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The South Effingham boys wrestling teams rebounded from a heartbreaking 36-35 loss to Creekview in the Class 5A State Dual Meet Wrestling finals last month in a big way last week as the Mustangs cruised to a team title in the Traditional State Wrestling Tournament held at the Arena at Southlake in Morrow.
The Mustangs, who have won the State Duals twice, took home their second team title at the Traditional Tournament as nine wrestlers brought home medals — led by 285-pounder Kevin Steptoe, who won an individual crown by pinning Javonte Bowen of Habersham Central in the second period of his finals match.
South Effingham won the team championship going away with 179.5 points as Creekview finished second with 149 points.
Steptoe had met up with Bowen in the Class 5A Sectional B tournament the week before and taken a 12-4 lead, before scoring a third-period fall. He tweaked his knee in the sectional semifinals and forfeited his last two matches having already qualified for state by finishing in sixth place.
He said he had no doubt he had a shot at winning the state championship.
"He (Bowen) scored the first takedown, and got a nearfall, but I wasn't worried," said Steptoe, who fell behind 6-1 early on. "I got away and then got a takedown to make it 6-4. In the second period, I had an escape, then took him down and ended up rolling into a pin. I was really excited, and so was Coach (Christopher) Bringer. It was the third time he's had a heavyweight state champion."
Steptoe finished the season with a 46-11 record, including 30 pins. He said that his mental approach played a big part in his success.
"I think it came down to my mentality and the hard work I put in," Steptoe said. "I knew it was going to be a challenge, but I was ready for it."
Steptoe had a pivotal win in the state semifinals when he pulled out a 2-1 decision over Brunswick's Tripp Rowell. He had three matches with Rowell this season and won twice. He is the fourth Mustang heavyweight to win a state crown. Austin Blaske won a title in 2019, and Ashton Anderson won back-to-back crowns in 2023 and 2024. Now Steptoe is looking toward his senior season.
"I got hurt as a sophomore and am glad I got to come back this year," he said. "I'm going to have high expectations next year, and I'm going to have to work even harder to live up to those expectations."
The Mustangs had three wrestlers reach the finals. Coach Bringer's son, junior Bear Bringer, finished second at 138 pounds, while junior Andreo Manlove was second at 113 pounds.
South Effingham had four wrestlers take home bronze medals. Adam Hardeman closed out a stellar prep career with a third place finish at 106 pounds. Sophomore Tahrik Bailey, who won the 113-pound title last year, was third at 120 pounds. Mayson Young took third at 126 pounds, and Maddox Vasquez was third at 144 pounds.
Zachary Utnehmer finished fourth at 175 pounds for the Mustangs.
In other classifications, Calvary Day's Brexton Bell finished second for the second year in a row as the junior won a silver medal in the Class 3A 175-pound division.
Benedictine sophomore AJ West finished fourth in the Class 4A 138-pound weight class.
In the girls tournament, South Effingham's Brooklynn Hughes put the finishing touches on a breakthrough season as she took home a fourth-place medal in the 145-pound weight class. Hughes won the Mustangs first girls region title a few weeks back and became the first girl to win a state wrestling medal in South Effingham history.
She was the only girl from the Greater Savannah area to reach the medal podium.
106 pounds — 3rd, Adam Hardeman, sr.
113 pounds — 2nd, Andreo Manlove, jr.
120 pounds — 3rd, Tahrik Bailey, soph.
126 pounds — 3rd, Mayson Young, jr.
132 pounds —5th, Noah Knowlton, jr.
138 pounds — 2nd, Bear Bringer, jr.
144 pounds — 3rd, Maddox Vasquez, jr.
175 pounds — 4th, Zachary Utnehmer, jr.
285 pounds — 1st, Kevin Steptoe, jr.
106 pounds — 6th, Ethan Braswell
120 pounds — 5th, Alessandro Vitello, fresh.
138 pounds — 6th, Josh Pacheco
138 pounds — 4th, AJ West, soph.
175 pounds — 2nd, Brexton Bell, jr.
