Lexington, SC – Chesnee High School’s wrestling team secured the AA state championship on , defeating Edisto High School with a decisive 70-12 victory at White Knoll High School. The win marks the program’s second state title in three years, effectively turning the page on last year’s playoff loss to rival Chester.
The victory, described by head coach Jon Rentz as the culmination of a “Redemption Tour,” was fueled by a strong senior class and a focused off-season regimen. “I’ve got a bunch of seniors on the team and I knew they would take control,” Rentz stated. The team’s preparation, particularly in the wake of the Chester defeat, was a key factor. “We were kind of worried about wrestling on Wednesday than Saturday, especially against Chester. It took a lot out of us when we wrestled them, but we had two good practices.”
Senior Tyler Henderson highlighted the shift in team mentality following the loss to Chester. “After we lost to Chester, everybody was ready,” he said. “We were ready to come into the season. Going into the summer, it was like completely different from prior years. Going into the summer, we had way more practices, were getting more prepared and we started a lot earlier. We focused on getting stronger, weightlifting, everything. So, I think, at that point, I knew this team was going to be special.” This dedication translated into a dominant performance throughout the state championship match.
Chesnee’s path to the championship wasn’t without its challenges. Having already overcome Liberty and Chester in the Upper State bracket, the team entered the final match against Edisto with considerable confidence. Edisto, however, was making its first-ever appearance in the state final, representing a significant milestone for their program.
The match began with a forfeit victory for Chesnee’s Cranston Crane in the 106-pound weight class. A pinfall by Wayne Felder at 113 briefly tied the score at 6-6, but Chesnee quickly regained control, winning the subsequent 11 matches. This included a string of pinfall victories starting with Bryson Chappell (120), followed by Eli Barnhill (126), Kameron Hall (132), Taven Pisaro (138), Cullen Bradley (144), Thadeus Gerstenacker (150) – who secured his win in just 15 seconds – Quinton Gerstenacker (157), Zach Henderson (165), and culminating with Cristian Barrera (175).
Cameron Gallegos extended Chesnee’s lead with a 15-2 outpointing of Michael Charlton at 190 pounds, bringing the score to 63-6. A momentary shift occurred in the 215-pound matchup when Chesnee’s Timothy Reznichenko was penalized for a “Rock Bottom” slam while lifting Zachary Robinson. Robinson was awarded the victory due to his inability to continue, but Chesnee swiftly closed out the championship with a pinfall win by Davis Matthews at 285 pounds.
Despite the lopsided score, Edisto’s head coach, Melvin Wright, expressed pride in his team’s accomplishment of reaching the state final. He emphasized the need for year-round training to elevate the program further. “I realize these boys cross-train all year around,” Wright said. “So that’s one thing that we’re going to do different. The only thing we do is we wrestle during the rest of the season. But it takes off-season workouts. It takes us going to camps.”
Wright also noted growing support from parents and the school district, describing a “village approach” to the program’s development. “Now I feel like we have more support from the parents. The district is really supportive. It’s a village approach. I think we’ll get there next year and it will be different.” This suggests a commitment to sustained improvement and a belief in the program’s future potential.
The Chesnee Eagles’ victory underscores the importance of focused preparation, senior leadership, and a resilient team spirit. The win not only secures another state championship for the program but also serves as a testament to their dedication following a challenging loss the previous year. For Edisto, the experience of reaching the final represents a valuable learning opportunity and a foundation for future success.
