Champs! Carolina Forest breaks through with first state wrestling championship
Matt Perdue wanted to make sure everyone had their championship moment.
Shortly after his team won the Class 5A Division I wrestling championship, the Carolina Forest coach made sure everyone took turns raising one another on their shoulders with the trophy, including him.
They passed players and coaches on their shoulders following the 42-31 win over Boiling Springs to win the program’s first state championship Saturday at Dreher High School.
“I wanted everyone to have their moment. It was a complete team effort,” Perdue said. “I didn’t want anyone to feel left out, even the kids who didn’t start. … We just wanted everyone to feel glorified with that one second.”
It was just the Panthers’ second title appearance, with the other coming in 2003. Bill Mayer, the coach of the 2003 squad, Facetimed Perdue right after the match was over.
“Coach Mayer sent us a message trying to amp up the kids,” Perdue said. “It is that type of loyalty and community that this program has.”
The Panthers trailed for half of the match and were down 25-15 after losing at 132 pounds.
But Carolina Forest won the next four matches. Josh Brown’s pin at 144 pounds gave the Panthers their first lead, 26-25.
Preston Crone followed with a major decision win at 150 pounds and then Brody Bailey’s pin at 157 pounds put the Panthers up 36-25.
Freshman Drew DeForrest sealed the title with a pin at 165 pounds. The Panthers forfeited the final match at 175.
“I told our guys we know we were going to go down a little early but to stay strong,” Perdue said. “We knew we had it when we got the pin at 157 and 165. They had a tough kid at 175 so we are glad we didn’t have to go down to that.”
Other CF match winners were Joseph Britt (106), Isaac Demedeiras (113), Calvin Grover (126) and Amarius Johnson (138).
Aynor falls in 3A championship
West-Oak won its fourth straight state championship by defeating Aynor, 58-12,
It was the Blue Jackets’ third title appearance in the last four years, losing to the Warriors all three times.
Aynor advanced to the state championship with a thrilling 41-40 win over Waccamaw on Wednesday but couldn’t get things going against the top-ranked Warriors.
West-Oak won the first six matches to lead 28-0. Luke McCracken’s 1-0 at 215 got the Blue Jackets on the board. Other Aynor winners were Jose Morales (heavyweight) and Collin Turner (138).
This story was originally published February 8, 2025 at 10:11 PM.
