Bobcats take 5 titles, Seahawks get 4 at region wrestling tourney

David Beck used a rather simple phrase to describe the way he approaches each wrestling match -- tunnel vision.

Hilton Head High's 215-pounder attempts to block everything out -- importance, impact and previous outcomes -- and instead focuses on the task at hand.

But as he learned Saturday, that's often easier said than done.

The top-ranked wrestler in his weight class, Beck figured he'd be matched up against Bluffton's David Lopez in the championship of the Region 8-AAA tournament. And that previous outcome was tough to forget. Lopez, ranked second at 215 pounds, defeated Beck on a disqualification ruling on an illegal slam less than two weeks ago when the two rival schools met in a dual meet.

"I was pretty eager for this match, pretty motivated for it," Beck said. "It definitely gets you going, and I think you could tell."

The motivation was indeed evident. As was Beck's execution.

After the two fought to a tie midway through the second period, Beck wore down Lopez for a 12-4 victory to win one of the 14 individual Region 8-AAA titles handed out at Bluffton High School.

"We both got really tired there, but I don't know, I think I had better conditioning because I was able to keep going and just wrestle the way I know how," Beck said.

Label Lewis (103 pounds), Seth Anthony (135) and Jack Duane (189) also won their weight classes for the Seahawks.

The Bobcats didn't exactly come up empty, though, winning five individual titles in the five-team region meet, which is used as a qualifier for the Lower State championships, held Feb. 20 at North Myrtle Beach. The top four wrestlers from each weight class qualified for that meet. Bluffton qualified in all 14 weight classes, followed by Hilton Head High with 13 and Battery Creek with 12.

Ryan Solomon (119), Lincoln Joly (125), Braden Putich (140), Tyler Rosenlieb (152) and Phillip Scott (285) won titles for the Bobcats.

Rosenlieb, a Class 3-A state champion at 160 pounds a year ago, dropped to 152 and is now locked into that weight class for the individual portion of the state tournament.

Joly provided perhaps the biggest win of the day for the Bobcats against Hilton Head High's Campbell Miller. Miller led for the majority of the match and maintained a 9-7 lead late in the third period before Joly used a headlock to turn Miller on his back and record a 12-9 win.

"I was skeptical coming into this match and felt like I needed to prove myself," said Joly, who dropped his match against North Myrtle Beach on Wednesday. "... I knew I needed to work harder and that I can never do too much. And so this makes me feel pretty good."

Battery Creek 160-pounder Jonathan Smith experienced a similar feeling, but for entirely different reasons. A junior varsity wrestler a year ago, Smith capped off his much-improved season with a region title. Smith held on for an 11-8 decision against Bluffton's Manuel Lopez in the finals.

"I wanted to come out here and show what I can do," Smith said. "And however far that took me, I'd be happy."

Matt Heinrich (145) and Luke Johnson (171), the unquestioned leaders for the Dolphins all season, added region titles.

North Charleston had a pair of champions with Moises Lomeli at 112 pounds -- who won by disqualification against Bluffton freshman Austin Farmer -- and Jameson Burroughs at 130 pounds, the fourth-ranked wrestler in the state.

Stall did not have any champions.

Results of Saturday's Region 8-AAA championship

Note: Wrestlers listed in order of finish

103: Label Lewis (HHH), Chris Bockelman (BC), Colin Placke (B), Robert Mims (NC).

112: Moises Lomeli (NC), Austin Farmer (B), Matt Johns (HHH), Jimmy Sanchez (BC), Nick D'Amico (S).

119: Ryan Solomon (B), Richard Jenkins (HHH), Josh Greene (BC), Trevon Belton (NC).

125: Lincoln Joly (B), Campbell Miller (HHH), Randolph Bracey (BC), Kenard Holmes (S), Joseph Johnson (NC).

130: Jameson Burroughs (NC), Chris Ordonez (HHH), Ryan Rosenlieb (B), Carlos Andaverde (BC), Kimberly Simmons (S).

135: Seth Anthony (HHH), Josh Wetmore (B), Eric Houston (NC).

140: Braden Putich (B), Nic Levy (HHH), Bobby North (S), Eduardo Lomeli (NC).

145: Matt Heinrich (BC), Quinn Williams-McClure (HHH), C.J. Johnson (B), Montaris Frost (NC).

152: Tyler Rosenlieb (B), Chad Dimmock (HHH), Maurice Lamb (BC), Malcolm Gilliard (S).

160: Jonathan Smith (BC), Manuel Lopez (B), Graham Smith (S), Brandon Washington (NC).

171: Luke Johnson (BC), Jamall Brownlee (NC), Luke Barsness (HHH), Edgar Prada (B).

189: Jack Duane (HHH), Andrew Dean (B), Al Black (BC), Sheldon Parks (NC), Jeremiah McCoy (S).

215: David Beck (HHH), David Lopez (B), Bear Childers (BC), Erick Capers (NC).

285: Phillip Scott (B), David Ratliff (BC), Marquise Washington (NC), Marques Johnson (HHH).