LHS's Craig stars in Taco Bell field

The Lancaster High School junior wrestler Joe Craig took the whole enchilada at the annual Taco Bell prep wrestling tournament on Saturday at Spring Valley High.

Craig, the Bruins' 145-pounder, went 4-0 with as many pins to capture the tournament's s Most Outstanding Wrestler Award.

"Joe was, as the award said, outstanding throughout the tournament," said LHS coach Sam Robinson. "He won the award in a field which included two-time state champions. It was an elite group and to be the best says a great deal about him."

Craig, 12-2 for the season, notched two 14-second pins to highlight his day.

One of his 14-second falls came in the title match.

"Joe never gave up and gave 110 percent all day," Robinson said. "The award was decided by a points system, so it was most deserving. All of his wins were on pins, so it was an impressive performance."

Craig was one of three Bruins to place in the 17-team field.

Tyrese White, at 125, finished third in his weight class with a 4-1 record.

Casey Truesdale, in the heavyweight class, was third, going 4-1.

"I was proud of our effort and the experience our team gained can only be a benefit to us," he said. "In the past, when a Lancaster wrestling team went to a tournament, they went home in a hurry.<

"We're making strides and building a name for our program," Robinson said.

"Our performance at the Taco Bell can only help us improve.

LHS capped its pre-holiday mat schedule Tuesday at region foe York.

Creed wins title

The Indian Land High School wrestling team had a solid showing in the Demon Classic at Lugoff-Elgin High School, highlighted by an individual crown.

Creed went 6-0 in his weight class to capture the title on Saturday at L-E.

"Dillon wrestled solid in a tough field," said IL coach Mike Kersey. "I was pleased with his effort. Dillon was fundamentally sound the whole weekend."

Kersey noted Creed's semifinal victory.

"It was exciting," he said. "Dillon had a takedown in the final seconds to win and advance to the championship round."

The match was tied and came down to a clutch move by Dillon," Kersey said.

Creed led the way for the Warriors who had three other wrestlers place.

Trevor Jones, in the 130-pound weight class, rebounded from an opening loss to notch six straight wins.

"His only loss was to the wrestler who won the championship in that weight class," Kersey said. "Trevor was in a challenging weight class, but really came on to have a successful run and do real well."

In the 140-pound weight class, junior Thomas Harris went 5-2 with what Kersey called "two tough losses."

Jesse Perez, a junior, was sixth at 125, but was impressive for a first-year wrestler.

"I thought Jesse did the best he could with a limited background," Kersey said.

Kersey added the overall experience can only help the IL team.

"The field had 28 teams and we were competing with quality programs," Kersey said. "We will go back and look at what we did. We will work on our weaknesses and look to build off our strengths."

The Warriors wrestled at Class AAAA foes Rock Hill and Nation Ford on Tuesday.

"In our early-season schedule, I wanted it to be challenging, so we could be exposed to good, tough competition," he said. "You only get better against tough competition. We will get into our region schedule in January and these matches can only help us."

LMS wins

The Lancaster Middle School team, which includes students from South and A.R. Rucker middle schools, defeated New Heights of Pageland in an extended wrestling match.

The match was held with the intent of all wrestlers competing instead of a set number of wrestlers.

"This gave all these wrestlers on both sides a chance to wrestle," said Lancaster Middle School wrestling coach Robert Lloyd. "It was a full match, but we pulled it out."

Lancaster Middle won 78-72.

LMS 78 NH 72

82 - Jeff Strickland won by pin

90 - Gabe Campo won by pin

98 - Andrew Plyler lost by pin

105 - Quinton Brown won by pin

112 - Cody Pate lost by pin

119 - Garrett Ingram won by pin

126 - Dalton Willis lost by pin

132 - Bill Bowers lost by pin

138 - Quanterious Degraffenreid won by pin

145 - Miles Faulkner lost by pin

155 - Scott Wyatt lost by pin

185 - Dominique White won by pin

Heavyweight - Keith Vess lost by pin

109 - Tyler Hancock won by pin

115 - Turner Davis won by pin

118 - Kent Scott lost by pin

120 - Travis Allen won by pin

126 - Dalton Willis won by pin

132 - Bill Bowers won by pin

138 - Corey Kelly lost by pin

140 - Quanterious Degraffenreid won by default

143 - Miles Faulkner won by pin

155 - Scott Wyatt lost by pin

196 - Dominique White lost by pin