Some of the best athletes in South Carolina come from Lexington County. 

These players do not just shine in their sport, but they flourish in the classroom, at home and in everyday life. 

This past year, six Lexington County athletes, playing six different sports at six different schools, were featured in the Chronicle’s inaugural edition of The Grind. 

Below are some of the highlights of their stories and what they have in store next. 

Preston White - Chapin - Wrestling

Preston White has dominated on the wrestling mat since bursting on the scene.

White spends countless hours a week honing his craft. Outside of his work with the Chapin team, White works out on his own and with private personal trainers.

All of this work is done to help him achieve his ultimate goal of wrestling in college and becoming an All-American. Pushed by his faith and desire to improve, White is already on the right track to make those dreams come true.

White started wrestling at a young age. He first competed on the mat at six years old as a member of a local youth program. When he reached the middle school ranks, he was clearly an up-and-comer to keep an eye on.

During his final season before high school, he went undefeated and won the 106-pound middle school state title after pinning every opponent.

Since arriving on the varsity scene, he has become one of the most successful wrestlers in Chapin’s history. From winning multiple state titles to going wire-to-wire ranked No. 1 in the state last season, he is reaching new heights.

White capped an exciting 2024-25 season with his third state championship. He will go for four in 2026, but on a different team outside of the county after transferring to Ben Lippen.

Izzy Saville - Lexington - Lacrosse

Lexington’s Izzy Saville was a talented multi-sport athlete who completed her senior year in 2025. 

Saville was a main contributor on the Wildcats basketball and lacrosse teams. Both had solid seasons, with the lacrosse team even winning its first state championship in program history, and they couldn’t have done it without Saville.

In the championship game, she scored five goals. In fact, she had five goals in each of the team’s three playoff wins. 

During her time at Lexington, Saville earned All-State honors in both basketball and lacrosse. Despite the quick turnaround between sports, she showed no rust on the field.

Saville has played both sports for years. She started around the same time she moved to Lexington after years of playing other sports like baseball and gymnastics.

Once she started playing basketball and lacrosse, it stuck. Both came naturally, and while basketball is more demanding, she prefers to play lacrosse. What she values most, though, are the relationships built through both.

Aspen Boulware - Gray Collegiate - Softball 

Gray Collegiate softball star Aspen Boulware has big dreams for her future, and they don’t stop at college ball.   

Boulware drew interest from many Division I softball teams. She has succeeded at every level she’s played and has her eyes set on Olympic glory. 

For many high school athletes, that may sound out of reach. But Boulware is on track to make her dream a reality. 

Boulware has already represented Team U.S.A at multiple events, and she keeps getting better as she leads Gray Collegiate to softball excellence. 

Her desire for success ties a lot into her upbringing. She comes from an athletic family and a successful one. 

Her father, Michael Boulware, played in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings. He played college football at Florida State. 

At Florida State, he met his wife, Jessica, one of the greatest softball players in school history. 

Jessica was named USA Softball Player of the Year and won the Honda Award as a senior in 2004. She was the back-to-back ACC Player of the Year in 2003 and 2004 and was also a multiple-time first-team All-American selection.

Boulware was the No. 1 player in the country in the class of 2027, but she recently reclassified to 2026 and signed to play college ball right down the road for the Gamecocks. 

She will finish her final year at Gray Collegiate and then represent the Garnet and Black before hopefully donning the Red, White and Blue AT LA2028.

Hunter Epps - Airport - Baseball

Fighting through some of the worst pain in his life, Hunter Epps led the Airport baseball team to a historic 4A state championship.

Epps was one of the top players on the team as it won its first state title in program history. During the team’s postseason run, he overcame intense back pain.

The senior pitched the entirety of the championship-clinching game on Airport’s home field. He was excellent in that game, throwing six strikeouts while allowing just four hits, one walk and zero runs. He was also 2-3 from the plate and scored two runs.

Epps has come a long way since his early days in baseball. He was introduced to the game at a young age by his parents. From coach pitch to travel ball, some of his fondest memories come from spending time on the ball field with his family.

When he first arrived at Airport, Epps was a much smaller player. He focused the majority of his training on adding muscle. Throughout his four-year career, he estimates he gained anywhere between 50 to 75 pounds.

This added weight helped Epps with both pitching and hitting skills. He could now throw faster, hit harder and play longer.

His hard work has paid off. He went from a scrawny freshman on day one to an All-State selection, Region Player of the Year, state champion and future college baseball player.

He committed to play for USC Union during his freshman season of college. 

Alexis Jodie - River Bluff - Volleyball

Through all the chaos and noise on a volleyball court, River Bluff senior setter Alexis Jodie was a calming presence. When she was on the floor, the team knew they were in good hands. 

As a setter, Jodie may not be scoring the points, but she touched the ball before almost every River Bluff attacking opportunity. It was her job to get the ball to the heavy hitters, and she was one of the best at it.    

Jodie recently concluded her senior season at River Bluff, leading the Gators all the way to the state championship before losing a close back-and-forth against Dorman. 

Jodie prides herself on being a team player. She joined the Gator varsity team in eighth grade and has been racking up assists ever since, finishing her career with over 4,000.

Jodie started her athletic career as a softball player and played that until she was about 14. At around age 12, she began playing volleyball, looking for local clinics and camps to attend.

She played one year of middle school volleyball before trying out for and making the high school varsity team in eighth grade. 

Volleyball is now a year-round activity for Jodie, who also plays for the Carolina Rouge club team. 

While a year-round volleyball schedule can be exhausting, for Jodie, the loss of free time is worth it. 

She is set to attend Campbell University and play Division I volleyball for the Camels. She also hopes to major in psychology, with a future working in sports psychology. 

Ta’Maj Gilliam - Batesburg-Leesville - Basketball

For Ta’Maj Gilliam, basketball is more than a game. It’s his life.

The pressure, precision and passion in the game draw the Batesburg-Leesville senior to the court. Whether it's a friendly contest between friends, a scrimmage in practice or an intense playoff game, Gilliam takes the same mental approach each time. 

Gilliam has made a name for himself at Batesburg-Leesville, but he’s looking to go beyond that. He led the team to an impressive (17-8) record and region championship last season and aiming even higher this season. 

Gilliam averaged a team-high 16 points and earned his team extra possessions with 2.5 steals per game. Those numbers are up from his 14 points and one steal average in 2024. 

His development vastly predates his time with the Batesburg-Leesville varsity team. It started where it did for many other elite players: outside, playing with their siblings. 

Gilliam is a middle child with older and younger siblings involved in sports. He was always the underdog on the basketball court, being bodied by his older brother and sometimes overlooked in favor of his younger one. 

While Gilliam received no sympathy from his siblings on the court, he credits these sibling battles for toughening him up and making him the player he is today.

With one more year left at Batesburg-Leesville, Gilliam is more dedicated than ever to having a big year. 

Outside of wanting to win a state championship, he is excited to play with his teammates one last time and, hopefully, gain the attention of some colleges.