The Cardinal Newman Cardinals, 2011-2012 SCISA 3A Champions: Joseph Womack, Sr., 120#; Craig Clyburn, Sr., 138#; Jake Wilson, Sr., 182#; Sean Nottoli, Sr., Cole McCarter, Sr., 126#; Zack Khammash, Sr., HVY; Nick Palevich, Sr., 160#; Taylor Patten, Sr., 195#; Clayton Segars, Sr.; Billy Solomon, Sr., 220#; Hollis Carrouth, Sr., 172#; Thomas Touma, Sr., 145#; Nathan Hayes, Jr., 132#; Mitchell Pennington, Soph., Bernie Herbkersman, Fr., 112#; Nicky Winterstein, 8th, 106#, and Coach Eric Goff. Photo by Jim Marczesky The Cardinal Newman Cardinals survived a final- round showdown with the Hammond Skyhawks, 42-36, at Cardinal Newman Saturday, January 28 to capture their fourth consecutive SCISA state wrestling duals championship.

Six schools sent teams to the state championships; Cardinal Newman and Hammond, as the top two seeds, received byes into the semifinals. In the first round, Ben Lippen scored a 48-29 victory over an Augusta Christian team depleted by a number of their top wrestlers taking the SAT. Also in the first round, Orangeburg Prep defeated an undermanned Heathwood Hall squad 58-24.

Cardinal Newman’s Zack Khammash and Hammond’s Patrick McClane square off in the deciding heavyweight match. In the semifinals, Hammond dispatched Ben Lippen 52-30, clinching a finals berth when Cody Sims outpointed Blake Tindle. Cardinal Newman blitzed through Orangeburg Prep 72-6 to breeze into the finals. After a lunch break, Ben Lippen defeated Orangeburg Prep 45-30 to take third place.

Hammond struck quickly in the finals. Ray Castles (106), Gantt Castles ( 113), and Gervais Baker (120) all scored pins over their Cardinal counterparts to give the Skyhawks an early 18-0 lead. Senior Cole McCarter ( 126) outpointed Lang Phillips 6-2 to get the Cardinals on the board, and Nathan Hayes pinned Franklin Owen at 132 to cut the deficit to 18- 9. Matthew Kay, in weight class 138, pinned Craig Clyburn to stretch the Skyhawk advantage to 24-9.

Cardinal Newman’s Taylor Patten and Hammond’s Calhoun McDougal wrestle at 195#. The Cardinals then won the next three weight classes with Thomas Touma (145) and Matthew Wilson (152) getting pins and Nick Palevich being awarded a forfeit win at 160 to take the lead 27-24. Sims came back for Hammond and pinned Hollis Carrouth in the third period to push the Skyhawks back in front.

After Jake Wilson received a forfeit win at 182, Calhoun McDougal and Taylor Patten grappled at 195. McDougal nearly pinned Patten in the first period, but the Cardinal senior was able to keep his shoulders off the mat until the buzzer sounded. Patten then reversed the scenario in the second period, but McDougal eventually wriggled out of the pin.

In the third period, McDougal took Patten down once again, and this time Patten was unable to avoid the pinfall. McDougal’s pin put Hammond up 36-33.

Hammond forfeited the 220 weight class to Billy Solomon putting the Cardinals up three going into the heavyweight match- up. Hammond’s Patrick McClane and Cardinal Newman’s Zack Khammash waged a battle that had the gymnasium rocking for the entire match.

Within the first 20 seconds of the first period, McClane had Khammash down, seemingly for the pin. But Khammash was able to slip out of the pin and got a reversal on McClane, scoring a twothem. point near fall to cut the score to 5-4 after one period. Khammash got a takedown in the second period to take a 6-5 lead into the third.

Starting from the down position, Khammash earned a reversal and two more points, then was awarded a penalty point for stalling on McClane. A late McClane escape made the final score 9- 6 on points in favor of the Cardinal senior, and Cardinal Newman escaped with a 42-36 win.

All squads now ready their wrestlers for the final match of the year, the SCISA state individual championships, to be held Saturday, February 4 at Orangeburg Prep.