It's a new year and era for the Gaffney High wrestling team.

For the first time in recent history, the Indians open the new year as a ranked team in the latest South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association poll.

The Indians are ranked 21st among Class AAAA teams.

"This is the first time anybody can remember that the wrestling team has been ranked," Gaffney assistant coach David Bush said.

Rock Hill is atop the poll, while Fort Dorchester is second. Dutch Fork is third, a spot ahead of the Fort Mill Yellow Jackets, who will travel to Gaffney next Thursday.

The only other Region III-AAAA team to appear in the rankings is Nation Ford. The Indians will host 27th-ranked Nation Ford on Thursday.

Several Indians also appear in the individual rankings. Blake Phillips, who has an overall team best record of 24-4, is ranked 13th in the 112 lbs. class.

Dillion Haney is ranked ninth at 119 lbs., while Brian Sullivan is 12th in the 140 lbs. weight class.

Stan Easterling is the highest rated Gaffney wrestler, coming in at No. 6 in the 215 lbs. weight class.

Other ranked Indians include: James Costello, ninth at 285 lbs.; Jared Barnhill, seventh at 171 lbs.; and Randy Hopson, 10th at 145 lbs.

Bush said he expects many of the wrestlers to move up the rankings with more experience.

"The kids are working very hard," he said. "Everytime you show them something, they are picking it up. A lot of these kids haven't wrestled that much, so there is still a lot of room for them to develop. They just keep on getting better."