NMB Chiefs wrestlers finish second in Chiefs Classic

The North Myrtle Beach High School wrestling team hosted eight teams last Saturday for the Chiefs Classic, “Brawl on the River”, at North Myrtle Beach gym and after a long day finished in second place behind Carolina Forest.

North Myrtle Beach, Beaufort, North Charleston, Stratford, Loris, Waccamaw, Carolina Forest and Fairfield each wrestled four duals during the tournament, where individual matches earned points for the school’s team and eventually the final team winner.

North Myrtle Beach opened their competition against Loris and won easily 67-9. Results that follow will have the weight class of the wrestler following their name. NMB’s Jackson Smith(106) opened by pinning Landon Gerald in 2:34. Chiefs Jacob Moss(113) won by forfeit. Ben Young(120) and Naszeir Bellamy(126) won the next two for the Chiefs, pinning their opponents and Justin Maranellie(132) won a 9-6 decision over Nathan Todd. Ridge Kidder(138) of Loris pinned Jaylan Moses.

The Chiefs then won every match but one to finish the first round. Javante Stephens(145) pinned Gael Gonzales, Blake Jenkins(152) won by forfeit, Jackie Gore(160) had a major decision 18-9 over Chris Gilchrist, Andre Giddens(170) won by forfeit and Chase Simmons(182) pinned Rashawn Williams in 0:26.

Loris’ Demonte Wallace(195) decisioned Seth Clewis 8-4. Terrence Barr(220) of NMB won by forfeit and Clay Butler(285) pinned Loris’ Chandler Graham.

The Chiefs continued their winning ways with a 66-18 victory over Waccamaw. NMB’s Jackson Smith(106) won by forfeit, Ryan Gallagher(113) pinned NMB’s  Jacob Moss and Chief’s Ben Young(120) also won by forfeit. Naszeir Bellamy(126) won by default (injury) over Waccamaw’s Dalton Brown. Waccamaw’s Thomas Cook(132) pinned Justin Maranelli. Chiefs Jaylan Moses(138) pinned Stacey Wilson. Javante Stephens(145) won by forfeit.

Blake Jenkins(152) pinned Waccamaw’s Jaydin Carnihan, Jackie Gore(160) won by forfeit and NMB teammate Andre Giddens(170) pinned Tradd Shields in 1:42. Rashad Dawud(182) of NMB won by forfeit. Chase Simmons(182) pinned Waccamaw’s Jason Flint. Jerrod Smith(220) pinned NMB’s Terrence Barr, and Clay Butler(285) pinned Matt Joyce of Waccamaw.

North Charleston was the Chiefs opponent in round three of the Classic. The Chiefs won again 66-15. Jackson Smith(106) of NMB pinned Evante Campbell. Jacob Moss(113) and Ben Young(120) both won by forfeit for the Chiefs. William Bogstad(126) of North Charleston pinned Justin Maranellie. Naszeir Bellamy(132) of NMB pinned Trevon Walker, and Jaylan Moses(138) and Javante Stephens(145) of the Chiefs both won by forfeit. Parker Graham(152) decisioned NMB’s Blake Jenkins 7-6. Chiefs Jackie Gore(160) pinned Bryston Key and Andre Giddens(170) pinned North Charleston’s Israel Robinson.

Chase Simmons(182) won by forfeit. Joseph Lawson(195) pinned NMB’s Seth Lewis. Chiefs Terrence Barr(220) pinned Keyshawn Waring and NMB’s Malachi Black(285) won by forfeit.