145 pounds — 4th, Brooklynn Hughes
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at [email protected]. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Steptoe steps up to lead South Effingham to another State Wrestling title
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The Mustangs, who have won the State Duals twice, took home their second team title at the Traditional Tournament as nine wrestlers brought home medals — led by 285-pounder Kevin Steptoe, who won an individual crown by pinning Javonte Bowen of Habersham Central in the second period of his finals match.
South Effingham won the team championship going away with 179.5 points as Creekview finished second with 149 points.
Steptoe had met up with Bowen in the Class 5A Sectional B tournament the week before and taken a 12-4 lead, before scoring a third-period fall. He tweaked his knee in the sectional semifinals and forfeited his last two matches having already qualified for state by finishing in sixth place.
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He said he had no doubt he had a shot at winning the state championship.
"He (Bowen) scored the first takedown, and got a nearfall, but I wasn't worried," said Steptoe, who fell behind 6-1 early on. "I got away and then got a takedown to make it 6-4. In the second period, I had an escape, then took him down and ended up rolling into a pin. I was really excited, and so was Coach (Christopher) Bringer. It was the third time he's had a heavyweight state champion."
Steptoe finished the season with a 46-11 record, including 30 pins. He said that his mental approach played a big part in his success.
"I think it came down to my mentality and the hard work I put in," Steptoe said. "I knew it was going to be a challenge, but I was ready for it."
Steptoe had a pivotal win in the state semifinals when he pulled out a 2-1 decision over Brunswick's Tripp Rowell. He had three matches with Rowell this season and won twice. He is the fourth Mustang heavyweight to win a state crown. Austin Blaske won a title in 2019, and Ashton Anderson won back-to-back crowns in 2023 and 2024. Now Steptoe is looking toward his senior season.
"I got hurt as a sophomore and am glad I got to come back this year," he said. "I'm going to have high expectations next year, and I'm going to have to work even harder to live up to those expectations."
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The Mustangs had three wrestlers reach the finals. Coach Bringer's son, junior Bear Bringer, finished second at 138 pounds, while junior Andreo Manlove was second at 113 pounds.
South Effingham had four wrestlers take home bronze medals. Adam Hardeman closed out a stellar prep career with a third place finish at 106 pounds. Sophomore Tahrik Bailey, who won the 113-pound title last year, was third at 120 pounds. Mayson Young took third at 126 pounds, and Maddox Vasquez was third at 144 pounds.
Zachary Utnehmer finished fourth at 175 pounds for the Mustangs.
In other classifications, Calvary Day's Brexton Bell finished second for the second year in a row as the junior won a silver medal in the Class 3A 175-pound division.
Benedictine sophomore AJ West finished fourth in the Class 4A 138-pound weight class.
In the girls tournament, South Effingham's Brooklynn Hughes put the finishing touches on a breakthrough season as she took home a fourth-place medal in the 145-pound weight class. Hughes won the Mustangs first girls region title a few weeks back and became the first girl to win a state wrestling medal in South Effingham history.
She was the only girl from the Greater Savannah area to reach the medal podium.
State place winners from the Greater Savannah area
Class 5A
South Effingham
106 pounds — 3rd, Adam Hardeman, sr.
113 pounds — 2nd, Andreo Manlove, jr.
120 pounds — 3rd, Tahrik Bailey, soph.
126 pounds — 3rd, Mayson Young, jr.
132 pounds —5th, Noah Knowlton, jr.
138 pounds — 2nd, Bear Bringer, jr.
144 pounds — 3rd, Maddox Vasquez, jr.
175 pounds — 4th, Zachary Utnehmer, jr.
285 pounds — 1st, Kevin Steptoe, jr.
Effingham County
106 pounds — 6th, Ethan Braswell
Class 6A
Richmond Hill
120 pounds — 5th, Alessandro Vitello, fresh.
138 pounds — 6th, Josh Pacheco
Class 4A
Benedictine
138 pounds — 4th, AJ West, soph.
Class 3A
Calvary Day
175 pounds — 2nd, Brexton Bell, jr.
GIRLS
South Effingham
145 pounds — 4th, Brooklynn Hughes
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at [email protected]. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Steptoe steps up to lead South Effingham to another State Wrestling title
Continue reading...
