Clinching a 5th consecutive Region 5-5A wresting title was not the only objective for River Bluff Wednesday at White Knoll High School.
For 1st year head coach Joe Cummings, the 48-18 win was all about clearing "Hurdle 1" in its goal of regaining the Class 5A title.
"1st and foremost, we're blessed to have had the opportunity to even get to compete for this," he said. "With some states not even having wrestling, we're so fortunate and it's something that we take advantage of every opportunity that we get to train to get better, to compete. We've been very blessed to have the opportunities that we've had and we're trying to make the best of them."
White Knoll needed a victory to keep alive its hopes of defending the Class 5A title. Early pinfall victories by Brandon Riley (120 lbs.), Andrew Beeler (138 lbs.) and Anderson Hall (145 lbs.) gave River Bluff an 18-3 advantage.
The Gators secured 4 more pinfalls by Quinton Boyle (170 lbs.), William Rogers (182 lbs.), Carter Hammond (113 lbs.) and Michael Rogers (120 lbs.) to clinch the victory. White Knoll's lone victories came via points by Jason Garay (132 lbs.), Cam Rice (152 lbs.), Davin Caulder (195 lbs.), Tylor Shealy (220 lbs.) and Dawson Prevette (106 lbs.).
The loss means Lexington can clinch the 2nd playoff berth out of Region 5-5A with wins over Dutch Fork and Chapin. Only 2 teams will earn post-season berth out of each region this year in the SC High School League.
Meanwhile, River Bluff will open at home Feb. 1 against the 2nd place team out of Region 8-5A. To reach a 3rd state final in 5 years, the Gators would have to win twice on the road.
"The way the playoffs are, there are absolutely no walk throughs," Cummings said. "Every single match you're going to get is going to be a barn-burner and we've got to be ready to go and we're going to train like every match is a state championship. We've got to take 1 at a time and we're going to give it everything we've got and we're going to fight with everything we've got."
Gilbert 72, Brookland-Cayce 6
The Indians claimed at least a share of another Region 5-3A title with a convincing win over the host team Bearcats.
Harley Boatwright, Grayson Dowden and Jackson Caulder earned wins over state qualifiers. 
Gilbert can claim the region title outright with a victory over Orangeburg-Wilkinson. The 2-time defending Class 3A Lower State champions would remain at home through the 1st 2 rounds.