In the hallowed halls of Greenwood High School, the resounding echoes of victory have reverberated for half a century, emanating from the heart of a wrestling program that has become synonymous with tenacity, skill, and unyielding spirit. As the mat grapples with the scuffle of determined athletes and the crowd erupts in cheers, Greenwood wrestling stands at the pinnacle of its 50-year journey, celebrating an enduring legacy that has left an indelible mark on both the school and the sport.
The Eagle wrestling team welcomed all alumni and former coaches for their first tri-meet of the season. After enjoying a nice meal beforehand, former and current Eagles alike gathered in the gym to celebrate. According to head coach Nick Mountz, it was a surreal moment.
“To see everyone here, and to see how far the program has come since the beginning, it’s just really cool,” said Mountz. “And to last 50 years, I think that says a lot about the program.”
The pastures haven’t always been green, however. In the past, Eagle wrestling has struggled with numbers. The lack of depth has left much to be desired in lean years for Greenwood. However, the Eagles persevered.
“Some years we’ve had a very small number and some years we’ve had 80 kids,” said Mountz. “Once again, I think it says a lot about the program that it’s lasted for half a century.”
After all of the festivities, the Eagles opened their season by taking on a 4A rival in Greer. The Eagles defeated the Yellow Jackets 64-5, including impressive wins from Jesus Molina, Owen Smith, Luke Howle, Bryce Seaborn, Jamiyeos Mitchell and McAllister Byrd.
Following the dominant victory over Greer, the Eagles had their hands full as they took on the no. 1-ranked team in 5A, Dorman. The Eagles fought hard behind an alumni-filled crowd, barely falling to the Cavaliers 33-28. Cason Howle, McAllister Byrd and Tanner Butler all impressed, as they pinned their opponents.
The highlight of the meet came in the second to last match of the night, where Dax Seaborn scratched and clawed for an electric comeback victory. Down 4-0, Seaborn was able to fight his way back to a big victory that put the Eagles in position to win going into the final match, where Owen Sargeant fell by one point. To Mountz, they couldn’t have done it without the support of the alumni.
“Our team was really excited,” said Mountz. “The atmosphere was amazing and it really played a part into how we wrestled.”
Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Greenwood has only one thing in mind and that’s obtaining a state championship. With the dynasty of Eastside standing in front of them, the Eagles have a tall task to look forward to. However, according to Coach Mountz, he and his team are more focused and committed than ever.
“We have a championship on our mind,” said Mountz. “We know every dual will play into a state championship, whether we like it or not.”
