The Gaffney High wrestling team was eliminated from the state duals by South Pointe on Monday. Pictured are head coach Larry Lackey, who was voted region coach of the year, assistant coach Thomas Voelker, 140 pound region champion Brian Sullivan, 171 pound region champion Jared Barnhill, 215 pound region champion Stan Easterling and assistant coach Dave Bush. According to a poll, South Pointe has one of the top-ranked wrestling programs in the state.

You won't get an argument from the Gaffney Indians.

The Indians jumped out to a 9-0 lead after two matches, but then South Pointe rattled off a string of wins en route to a 55-15 victory in the first round of the state duals on Monday.

"I wasn't disappointed at all at our performance," Gaffney assistant coach Dave Bush said. "The kids want to go back (to the state duals) next year."

In the feature match of the night, Gaffney's James Costello held his own against the No. 1-ranked wrestler at 285 pounds, before falling, 7-6.

"James wrestled great," Bush said. "He proved he can beat the top kid in the state."

Costello could get his chance to avenge the loss at the Upperstate tournament on Feb. 20 at Hillcrest High School.

Costello wasn't the only Indian to come up a point short. Brian Sullivan and Jared Barnhill also lost hard-fought one-point decisions.

The match began with Gaffney's Chris Perry earning two points with an 8-2 win in the 189-pound class. Gaffney's 215-pounder Stan Easterling followed up Perry's win by pinning the No. 5-ranked wrestler in the second round to give the Indians a 9-0 lead.

But South Pointe was just getting started. After the 285-pound matchup, South Pointe won the next seven matches in a row to take a commanding lead.

Randy Hopson snapped South Pointe's winning streak with a pin at 145 pounds.

"They were just more physical than us," Bush said. "You can tell they've been in the weight room."

Although the Indians season ended Monday, 10 wrestlers have qualified for the Upperstate tournament. Bush said he will give those wrestlers a week off to heal some nagging injuries before beginning preparations for the Upperstate tournament.