The weeklong quest for a trip to the SC High School League wrestling finals at Dreher High Schools begins Saturday for 5 Chronicle Country teams.

This year's playoff format only includes 16 teams, 2 from each region, which shortens the playoff bracket to 4 rounds. 

Gilbert, River Bluff and Pelion will open at home. The Indians start their run for a 3rd consecutive Class 3A Lower State title and 1st ever state title at 11 am against Lake City. 

A victory would earn Gilbert a quarterfinal match Monday at home against either top-seed Aynor or Battery Creek. Also in Class 3A, Brookland-Cayce heads to Camden. 

Back in Class 2A, 2nd seed Pelion would also have homecourt advantage through the semifinals. The Pantherws open against Phillip Simmons, with the winner facing either Cross or Cheraw Monday.

Class 5A has seen a Lexington School District 1 team represent the Lower State 3 of the past 4 years. River Bluff, which won it all in 2017 and placed runner-up in 2019, opens at noon in The Swamp against Ashley Ridge. River Bluff will either travel to top-seed Wando or play host to St. James Monday with a win. 

Lexington travels to longtime rival Summerville for a 1 pm 1st round match. The winner either travels to Socastee or face Cane Bay which would be a road match for the Wildcats.

(Saturday's Matches)
Lake City at Gilbert 11 am 
Ashley Ridge at River Bluff noon
Lexington at Summerville
Brookland-Cayce at Camden 
Phillip Simmons at Pelion