FD) p. Wright; 145—Borja (FD) p. Rubino; 152—Driscoll (W) dec. Taylor; 160—Thompson (FD) maj. dec. Huger; 171—Davis (FD) p. Ford; 189—Nicollette (W) p. Smith; 215—Porter (FD) dec. Dauscher; 285—Quinn (FD) p. Kiel.

Note: Matches started at 112. Records: Wando 17-9, Fort Dorchester 15-3. Next: Dutch Fork at Fort Dorchester on Monday.

Reach Bill Henley at 937-5595 or by e-mail at bhenley@postandcourier.com.