1979 South Carolina 4A Wrestling State Champions SCMAT © 2018
Irmo High School
Team Placement at State Tournament
1. Irmo - 96 points (Coach B.D. LaPrad)
2. Rock Hill - 95 points (Coach Tom Ellenberger)
3. Northwestern - 92.5 points (Coach Sam Clark)
4. Summerville - 87.5 points (Coach Steve LaPrad)
5. Airport - 65 points (Coach Jim Barnes)
6. Chester - 63.5 points (Coach Steve Boyd & Steven Gribble)
7. Battery Creek - 40 points (Coach Mike Lopatka)
8. Byrnes - 39 points (Coach Tim Remaley)
8. Orangeburg Wilkinson - 39 points (Coach James Ragland)
10. Gaffney - 38.5 points (Coach Al Curtis)
10. Wade Hampton - 38.5 points (Coach Mike Hawkins)
12. Greenwood - 38 points (Coach Mike Hamlett)
13. Wando - 37 points (Coach Donald Stone)
14. Eastside - 36 points (Coach Malcolm Singleton)
15. Brookland Cayce - 30 points (Coach John Checkovich)
16. Goose Creek - 22 points (Coach Jim Bonneville)
17. Lower Richland - 19 points
18. Dorman - 18 points (Coach George Foster)
19. Spartanburg - 17 points
20. Easley - 14 points (Coach David Loggins)
20. Union - 14 points (Coach John Harbin)
22. Laurens - 12.5 points
23. Middleton - 11 points (Coach Bob Olson)
24. Sumter - 10.5 points
25. Stall - 6 points
26. Westside - 5 points
27. Hartsville - 4 points
28. Dreher - 3.5 points
29. T.L. Hanna - 3 points
29. Richland Northeast = 3 points
29. Spring Valley - 3 points
Other wrestling team with State Qualifiers, however team points and placement unknown:
Camden
Conway
Berkeley
Individual State Champions
State Finals:
98 David Morris (Eastside) dec. Thomas Hutchinson (Northwestern), 5-4
105 Neal Latham (Northwestern) dec. Richard Gibson (Summerville), 3-2
112 Wes Hallman (Rock Hill) pin Lamar Strouble (Brookland-Cayce)
119 Chris Sinnett (Irmo) dec. Preston Hughes (Chester), 5-0
126 Jody Taylor (Wade Hampton) pin Keith Bailey (Byrnes)
132 Alphonso Hemphill (Northwestern) dec. Robert Espinoza (Battery Creek), 11-4
138 Jamie Ballard (Rock Hill) maj.dec. Bryan Redmond (Airport), 11-3
145 Johnny Elliott (Gaffney) maj.dec. Johnny Dunkley (Irmo), 21-8
155 William Boozer (Irmo) dec. Scott Preston (Easley), 8-4
167 Steve Jacobs (Irmo) dec. Keith Griffin (Rock Hill), 7-2
175 Ben Barfield (Airport) defeated Lloyd Bullard (Orangeburg-Wilkinson)
185 Eric Williams (Greenwood) dec. Brian Detrick (Northwestern), 2-0 OT
UNL Charles Kennedy (Chester) dec. David Clayton (Byrnes), criteria
State Consolation Finals:
98 P.Y. Erby (Rock Hill) pin Lewis Tucker (Dorman)
105 Tim Myers (Lower Richland) dec. Dolph Farmer (Wando), 2-1
112 Warren Steele (Summerville) pin James Pinckney (Wando)
119 Cliff Clement (Eastside) dec. Timmy Gilbert (Wando), 3-2
126 Bobby Dunn (Goose Creek) dec. Jay VonKannel (Irmo), 7-4
132 Julius Pendergrass (Chester) defeated Melvin Funchess (Orangeburg-Wilkinson)
138 Vince Smith (Battery Creek) pin Mike Sims (Chester)
145 Reid Banks (Summerville) dec. Robbie Thomas (Airport), 5-1
155 Gary Berenyi (Union) dec. Burke Wellborn (Summerville), 7-6
167 Winfred McMoore (Northwestern) defeated George Shampy (Airport)
175 Richard Harris (Rock Hill) defeated William Wright (Greenwood)
185 Mark Judy (Middleton) defeated Chris Wyndham (Brookland-Cayce)
UNL Wally Burbage (Middleton) defeated Alex Hudson (Spartanburg)
Most Outstanding Wrestler Award
Johnny Elliott (Sr. 145 lbs.) - Gaffney (Coach A.L. Curtis)
State Tournament Location
Irmo H.S. February 23-24, 1979
State Qualifying Tournaments
Top 4 Wrestlers from each State Qualifier went to State:
Lower State - at Summerville H.S. - February 17, 1979
Team Placement at Lower State:
1. Summerville
2. Wando
3. Middleton
Northwest State - at Wade Hampton H.S. - February 16-17, 1979
Team Placement at Northwest State:
1. Byrnes
2. Wade Hampton
3. Dorman
Piedmont State - at Northwestern H.S. - February 16-17, 1979
Team Placement at Piedmont State:
1. Rock Hill
2. Northwestern
3. Sumter
Mid-State - at ? - February 16-17, 1979
Team Placement at Mid-State:
1. Airport
2. Irmo
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