A house RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE Fort Mill High School Wrestling TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR AN OUTSTANDING SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2024 SOUTH CAROLINA CLASS AAAAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that the members of the Fort Mill High wrestling team of York County took the state trophy from the state tournament held at Dreher High School in Columbia on Saturday, February 10, 2024; and

Whereas, to the cheers of their excited fans, the Fort Mill Yellow Jackets defeated a fine field of comers, besting their nearest opponent, Summerville High School, 32-27, to win the program's second straight title.  The team celebrated by hoisting Coach Adam Marullo on their shoulders, holding the trophy high toward the Yellow Jacket fans who faithfully had made the trip to Columbia; and

Whereas, the Yellow Jackets had an inauspicious beginning to their season when a water pipe burst, damaging floors in the main and auxiliary gyms and wrestling room, which required them to practice in a school cafeteria a day before the first official day of practice in November.  The team was not able to return to the gym until late January; and

Whereas, rather than slow the team down, the Yellow Jackets doubled down in the face of the adversity, continuing to improve every day.  On the Wednesday before the state tournament, the Yellow Jackets trailed Rock Hill 18-3 before they rallied to take the Upper State championship 36-28 and win the opportunity to capture another state trophy; and

Whereas, the Fort Mill grapplers took their first two matches by Jacob Kadesh and Theodore Ernst against the Summerville Green Wave in the state meet, but the next three matches were losses for Fort Mill to put Summerville in the lead 9-7; and

Whereas, Fort Mill's lighter weights stepped up to regain the momentum for the Yellow Jackets.  Luke Van Beynum at the 106 weight and Jacob Nally at 113 weight each won his match with pins, and the 120 weight was won by Lincoln Greene with a 10-1 decision to give the Yellow Jackets a 23-9 lead; and

Whereas, the Green Wave posted six more points, but Tucker Gipson won his 132 weight with a 3-2 decision for Fort Mill in the final seconds to make it 26-15.  Teammate Logan Shope took the 138 weight with a 5-3 decision to win his one hundredth career match; and

Whereas, Aidan Eubanks grabbed the winning match for the Yellow Jackets in a 7-0 decision to put them ahead 32-15.  After the Yellow Jackets forfeited the last two matches to give the score a closer margin, the Green Wave added points for a final score of 32-27 in Fort Mill's second straight Class AAAAA title victory over Summerville in the championship game; and

Whereas, in a sport that requires mental fortitude, agility, and strength, Head Coach Marullo and his skilled coaching staff used their own athletic experience and training to build a twice-crowned championship team and teach these athletes life principles that will endure beyond the mats; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives appreciate the reputation and recognition that the Fort Mill wrestlers have brought to their school and their community and look forward to hearing of their continued accomplishments in the days to come.  Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the Fort Mill High School wrestling team, coaches, and school officials for an outstanding season and congratulate them for winning the 2024 South Carolina Class AAAAA State Championship title.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Principal Zachary Beam and Coach Adam Marullo.

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