IRMO – Two Lexington-Richland School District Five student athletes were crowned state champions during the South Carolina High School League wrestling individual State Championships.
Dutch Fork senior Kaleb McNeil concluded his Silver Fox career by capturing his first state championship title in the 175-pound division. With this win, McNeil brings home the first state championship for wrestling since Marcus Montgomery in 2017. Chapin High School junior Preston White secured his third state title in the 5A 120-pound championship to round off his perfect 46-0 season.
McNeil’s championship run wasn’t without adversity, his season was in jeopardy after an ankle injury at a tournament in early January, but through determination and hard work, he battled back to compete in the postseason and claim the title.
His wrestling journey has been remarkable. He started in seventh grade but had to take time off due to COVID. Since returning full-time his sophomore year, he has been relentless in his pursuit of improvement. He was a state qualifier as a sophomore, a state runner-up as a junior, and now, a state champion as a senior. Beyond his accomplishments on the mat, he has been a captain and leader for our team for the past three years, setting the standard for hard work and commitment.
“Kaleb’s journey is a perfect example of what it truly takes to be great,” Dutch Fork High School Wrestling Coach Bryan Bush said “He never focused on just winning or losing, he focused on getting better every single day. His growth wasn’t just about talent, it was about dedication, effort, and the mindset to embrace challenges. His ability to push through adversity, stay committed to improvement, and elevate not only himself but his teammates reflects the qualities of a true champion. He didn’t just win a title, he became the type of wrestler and leader who inspires others to follow his path.”
Preston White won his 3rd state championship this year at 120 pounds to round off his perfect 46-0 junior season. Last year, he won his second state championship at 113 pounds as a sophomore and before that at 106 pounds as a freshman. He has a 138-8 high school record and is rolling into his senior year looking to win an impressive 4th state title.
White has been dominant this season. He was the No. 1 ranked wrestler in his weight class all year and finished unbeaten. The one point conceded in the final match was the only point he allowed during his entire championship run. Following this season, White plans to compete amongst the best in the nation through national competitions.
“I have never seen anyone have as dominant a postseason as Preston White just had,” Chapin High School Wrestling Coach Mason Marshall said. “He set his expectations high at the beginning of the season and with those high goals he also brought an unrelenting drive to be the best. Preston is internally motivated which makes him an excellent example to his teammates, showing them what it takes to be a champion day in and day out. Oftentimes he would practice two or three times a day as we got close to the state finals, to ensure he was prepared mentally and physically. This hard work and dedication has made Preston a 3 time state champ, and it was put on display in his commanding 49-1 point ratio in the state tournament.”
