A house RESOLUTION

 

TO CONGRATULATE THE WEST-OAK HIGH SCHOOL BOYS WRESTLING TEAM ON ITS IMPRESSIVE WIN OF THE 2026 CLASS AAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE AND TO SALUTE THE TEAM ON A SUPERB SEASON.

 

Whereas, the air on your face and the ground under your feet feel different when you reach the top of the mountain. The West-Oak Warriors found that out afresh on February 11, 2026, when they trounced Hanahan 54-15 to claim the 2026 Class AAA Boys State Championship; and

 

Whereas, it was the Warriors' fifth consecutive state championship and the tenth state title for the boys wrestling program overall; and

 

Whereas, the scene of this well-earned triumph was Lexington High School, used by the Warriors to demonstrate clearly why West-Oak was able to clinch its reputation as a dominant force in South Carolina Class AAA wrestling and establish a modern wrestling dynasty in the Palmetto State. With its newly minted title win, West-Oak finished the season 33-1; and

 

Whereas, moreover, Coach Derek Strobel has coached his team for five seasons now and has maintained a title-winning streak in all five of those seasons. On February 11, he proudly watched his champion grapplers raise their new hardware in commemoration of their latest state win; and

 

Whereas, to add further delight to a marvelous season, on the final day of the Class AAA individual state tournament at the Florence Center, the Warriors, who had thirteen wrestlers qualify for the two-day event, saw four individual state champions crowned, while four more earned All-State honors by virtue of their top-four finishes; and

 

Whereas, the members of the West-Oak boys wrestling team have given their school and community reason to be proud of their accomplishments, and the House takes great pleasure in adding its collective voice to the encomiums flowing into this outstanding group of young athletes. Go, Warriors! Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, congratulate the West-Oak High School boys wrestling team on its impressive win of the 2026 Class AAA State Championship title and salute the team on a superb season.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Principal Brandon Blackwell and Coach Derek Strobel of West-Oak High School.

----XX----