SPRINGFIELD — Pierce County’s Lady Bears’ wrestling team claimed their first-ever tournament title capturing the 25th annual Rebel Invitational Saturday at an event hosted by Effingham County.
The Bears finished sixth in the 22-team boys event behind powerhouse schools.
South Effingham, the 2023 Class 6A dual champion and 2024 dual and traditional champion, captured the event with 323.5 points. The Mustangs were followed by Richmond Hill (254), who swept the team titles in 2018. Ware County, a traditional Top 10 program, was third with 228.5 points. Bluffton (S.C.), a traditional power, was fourth with 191.5 points. Host Effingham County, another traditional power, was fifth with 186.5.
PCHS (146.5) led spots 6-10 and was followed by Wayne County (142), Benedictine (137.5), Screven County (127.5) and Greenbrier (125).
The rest of the field was made up of Greenbrier “B” (95), Effingham “B” (86), Richmond Hill “B” (85), Jenkins of Savannah (84), South Effingham “B” (61.5), Bryan County (54), Islands of Savannah (33), Calvary Day (23), New Hampstead (18), Liberty County (15.5), Richmond Hill “C” (11) and Bulloch County (0).
The Lady Bears’ Zynique Hightower needed a pin win in her weight class to lift PCHS to the team title. She did so to finish fifth in her division.
No other information was reported.
The Bears were led by the 1-2 finish of Jay’lynn Everett and Greyson Sikes in the 215-lb. weight class. Thomas Sweat placed third in the 190-lb. division. Both William Shreves (113) and Cooper Davis (150) finished fourth in their respective weight classes.
Everett and Sikes won their first four matches via pinfall. Everett’s victories came at 1:12, 2:43, 1:59 and 3:38 in the semis. Sikes’ wins were at 1:15, 5:34, 1:33 and 3:08 in the semis. Everett prevailed in the finals winning via pin in 1:35.
Sweat, after losing by pin (5:25) in his opener, captured his next decisions. The first two came via forfeits, consecutive pins (1:00, 2:55) a 13-3 major decision in the consolation semis and a pin (5:19) in the third-place match.
Shreves won his first two matches (pin - 45 seconds; 19-17 decision) before falling in the quarters by a 16-0 technical fall. He bounced back posting an 85 decision in the consolation semis before suffering a pin loss (2:43) in the third-place match.
Davis reached the semifinals with three pins (1:19, 21 sec., 2:41) before losing via pin (2:28). He won by pin (4:30) in the consolation semis and lost a 14-4 major decision in the third-place match.
Aiden Baker (106) went 1-2 losing by pin (3:26), notching an 11-4 decision and falling via pin (1:10).
Tristin Crosby (106) finished 0-2 losing twice by pin (2:58, 59 sec.).
Caleb Cason (126) posted an 0-2 mark falling by pin (1:31) and suffering a 17-0 technical fall.
Shevy Sapp (138) went 3-2 opening and closing with a pair of technical fall losses (18-2, 19-2). He won three times in between with two pins (24 sec., 2:00) and an
18-3 technical fall.
Landon Taylor (144) went 2-2 winning via pin (2:00) and a 14-6 major decision. He lost twice by pin (2:16,
2:05).
Shaun Traxler (175) fell twice via pin (3:23, 17 sec.). Carson Yawn (285) followed a 2-1 overtime win with two pin losses (49 sec., 1:13).
Jackson Courson (285) lost both matches via pin
(4:46, 55 sec.).
