DUNCAN — For the first time in 14 years, the Byrnes wrestling team is heading to the third round of the state playoffs.
The Rebels kept their season alive on Saturday with a 34-27 in second-round win over Fort Mill. Although Byrnes took the lead in the next to last match when Jerel Mosley scored a 7-2 victory over Caden Haverson in the 182-pound bout, Rebels coach Russ Howard said things began to unfold earlier.
“Our move came at 152,” Howard said. “Jake Hart was their returning state champion, and we knew we were outmatched there. We put our junior varsity state champion Bryce Cartee there. Fort Mill got the pin, but that allowed us to bump a few guys up. The theory became winning the next three matches and getting a win from Warren James (195) to win by one.”
Byrnes did win the next three, but not exactly in the way Howard may have expected. Nick Fazzone (162) scored a 1-0 win to cut Fort Mill's lead to 27-19. That was followed by a second-round pin by Hunter Connelly over Fort Mill's Aubrey Schaffer to trim the advantage to 27-25 with two weight classes remaining. After Mosley put Byrnes ahead 28-27, James ended the day with a first-round pin.
“Warren is a powerful young man,” Howard said. “He isn't exactly where we want him to be technique wise, but I told him before he went out there that I wouldn't want it to be anybody else.
“I think with Hunter getting the pin and Mosley winning, it just gave Warren even more confidence to go out there and get the job done.”
The match began with an emotional win for Byrnes in the 220-pound weight class when Mateo Martinez came from behind in the third period to score a 6-4 win over Reese Key.
“Mateo actually had to leave the team for a while because his dad had a heart attack,” Howard said. “I told him the door would be open if he felt like he was at the point where he could come back out. He came back this week. We tried to go with Tavion (Williamson) in the first round against T.L. Hanna, but he had been sick and just didn't have it.
“I told the guys to get behind Mateo, and they did. Afterwards, I told him there was an angel looking out for him.”
Byrnes travels to Easley on Monday.
“At this point in time, everyone is good," Howard said. "I think we are wrestling well right now. It's going to be exciting to see what happens.”