PHS Grapplers Dominate SEC Tourney

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By Chrissy Excell

The Pinecrest varsity wrestling team dominated the 4A Southeastern Conference Individual Tournament on Saturday, February 4th held at Hoke High School. Finishing with 13 All-Conference winners, the Patriots earned 339 overall points to place 1st as a team over Scotland, Hoke, Richmond Senior, Lumberton, and Purnell Swett High Schools. As an aknowledgement of the respect he has earned among his fellow head coaches and the success of his program, Pinecrest's Head Coach Travis Flinchum was voted as the "Conference Coach of the Year" for the third consecutive time. Coach Flinchum noted that the honor also belonged to "all his fellow team coaches, parents and volunteers, school athletic director, and of course all his wrestlers" when talking about how the program has grown stronger through the efforts of so many people with the same dedication as he.
     The Patriots won first or second place in every weight class at the event except 170. Due to injury, junior Ryan McGuire (26-17) sat out to recover before the State Dual Championship rounds start this week. Freshman Irvin Enriquez (41-3) placed first at 106, senior Zac Lupien (36-13) placed first at 113, junior Cody Fitzgerald (21-15) placed first at 120, freshman Dakotah Nelson (23-19) placed second at 126, sophomore Dallas Roemer (42-4) placed first at 132, senior team captain Garrett Bateman (28-4) placed first at 138, junior Sawyer Bateman (29-13) placed first at 145, senior captain Dustin Roemer (43-0) placed first at 152, sophomore Rider Excell (43-6) placed second at 160, junior Jonah Caliri (12-7) placed second at 182, sophomore Bryson Thomas (17-6) placed first at 195, senior Calvin Farlow (17-8) placed first at 220, and junior Luke Fetla (45-2) placed first at heavyweight.
     Currently voted #2 in the 4A division by the coaches dual team poll at retrorankings.com, the Patriots begin competing in the three day 4A State Dual Team Tournament where their first opponent will be Fayetteville's Cape Fear High School. The first night of competition will be hosted at Pinecrest High School this Tuesday, February 7th at 6pm. Teams that remain undefeated will continue on to compete on Thursday and Saturday, February 9th and 11th at locations yet to be determined.