Hanahan moves on from last wrestling season in South Carolina

The Hanahan Hawks edged three-time defending state champions Loris last year in the 2A lower state championship, but had the victory overturned when the state's high school league ruled the Hawks used an illegible wrestler.

The score then turned to a 39-31 loss for Hanahan. After that, the Hawks got a court injunction, but dropped their appeal and Loris went on to win the state title.

Now, the Hawks look to be on their way to trying to earn another shot at the title. They are currently the No. 1 ranked team in 2A, with Loris second.

"We can't do anything to change the past," coach Ray Adkins told the Charleston Post and Courier. "We haven't brought that up. We don't dwell on what happened last year. That was last year's battle. This year, the battle is to win a state championship."

Seven wrestlers on the team are currently ranked in the top 10 of their weight classes, as three Hawks - J.J., Johnson (112 pounds), Francis Boykin (135) and Cody Hancock (140) - are ranked first in their respective weight classes.

HILLCREST TAKES GREENVILLE COUNTY TITLE
For the second straight season, the Hillcrest (Simpsonville) Rams won the Greenville County wrestling championship.

The Rams were led by 145 pounder Nick DeVita, who won his third straight title and was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.

Hillcrest, which is currently the top-ranked team in 4A, finished with six champions and 288 points to top Eastside (228) and Riverside (152).

"I'm really glad for the team championship. That's what we were really focusing on coming in," DeVita told the Greenville News. "To bring it home with that big of a margin is really a testament to our coaching and the kids we have on the team this year and how hard we've been working."

Other champions for Hillcrest were: Brandon Johnson (112 pounds), Johnny Sanchez (135), Chris Higgins (140), Ellison Sanders (152) and Preston Pickens (285).

ALL-STAR COACHES NAMED
The North-South all-star wrestling matches have been set for March 4-5 at North Myrtle Beach High School.
Recently, the coaches for those matches were announced.

Laurens coach Rob Sheffield, South Pointe (Rock Hill) coach Eddie Cook, Woodruff coach Woodruff and Eastside coach Eastside (Taylors) will lead the North all-stars, while Beaufort coach Bill Damude, Hilton Head coach Mike Newton and Military Magnet Academy (North Charleston) coach Rasheem Neloms will coach the South all-stars.

BASKETBALL
SOPHOMORE MAKING WAVES
Dutch Fork post player Alaina Coates will be one of the top players for the Class of 2013 and she's showing why as a sophomore.

She averages 22.4 points and 14.5 rebounds for the No. 2 Silver Foxes, but that really isn't a shock seeing as Coates led the team in both categories as a freshman.

Coach Faye Norris told The State newspaper that she's trying not to put too much pressure on the youngster.

"You've got to realize, as good as she is, she is still 15, still learning, still going to make mistakes," Norris told the paper. "She has great potential, and she will get there, but she is young. You can't rush it."

Coates is hitting 73 percent from the free throw line and 76 percent from the field.

ALL-STAR HOOPS COACHES NAMED
All-star coaches for the state's postseason games have been announced.

Mann (Greenville) coach Jeff Craft and West Ashley (Charleston) coach Ronnie Dupre will coach the South Carolina all-stars as they take on North Carolina's top talent on March 19 at Socastee High School, while Boiling Springs (Spartanburg) coach Susan Tate and South Florence coach Lisa Jones will coach the girls squad from South Carolina.

The North-South all-star games will be played on that day also, but with games at North Myrtle Beach High School.

Coaches in that game are:
North girls: Tamara Jacobus, Indian Land (Fort Mill) (head); Dara Huffman, Mann (Greenville); Butch Morris, Pickens.
North boys: Mark Huff, Gaffney (head); Hal McManus, Spartanburg; Dudley Lybrand, Clover.
South girls: Cleve Touchberry, Timberland (St. Stephen) (head); Ruth Mims, Woodland (Dorchester); Tiffany Magwood, St. John's (John's Island).
South boys: John Truffell, North Myrtle Beach (Little River) (head); Barry McFadden, Hemingway; Michael Tew, Colleton County (Walterboro).

Jason Gilmer is an award-winning writer who has covered football in South Carolina for more than a decade. He does a statewide high school football blog on GoUpstate.com. You can reach him at palmettofootballtalkblog@gmail.com.