Lake City – The Lake City High School wrestling team won the Region 6-AAA championship for the third year in a row. However, the Panthers accomplished something extra this year.
They reached the third round of the state playoffs for the first time during that 3-year run.
“It was really good to get a playoff win at home for our fans,” said LCHS head coach Lorenzo McFadden. “They have been big supporters of our program.”
Lake City actually got two playoff wins in front of the home crowd, and that’s what was different. Region champions host the first two rounds on the same day, and the Panthers had won their first-round matches only to fall in the second round in the two previous seasons.
This year they opened with a 56-12 over Swansea before pulling out a 39-36 win over Loris in the second round. LCHS traveled to Columbia to face Dreher in the third round, dropping a competitive 45-30 decision.
“Expectations are always to be state champs,” McFadden said. “We didn't make the title match, but we are always proud of our kids.”
Lake City was led by Lorenzo McFadden-Pressley, who won the state championship in the 285-pound weight class for the second time in his career. McFadden-Pressley is a senior who has signed to play college football with Old Dominion.
There were three other Lake City wrestlers who were state qualifiers. They were Torrance Wilson at 175 pounds, Messiah Brayboy-Singletary at 157 and Derrick Graham at 152. Those three, along with McFadden-Pressley, were region champions.
Two others won region championships in Willie Pickens at 132 and Ja’Kari Fullard at 215.
Others who wrestled for Lake City were Chris Brown and Tyra Jones at 106, Chucky Jordan at 120, Jeffery McFadden at 126, Ethan McFadden at 144, Syrus Brown at 165 and Antonio Singletary at 285.
Coach McFadden said his team gained momentum as the season went along.
“Our season started off slow but productive,” he said. “We had a few missed weight classes because the kids had to meet their hydration weight. We finished the season 13-8 and undefeated in the region.”
Coach McFadden believes another strong season awaits Lake City next year when it will be wrestling at AA following reclassification.
“We are looking forward to another great season with eight wrestlers returning to the program,” he said. “Four are region champs and three of them are state qualifiers.”
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