WHITMIRE — After the final individual wrestling match between in-county rivals Whitmire Community School and Mid-Carolina last night, the scoreboard read 42-42, the teams shook hands, but the final outcome was still in doubt.

About 10 minutes later, the Rebels were awarded the victory by the official at the scorers’ table after exhausting seven tiebreakers. Mid-Carolina wrestlers had more nearfall points and were given the win after leading for much of the match.

Despite the win, Mid-Carolina coach and former Whitmire coach Kyle Cannon was not satisfied.

“It might be one of the most disappointing victories in my book,” Cannon said. “We could have done better.”

The Rebels led by as many as 12 three times in the match, and were ahead 42-30 with two individual matches remaining.

The Wolverines knotted the match after first-period pins by Cody Jeter (119) and Lance Kitchens (125).

Whitmire also got pins from Eric Shouse (152), Tim Epps (160) and Trey Nelson (103).

The Wolverines were forced to forfeit the 140, 145, 215 and heavyweight classes, while Mid-Carolina fielded wrestlers in all but two weights.

“I hate it that it went to a technicality with a tiebreaker,” Whitmire assistant coach Willie Jarman said. “I hate that it got that far, but that kind of stuff happens when you give up forfeits. They gave us some, and we gave them some.”

Mid-Carolina got pinfall victories from Dominique Wicker (130), Justin Harvey (171) and Nick Amick (112).

Whitmire was without one of its strongest returning wrestlers, Ethan Campbell. The junior was involved in a car accident earlier in the week and didn’t wrestle last night or in Tuesday’s tri-meet at Heathwood Hall. According to coach Jarrod King, Campbell suffered some “mild head trauma” and has been kept out of action for precautionary reasons. Campbell is expected to be back by next week’s match at Newberry.

Wolverines roll past Foxes, 54-18

Whitmire cruised to an easy 54-18 victory against Fox Creek in the opening match of last night’s tri-meet.

The Foxes won two matches by forfeit and one by win. Whitmire won every other match including pins from Seth Horton (140) and Eric Shouse (152).

Rebels down Fox Creek, 60-12

Mid-Carolina knocked off Fox Creek 60-12 to start its night.

Dalton Snelgrove (152), Brock Glover (160), B.J. Gibbs (215) and Tyler Childers (heavyweight) were victorious.

Gibbs is currently ranked in the state at 215 pounds and is expected to make a deep run in the postseason.

“(Gibbs) gets after it and is aggressive,” Cannon said. “He has to get in shape. He gets after it in the first period and a half, and you can tell the conditioning kicks in. We will work on that, but he’s got a great shot. We’ll see where he finishes in the region and maybe Upper State. If he works hard, he can make his own destiny.”

The Rebels will be back in action Wednesday when they travel to Pelion.

WCS splits matches at Heathwood Hall

The Whitmire wrestling team knocked off St. Joseph’s Catholic 48-30 and lost to Heathwood Hall 43-24 Wednesday in Columbia.

In the victory, the Wolverines got pins from Devin Armstrong (119), Kitchens (125), Ralph Rose (130), Horton (135), Eric Shouse (152) and Epps (160).

Cody Moss picked up Whitmire’s only win on the mat against Heathwood Hall when he pinned his opponent at 171 pounds in the first period.

The Wolverines will be back on the mat Tuesday when they travel to Newberry.

“Our win over St. Joseph’s was a good team victory,” King said. “Almost every wrestler we put on the mat won and they did it wrestling smart. We’ve worked really hard to improve our weakness and many of our young men showed that improvement in their matches. We wrestled with a lot of confidence.”