Chapin Battles Tough Competition to Finish Third at Military Duals; Cole Haile Earns Most Outstanding Wrestler Award

On January 15-16, the Chapin Eagles hosted the Military Duals tournament at Chapin High School. The 11-team tournament featured teams from throughout South Carolina. Lead by the upper weight (152 pounds and above) Most Outstanding Wrestler Cole Haile who registered a 6-0 record, all wins by pin, the Eagles fought to a third place finish. This was made more impressive because Chapin forfeited one weight on Saturday because of an injury.

Friday saw Chapin finish the first day’s competition with two victories and one loss. The Eagles started competition by defeating Nation Ford 42-29. Haile started the match with a pin and was followed by consecutive pins Grant Frick, Nick Edenfield, and Hank Manos, which provided a commanding 24-0 advantage. Nation Ford cut the lead to 24-9; then, Dylan Whitcomb, Paul Collingwood, and Cole Hodges answered with a pin and two decisions, respectively, to build a 36-9 lead. Jake Watson ended Chapin’s scoring with a pin, and the Eagles emerged with a 42-29 victory.

Chapin then faced the Boiling Springs Bulldogs, who had given the Eagles their only loss of the season to date. Boiling Springs had surged to a 12-0 lead when Manos got the Eagles on the board with a decision. Even though Chapin fought gamely, the Bulldogs continued to earn wins and built a 28-3 lead. The Eagles responded by receiving a forfeit and pins by Hodges and Cabe to cut the deficit to 28-21. Chapin dropped the next four bouts, and Haile ended the match with a pin and the Eagles succumbed 52-27.

Chapin bounced back to defeat York 44-31. Manos began the match with a pin and a 6-0 lead. With Chapin up 6-4, the Eagles won 5 of the next six bouts to extend the lead to 32-7. Noel Hurley recorded a technical fall; Whitcomb, Hodges, and Kyle Nichols won by pin and Cabe earned a decision. AJ Spearman and Haile closed Chapin’s scoring with pins.

The Eagles started Saturday’s competition with a 54-24 victory over Dutch Fork. The Eagles combined 3 forfeits and pins by Hodges and Nichols to build a 30-0 advantage. Watson, Spearman, Haile strung together two decisions and a pin to build a 42-6 lead. Hurley ended Chapin’s scoring and the match with a pin.

Chapin then entered the Top-4 round of competition and faced Rock Hill. The Bearcats proved too strong and handed the Eagles their third loss of the season, 42-24. Collingwood began the match with a pin and Cabe earned a decision to stake the Eagles to a 9-3 lead. Spearman, Haile, and Edenfield provided a decision and two pins and the Eagles closed the gap to 27-24. However, that was the end to Chapin’s scoring and Rock Hill prevailed.

The final match of the tournament featured Chapin and a tough Westwood squad battling for Third Place honors. Cabe earned a major decision to put the Eagles on the board. Trailing 11-4, Dalton Pierce pinned his opponent and Chapin received a forfeit to regain the lead at 16-11. With Eagles trailing 17-16, Haile registered his sixth pin of the tournament to put Chapin in front 22-17. Westwood battled back to take a 27-22 advantage. Manos cut the lead to 27-25 with a decision. Following a Chapin forfeit, Hurley closed the deficit to 33-31 with a pin. Westwood forfeited to Collingwood and the match ended in a 37-37 tie. Chapin prevailed to win in the tiebreaker.

The Eagles host Sumter Tuesday, January 19 at the Chapin High School arena.