By Donald Heath
Special for the Effingham Herald
GUYTON – Background music often accompanies the South Effingham wrestling team’s practices and when an energetic song came on Friday, Coach Christopher Bringer called a halt to the workout.
“We had a dance-off. I just thought it would be fun. Let’s dance for a few minutes,” said Bringer after practice concluded.
The two-time defending state dual champion begins its quest for a three-peat Saturday (Jan. 11) with the Area 1-5A Duals at Greenbrier High School.
The top two teams at the eight-team area tournament will advance to a 16-team field for the state championship at Lassiter High School on Jan. 17-18.
“I feel as loose and as comfortable as I have in two years,” Bringer said. “I don’t feel the pressure that we have to win although I think we are going to win.”
South graduated two individual state champions – Eli Wood and Ashton Anderson – and a productive senior class, but has a surprising young group filling in nicely.
At the US Army Shark Invitational, a competitive traditional tournament, at May River High School on Dec. 30-31, the Mustangs notched first-place finishes from Adam Hardeman (in the 106-pound weight class), Tahrik Bailey (at 113), Emilio Santana (at 126) and Brandon “Moose” Bringer (at 157). Mayson Young (at 120), Brayden “Bear” Bringer (at 144), Bobby Craun (at 165) and Kevin Steptoe (at 285) placed second.
Hardeman, Santana and Moose Bringer each advanced to the state finals during the GHSA’s 2023-24 traditional season.
Bailey, a freshman, suffered his only two losses in a recent national tournament in Florida.
Steptoe, a sophomore, has been a big surprise, comparing favorably to Anderson’s skills, Coach Bringer said.
“From 106 to 165, we’re pretty tough,” Coach Bringer said. “That’s a lot of points. Fort Mill was a two-time state champion in South Carolina and although it wasn’t a dual (match) you could see (how we’d stack up). We won all the one-on-one matches.”
SEHS was undefeated last season in dual matches and will enter the area tournament again undefeated. Bringer said the Mustangs will be the top seed and will match up with Evans in the first round.
But the marquee match could be a finals repeat between SEHS and Glynn Academy. South defeated Glynn for the area championship last season but at state the Mustangs needed a 4-3 edge in falls to win the tiebreaker over the Red Terrors in the championship.
“It should be exciting. I’m sure Glynn thinks this is their year and that puts a lot of pressure on you,” Bringer said. “Whoever wins the area should get No. 1 seed at state and the loser may be No. 2.”
Brunswick is another strong team that could be in the mix for an area championship, Bringer said.
Effingham County and host Greenbrier will be dark horses to unseat a favorite.
A year ago, Bringer brought an experienced team, coming off a championship, to the dual postseason. This team has less experience but no less talent.
“We have a lot of young kids who are really good,” Bringer said. “No one is struggling to make weight so they’re focused. Parents have been super supportive. It’s been a lot of fun to watch this team, wherever we finish.”
