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No disrespect but smalley doesn't qualify in 5A just saying....Smalley -Abbeville - already 2x state champ
Why is 5A always the measuring stick? That means nothing more than attendance IMO. I think Cole Murphy can wrestle with anyone. Same with the Hall kid from Berea last year.
Just throwing this out there - Eastside beat both 5A dual finalists this year (Rock Hill twice). I'm pretty confident some other teams in 4A and 3A would have given them a run as well. I would argue to say that there is steep drop off in teams and level of talent at all classifications. I think you have to look at the individuals in the weight classes. Some weight classes in 5A are loaded and deep, but 4A may be loaded at the next weight up etc.I think 5A is the measuring stick because the level of competitors more consistent. The lower divisions all have great top tier wrestlers and programs, but there is a steep drop off in both teams and talent. My opinion based on high school and off season. In each Divison there are 3-5 teams that are as good if not better than the best 5A teams, but the drop off is way more severe after that. A second tier 5A team is much more competitive than the lower divisions.
Just throwing this out there - Eastside beat both 5A dual finalists this year (Rock Hill twice). I'm pretty confident some other teams in 4A and 3A would have given them a run as well. I would argue to say that there is steep drop off in teams and level of talent at all classifications. I think you have to look at the individuals in the weight classes. Some weight classes in 5A are loaded and deep, but 4A may be loaded at the next weight up etc.
This all lends to the argument that we should simply have an all classification 32 man tournament.
i want to know if Newton woke up at 615 Sunday morning when he was on a cruise to post on this topic. If so I am shocked and proud
I have heard talk about people wanting to make a Division I (5A/4A) and a Division II (1A/2A/3A), only for the individual tournament not for the dual tournament, with a 16 man bracket in each. I know this is only talk that that would make things very interesting at the individual level.
As for the topic of discussion, I believe the only freshman to make the finals this year was Wilkins, White will be a 4xer, Trephan will be a 3X with 4 finals apps, Stiffer (hillcrest) could be a 3x with 4 apps. There are a lot of kids that will be studs in the next year in the state of SC. In order to be an actual stud and be known though kids need to go out of state. AJ "stayed" at Dark Horse during the summer I heard and wrestled all over, Dudley won Super 32 and NHSCAA, Clay was ( and Gage could have been) 4x National Champions, AJ Alford AA'd at fargo I think 3 times. We need some of these SC studs to make a name for themselves at the national level. And yes I do realize that Trephan won nationals as a Freshman, he's on the right path.
More than likely he was still up!
Asa Addison and the other Augustine twin - he was injured most of the season.It's one of the best freshman classes that I can remember.
106- Michael Shiffler, RH kid, Byars, York kid, Tucker Allen
113- Emery
120- Maholtz
126- Soriano and Wilkins and Augustine
132- Augustine
138- Kyle Flyte
145 - Stephenson, Lugoff kid,
Feel free to add to this list.
Asa Addison and the other Augustine twin - he was injured most of the season.
Another good freshman is Adonis Lawson from Dorman. Lost to Wilkins by 1 pt in Upper State semis. Had close matches with other 126lb All-Staters.
Forgot Asa. I included both Augustines. In my mind, the one that is hurt is top 2 incoming freshman.
In every state except probably PA, NJ, OH, and a few others....you can see the separation between the kids who travel and the ones who don't travel. That difference is even more visible in states that aren't as deep.
In those states , kids have to expose themselves to that or in most cases they might find themselves a top wrestler in their own state, but unsuccessful outside their borders. That obviously greatly limits the opportunities to wrestle at the next level. Right now I believe if you live in SC and you want to be a STUD, you want to wrestle at the next level, then you need to:
1) Travel to national / high caliber regional events as mentioned above.
2) Seek training outside the confines of your youth club, middle school or high school practice room. This isn't a slight, but I'm sure someone will still take offense, but the reality is very few HS/MS youth coaches in this state have the time, ability, experience to single handedly develop wrestlers into a Stud that can compete on a national level. Even in the strongest of wrestling states, top kids are getting extra work at private clubs and in Summer Camps etc with coaches who are accomplished and proven in helping kids reach the next level.
3) Wrestle the Olympic Styles. Freestyle and Greco not only keep you on the mat. The different styles are a change of pace and they certainly help improve ones folkstyke abilities. One just has to look at last years NCAA finalist and see how many of them competed at Fargo to understand the importance and benefit.
The more kids in SC we can get doing those 3 things, the faster you will see the level of and depth of talent improve in the state.