One slip costs Beaufort High wrestlers against Summerville

The consensus when Tyler Wilson stepped onto the mat Wednesday was that the Beaufort High School wrestling team was in control.

The Eagles, on their home mat against Region 8-AAAA rival Summerville, boasted the edge in the upper weights, as they do against most opponents. And the heavyweight Wilson was poised to deliver Beaufort High's seventh consecutive win in the dual.

But as he prepared to throw Summerville's Robert Larson during the first period, Larson slipped from Wilson's hold and crashed awkwardly onto the mat. Summerville picked up six points after Wilson was disqualified for an illegal slam -- what felt to Beaufort High supporters as a 12-point swing -- and the Green Wave rode the momentum to a 37-29 victory.

"I was trying to bring him back down," Wilson said. "I should have just let him go."

The region setback means Beaufort High faces a tougher path to earn one of the top two spots from its region and a trip to the state duals. Beaufort High wrestles region power Fort Dorchester next week for a chance to recover.

The Eagles host a four-team dual Saturday before returning to region competition. It may require some time to shake Wednesday's result.

"I still feel we're one of the top contenders in our region," said Beaufort High senior Maliek Maldonado. "We all feel that way."

JaClay Mixon delivered what might have been the most exciting points of the night at 170. The Beaufort High junior was down a point late in the third period and smothered on the mat by Summerville's Kyle Sullivan. But Mixon worked free to gain his footing, and then picked up two points for a reversal to earn the decision.

Beaufort High received pins from Thyrik Legree (182) and Maliek Maldonado (220) to take a 26-7 lead. But after the miscue at heavyweight, the Eagles' mood shifted entering the lighter weights.

After the fall, Larson grabbed his lower back and received attention from an athletic trainer before being helped off the mat. When the match was over, a teammate helped Larson out of the gym.

Beaufort High coach Bill DaMude told his wrestlers he was proud of the effort, but that the Eagles needed to develop a fiercer instinct when they had an opponent overmatched.

"Finish it," he said. "Don't let him off his back. It comes back to haunt you, doesn't it?"

Summerville 37, Beaufort High 29

Note: Match started at 138 pounds

106: James Sass (S) pinned Jake Sharp, third period

113: Tommy Collins (B) dec. James Knowles, 8-3

120: Jordan Wigger (S) won by forfeit

126: Keith Clark (S) pinned Mike Pirozzi, first period

132: Gavin Perkins (S) pinned David Derepentigny, first period

138: Daniel Smith (S) dec. Brandon Jenkins, 3-0

145: Chad Wood (S) major dec. Forrest Kimbrell, 10-0

152: Clayton Wynn (B) dec. Myron Smith, 6-2

160: Trey Arant (B) dec. Will Cranford, 4-2

170: JaClay Mixon (B) dec. Kyle Sullivan, 15-14

182: Thyrik Legree (B) pinned Oliver Galante, second period

195: Clint Wright (B) tech. fall Hershell Sharp, 19-3

220: Maliek Maldonado (B) pinned Monty Crowder, first period

285: Robert Larson (S) DQ over Tyler Wilson