When the South Carolina 5A wrestling state tournament begins on Friday afternoon it will mark the first trip to the tournament for junior Drayton Wines and freshman Ayden Whisler as both wrestlers are making their first appearance at the state tournament at the varsity level. While both wrestlers will be competing over the two day tournament it will be on complete opposite ends of the bracket as Wines will be competing in the heavyweight division and Whisler will be competing at 106, the lightest weight class, which Boiling Springs head wrestling coach Lee Thomas said will make for quite an eventful two days.
"It's interesting having a 106 and 285 because they're going to be on the complete opposite sides of the spectrum," said Thomas. "I told them after the Upper State tournament that we're going to be bookending the state tournament as we'll be there at the very start and still be there at the very end." Wines is a three time Spartanburg County champion at the heavyweight class but because of injuries in previous years will be making his first trip to the state tournament. He is also a different type of heavyweight as most of the people that he wrestles against are taller than him but he says it is something that he believes he can use to his advantage. "I love my size because I think it makes people believe they're just going to walk through this kid but when they get to the mat they say this kid is a while different ballgame when they tie up with me," said Wines. "It gives me pride when I see the taller kids say to themselves that they can't believe they loss to this shorter kid." Whisler will be only the second Boiling Springs freshman to ever make it to the state tournament when he starts competition this weekend. He says that the unknown has caused some nervousness heading into his first state tournament. "It's nerve wracking because I don't know what to expect and I know everyone there is going to be really good," said Whisler who has had quite an impressive season this year. "It feels like such a huge accomplishment for myself to get from where I started before the season to now competing at the state tournament." Coach Thomas says that he has been proud of senior Matthew Sanders, who finished fourth a state last year, who has really worked with the freshman this week to prepare him for the state tournament. "I have to give a hats off to Matthew Sanders who was All-State last year and has really worked with Ayden," said Thomas. "Even though he didn't make the tournament himself this year he has come back in here every day this week and worked with Ayden to try and get him ready for this tournament." While the two wrestlers will be competing on complete opposite sides of the state tournament Wines says it's going to be an experience that they're both going be going through together to the very end. "With Ayden being a freshman and myself making my first trip we're going to go through this together," said Wines. "We're going to go through it as brothers and teammates through the rest of the season. Hopefully we'll get to bring home a medal and a ring." The two day tournament will begin on Friday and run through Saturday at the Anderson Sports and Entertainment Center in Anderson, SC. Comments are closed.
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