By Donald Heath
Special for the Effingham Herald
SPRINGFIELD – Effingham County wrestling coach Isiah Royal said when he was in high school, he felt less pressure competing during the traditional wrestling season compared to the dual (team) season.
Now he’ll ask his wrestlers to be composed when the Class 5A Region 1 traditional wrestling tournament kicks off in Brunswick on Saturday.
The girls’ region tournament is Friday night at Houston County High School.
Region 1 consists of Glynn Academy, Brunswick, Statesboro, Evans, Lakeside and Greenbrier along with ECHS and South Effingham.
For both the boys and girls, the top four in each weight class advance to Sectional B (Regions 1,3,5,8) on Feb. 7-8 in Brunswick.
The state tournament is Feb. 13-15 in Macon.
South Effingham, third at state in dual competition, and Glynn Academy, second at state, are expected to have wrestlers contending for region titles.
The Rebels will be looking to be spoilers.
“I was always thinking, ‘I have to get six points (a pin) for the team,” Royal said. “Now, it’s about winning and advancing. You have to have trust in your training, trust in your coaches. But most importantly, you have to be confident in yourself.”
Royal had good reason to be confident during his wrestling career. He won three traditional state championships as a Rebel, earned a scholarship to Newberry College and captured a Division II national championship.
ECHS wrestlers looking to make their marks this season include Kevin Poythress, Adam Thompson, Noah Carter, Layne Summers, Jayden Marzett, Dai’Shaun Floyd, Noah King and Jay Marquez.
Poythress, a junior, advanced to state last season and placed tied for fifth in the 150-pound weight class. Thompson, a junior, was second at the Rebel Invitational in the 138-pound class.
Marzett and King both finished fourth in the region last season and advanced to Sectionals.
In girls region competition, Ella Dean will be the lone Rebels in action.
South Effingham, last season’s team state champion in the dual and traditional seasons, brings back several wrestlers with state championship aspirations.
Brandon “Moose”Bringer, Christopher Hardeman and Emilio Santana each placed second at state last season.
Bringer, a senior, has a 57-2 record in the 157-pound weight class. Santana overcame an offseason foot injury to turn in a 42-4 record at 126 and Hardeman has been almost flawless while compiling a 46-2 record at 106.
Other Mustangs to watch are Brayden “Bear” Bringer (36-8) at 144, Tahrik Bailey (51-3) at 113, Mayson Young (50-6) at 120 and Kevin Steptoe (46-8) at 285.
Bear Bringer and Alarik Gibson are the only Mustangs returnees who won region titles last season.
Those who don’t win region can take solace in the fact that eventual 2024 state champions Eli Wood and Ashton Anderson both lost their region title matches.
“At this point of the season, wrestlers’ performances should be peaking,” Royal said. “It’s the start of a new season with new goals and everyone is 0-0.”