The final round of the Chiefs Classic featured the two surviving teams, North Myrtle Beach and Carolina Forest and the first place trophy went to Carolina Forest 48-24. Carolina Forest won the first six weight classes as Braedon Bailey(106) won 15-0 over NMB’s Jackson Smith. Chiefs Jacob Moss(113) and Ben Young(120) were both pinned. Naszeir Bellamy(126) lost a 10-4 decision to Carolina Forest’s Issiah Poppe. Justin Marinellie(132) and Jaylan Moses(138) were also pinned by Carolina Forest. Javante Stephens(145) of North Myrtle Beach decisioned Nick Preciado 11-10. Jason Jacoby(152) pinned NMB’s Blake Jenkins. The Chiefs won the next three classes as Jackie Gore(160) and Andre Giddens(170) pinned their opponents and Chase Simmons(182) won a decision by a 2-1 margin. Nevon Tyler (195) pinned Chief Seth Clewis, Dylan Zajac beat NMB’s Terrence Barr 13-3 and Clay Butler (285) pinned Carolina Forest’s Evan DeLauter.

Coach Chris Mazyk  had mixed feelings about Saturday’s result. “For the most part I was impressed with our performance on Saturday and in the last three tournaments. But we were impacted by a couple of vacations of team members who didn’t wrestle. Those absences cost us points in our matches. Normally during this stretch of the season, the coaches evaluate the team’s performance and see who and what we have going forward. With guys out we don’t have an idea of what to fix. We told our kids that if they didn’t get back for team practices on Jan. 2 and Jan. 3 they would not wrestle in the Classic. A couple didn’t make it and that hurt us. We have team goals and it is imperative that we find out who is ‘all in’ and have a common goal. The last three tournaments were our toughest stretch so far. We need to work on commitment, get back to tradition and focus on who is ‘all in.’  Great teams have a ‘we’ before ‘me’ philosophy. That is what we have to fix as we go forward and get ready for region play,” Mazyk  said. Carrollton Georgia 54-45. The championship was won by Northwest Guilford, who beat Sumter 50-39.

The boys game with Conway was one of the Chiefs best defensive efforts of the year. The Chiefs held Conway to six points in the first quarter and half of the second, while they scored 18 points in that same amount of time. Chad Beasley scored the first five points for the Chiefs on a drive down the lane and a three-point shot from the left side. Beasley added two free throws at the 3:06 mark as he was fouled driving the lane. Rogan Vincent added a three from the left side and Beasley drove for two more points and a 12-4 Chiefs lead. The Chiefs led 14-6 after one quarter and Conway had few open shots, and more traveling calls and tie-ups due to the Chiefs defense.

Neither team added much scoring in the first half of the second quarter, with the Chiefs holding an 18-8 advantage with 4:10 left. While the Chiefs defense bothered Conway, North Myrtle Beach found a scoring touch. Tyree Smith hit a jumper at the foul line, Kymani Knox scored from under the basket, Smith added another basket, Vincent another three-pointer and Knox again from the baseline. The half ended with the Chiefs leading 29-10.

The Chiefs opened the third quarter with a Javi Marlowe drive and a three-pointer from Travis Collins. Collins scored two more baskets sandwiched around a Knox steal and shot under the basket. Conway called a timeout at the 4:29 mark of the quarter and the Chiefs in front by 40-14. The home crowd enjoyed the steals and a layup to add to the scoring and a 46-16 lead after three quarters.

Coach Ryan Walker let his bench get some playing time in the final quarter, and that, along with Conway finally hitting their shots, got Conway a little closer as they outscored the Chiefs 15-9 in the final eight minutes.

The Chiefs offense was led by Chad Beasley with 12 points and Travis Collins with 11 points. Ten players scored for the Chiefs. Coach Walker was happy with the team’s effort. “The guys played great defense. Number 11 and 4 for them were making it hard for us at times, but our guys did a great job overall. Good hustle, solid defense and rebounding. Everybody contributed,” Walker said.

The Chiefs travelled to West Brunswick Friday and Saturday for a tournament. They beat Clinton High School 45-34 and then won over North Davidson on Saturday by a 69-67 score in the Wing and Fish Classic.

The North Myrtle Beach teams return to action December 27-28 in the Waccamaw Tournament.