Irmo Middle School participated in the Winter Wroyal Wrumble December 21 at White Knoll High School.
The event was a SCHSL-sanctioned boys and girls middle school and JV wrestling tournament. It brought together more than 1,000 wrestlers from high schools and middle schools across South Carolina, all competing for individual and team championships.
Irmo Middle School secured a Top 10 finish, ranking #9 with 105.5 team points. This performance saw Irmo outscore several 5A league rivals, including River Bluff, Dutch Fork, Chapin, Lexington, and the host school, White Knoll.
Irmo also bested other in-state rivals such as Gilbert, Pelion, Eastside, Blythewood, Airport, Goose Creek, and Cane Bay. Some competing schools had rosters exceeding 30-40 wrestlers, while IMS fielded a team of 16 wrestlers, 15 boys and one girl.
“We have only two wrestlers with a year or more of experience,” said Coach Tommy Sevilla. “Some of the wrestlers that competed today have just one week of experience, another has three weeks, and the vast majority have only been wrestling since November 3 of this year. We have a great group of kids who show up every day and put in the work. They’ve bought into the program and the goals we’ve set for them. We give God all the glory as a team—win or lose—and we are nothing special apart from Him.”
Irmo Middle’s success comes on the heels of its most successful wrestling season in history last year. This season, Coach Sevilla faced the challenge of rebuilding the team with only three returning wrestlers, one of whom has been sidelined due to injury.
Among the standout performers was 7th grader London Kyle, the team’s sole female wrestler after seven girls initially joined at the start of the season. Competing in the Girls 135-pound weight class, Kyle dominated the competition, pinning opponents from Indian Land, Goose Creek, and Cane Bay to claim the championship. A first-year wrestler, Kyle has quickly established herself as a contender for a State Championship.
Another first-year wrestler, Johan Herrera, competing in the 158-pound weight class, has also been making waves. Herrera has won every tournament he has entered this season, including victories over middle school competitors from Dorman and East Clarendon.
Sevilla recently started the Irmo Kingpins Youth Wrestling Club that will practice nightly at Irmo High School or at Seven Oaks Recreation center. The youth wrestling club, designed to develop young athletes ages 4-17 in the sport of competitive wrestling within the greater Irmo area, is seeking a Club Director who is not affiliated with Irmo Middle School or Irmo High School. If you have a child interested in wrestling contact Melodie Sevilla at [email protected].
The Irmo Middle School Wrestling team is accepting donations and is in fundraising mode to buy competition and practice mats, so they can compete against local schools in their home gym at the Irmo Middle. Any support may be directed to the Irmo High School Athletic Department at www.IrmoAthletics.org or by contacting Coach Tommy Sevilla at 951-289-1710 or at [email protected].
Feature Photo: Irmo Wrestler London Kyle
