The high school wrestling season is underway around Lexington County and many teams are looking to have a successful 2024-25 season. 

10 local teams began the year ranked in their classification’s top 20 by the South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association. Gilbert and Chapin were the two highest-ranked teams entering the season, sitting fourth in their respective rankings. 

Both teams return athletes who qualified for the state tournament last season.

Chapin has five state qualifiers returning including two-time state champion Preston White, who placed first in the 113-pound division in 2024 and first in the 106-pound division in 2023. Other returning qualifiers include Jace Randolph, Josh Atkins, Lake Newman and Harrison Jones.

Devin Lirgg and Shane Wise return for Gilbert. Lirgg is a two-time state qualifier, and Wise is fresh off his first appearance. 

River Bluff, Lexington and Dutch Fork are ranked in the 5A Division I poll. River Bluff is sixth, Lexington is 12th and Dutch Fork is 13th. Between the three of them are five returning state qualifiers, including 2024 144-pound champion Breydon Jennings from Lexington, three-time qualifier Cael Edwards out of River Bluff and two-time runner-up Jackson Stocker from Dutch Fork.

Whine Knoll earned a spot with Chapin in the 5A Division II poll. The Timberwolves began the season ranked 12th. The Timberwolves have three returning state qualifiers.in Dane Dillon, Adrain Galo and Reco Rembert. 

Irmo is the only unranked 5A team in Lexington County, but the team is returning a state finalist in Ethan Gamble. He finished third in the 220-pound division in 2023. Last season, he placed second in the 215-pound division. 

Airport and Pelion are the last two ranked boys teams. The Eagles just made the cut at No. 19 in the 4A poll. Pelion is 13th in the combined 2A/1A poll. 

Gilbert and Airport are the two teams ranked in the girls poll. The Eagles were ranked eighth overall, and the Indians were 14th. Each team returns two state qualifiers. 

Both of Airport’s returning athletes placed on the podium at last year’s finals. Alyssa Ceacal is the reigning 235-pound champion and Givyn Dyer placed third in the 145-pound division. 

For Gilbert, two-time 145-pound runner-up Rory Travis and 100-pound qualifier Ashley Kelly return. 

The next round of team rankings and the first round of individual rankings are set to be released on Dec. 19. Results from some of the early season tournaments will be taken into account. Future events featuring teams around Lexington County worth following include the Fort Mill Kingsley Classic Dec. 13-5, the Dutch Fork Silver Fox Invitational on Dec. 14 and the Lugoff-Elgin Demon Classic on Dec. 20-21. 

Preseason team rankings

5A Division I - Preseason Team Rankings

1. Summerville
2. Carolina Forest
3. James Island
4. Fort Dorchester
5. Boiling Springs
6. River Bluff
7. Stratford
8. Byrnes
9. Ashley Ridge
10. Rock Hill
11. Dorman
12. Lexington
13. Dutch Fork
14. Clover
15. Cane Bay
16. Blythewood
17. West Ashley
18. Wando
19. JL Mann
20. Mauldin

5A Division II - Preseason Team Rankings

1. Eastside
2. Indian Land
3. Lugoff-Elgin
4. Chapin
5. Fort Mill
6. Greenwood
7. Goose Creek
8. Woodmont
9. Hillcrest
10. TL Hanna
11. Gaffney
12. White Knoll
13. Nation Ford
14. Myrtle Beach
15. Catawba Ridge
16. Northwestern
17. St. James
18. Socastee
19. North Myrtle Beach
20. Berkeley

4A - Preseason Team Rankings

1. May River
2. South Pointe
3. Laurens
4. Gilbert
5. Dreher
6. Travelers Rest
7. Fountain Inn
8. Beaufort
9. Bishop England
10. Hilton Head
11. North Augusta
12. South Aiken
13. Westside
14. Bluffton
15. AC Flora
16. Hartsville
17. South Florence
18. Aiken
19. Airport
20. Greer

2A-1A - Preseason Team Rankings

1. Chesnee
2. Chester
3. Liberty
4. Ninety-Six
5. Dixie
6. Buford
7. North Central
8. Timberland
9. Edisto
10. Lake City
11. High Point Academy
12. Clinton
13. Pelion
14. Bridges Prep
15. Abbeville
16. Academic Magnet
17. Philip Simmons
18. Landrum
19. Cheraw
20. Fairfield Central

Girls - Preseason Team Rankings

1. Rock Hill Girls
2. Clover Girls
3. Gaffney Girls
4. Lancaster Girls
5. Chester Girls
6. Blythewood Girls
7. Greenwood Girls
8. Airport Girls
9. Cane Bay Girls
10. Conway Girls
11. Indian Land Girls
12. Bluffton Girls
13. Mauldin Girls
14. Gilbert Girls
15. Hartsville Girls
16. Laurens Girls
17. South Florence Girls
18. Union County Girls
19. Abbeville Girls
20. Boiling Springs Girls