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Published on 1/18/2009

By R.G. Greene

rgreene@gtowntimes.com

In the Northeast and Midwest, high school wrestling can sometimes rival basketball in terms of popularity among prep sports fans.

That's not quite the case in South Carolina, though there are certain areas, Summerville and Rock Hill spring to mind, where the sport has established itself.

Along the Grand Strand, both Loris and North Myrtle Beach boast strong grappling traditions, but in Georgetown County the sport is under the radar.

Waccamaw's program is in its first year, Georgetown is trying to rebuild what was once a solid tradition, and while both Andrews and Carvers Bay have experimented with wrestling in recent years, it is not currently being offered at either school.

Budget concerns

While wrestling is not as expensive as other sports such as football, basketball or baseball, startup and maintenance costs can be tough to justify in the current economic climate.

Waccamaw's debut this winter was somewhat of an anomaly, as across the nation, the growing recession is having a direct impact on prep athletic budgets.

At Andrews (Class AA) and Carvers Bay (Class A) there is some interest at reviving wrestling in the future, but both face particular headaches in terms of travel and scheduling.

While more than 120 public schools offer wrestling in South Carolina, roughly 65 percent of those compete at the Class AAAA or Class AAA level.

And, with the exception of Loris, the majority of established teams in Class AA and Class A are in the Upper State. Meaning that when Andrews tried wrestling during the 2006-07 season, the Yellow Jackets had to become accustomed to logging plenty of miles on the bus.

"It just wasn't cost effective for us," Andrews athletic director Adrian Smith said. "Since we were a new team, it was hard to get home matches. And to schedule teams that were comparable to us in size, we had to go to Charleston.

"I'd like to see wrestling come back. I think it's a great sport and would be good for the kids. But with (the budget) the way it is, it's difficult right now to support the sports we already have,

much less add something new."

Building program

Under coach Robert Burdette, Waccamaw is taking a step-by-step approach toward establishing itself. The numbers have been strong - the Warriors have been able to fill the weight classes, a luxury many other Class AA teams don't have - and fans have shown interest, with the team's home debut, a tri-match against Georgetown and Socastee on Jan. 12, drawing a solid crowd.

Burdette has seen steady improvement from his squad as the season has progressed, and with two wins on the year, the Warriors have already met many expectations.

At Georgetown, memories of Class AAA state champions like Marcus Kennedy and Tony Washington are probably still fresh in the minds fans, but the Bulldogs program has been hindered in recent seasons by lack of continuity in the coaching ranks.

Current coach Sean Griffin is the 'Dogs fourth coach in the last eight years and is looking to restock a roster that has been thinned over time - in its match against Waccamaw, Georgetown lost six of 14 matches via forfeit.

"I think all the coaching changes have had an effect," Griffin said. "Being able to build relationships is an important part of coaching. It's hard to be successful without that."

Despite the numbers being stacked against them due to the high number of forfeits, Griffin said the attitude of his charges remains positive.

"Without having the roster where it needs to be, it's been tough," Griffin said. "We know we have to get those numbers up. But the kids we have are continuing to work hard. Their attitude has been great. Given some of the (obstacles) we face, I think the season is going well."

A humbling sport

Becoming successful in wrestling requires knowing how to handle defeat. Due to its one-on-one nature, the strengths and weaknesses of the competitors are readily apparent.

Learning the sport requires setting ego aside and understanding how to deal with the growing pains that are part of the experience.

"It's physically demanding," said Georgetown High Principal Michael Cafaro, who competed while in high school. "You have to be very disciplined when it comes to improving your (technique) and continuing to make weight. It requires tremendous commitment."

The lessons that are learned on the mat can be life changing.

Carvers Bay football coach Nate Thompson did not wrestle while in high school, but by his senior year at South Carolina State University, he was good enough to place second in the conference and qualify for the national tournament.

"My first wrestling practice in college, I didn't know what I was doing," Thompson said. "I was out there against guys that had been all-conference and I didn't know anything. It was tough, but I'm glad I stuck with it.

"The thing I like about wrestling is the sportsmanship it teaches. You have to know how to handle winning, because there is always another match down the line and you can't get too far ahead of yourself. And when you lose, you have to be enough of a (competitor) to go over and shake the other guy's hand and congratulate him. There is a great lesson in that."

Thompson founded Carvers Bay's wrestling team in 2000. But the responsibilities of trying to juggle football, track and wrestling eventually became too cumbersome and the wrestling program was disbanded in '04.

"It got to be a little much," Thompson said. "We had good participation on the (wrestling) team. The kids we had enjoyed themselves and we had a lot of fun...Eventually, I think the sport will come back (to Carvers Bay)."

More benefits

Though it's a contact sport, the differing array of weight classes wrestling offers opportunities for those throughout the student body. With classifications extending down to the 103-pound mark, even the smallest kids in the school have the chance to become a state champion.

And while success on the mat can translate to other sports, there is a direct correlation to football, particularly for offensive and defensive linemen. Attributes such as leverage, balance, and power - all keys to success at the line of scrimmage - can all be enhanced through wrestling.

"In wrestling you have to engage your opponent, just like you do on the line," said Thompson. "Wrestling improves your balance, coordination, and footwork and teaches you how to use your strength. All of those things are important for linemen."

Outlook

Various ideas exist on how to increase the sport's popularity within the county, but the general consensus is that prospective wrestlers must be targeted at an early age.

Recruiting efforts at Waccamaw and Georgetown have focused on underclassmen, and looking at the bigger picture, the belief is those efforts must filter down even further to the grass-roots level.

"You have to get the younger kids inspired to give (wrestling) a try," Cafaro said.

"Most of the successful programs have their kids involved from an early age, be it on club teams or through (exhibitions). Being able to reach down and get them involved when they are in (elementary) school is the key."