By Donald Heath
Special for the Effingham Herald
SPRINGFIELD – Effingham County wrestler Kevin Poythress has some lofty goals.
He’s on a 14-match winning streak and Saturday beat previously undefeated Matthew Josefik of Richmond Hill for the championship of the 150-pound weight class at the 24th-annual Rebel Invitational.
“My goal is to pin everybody and dominate my weight class. Get the first takedown, get the first points, get on top and stay on top,” said Poythress, cooling down with an ice bag strapped to his bruised ankle after his title match.
The junior has been a bright spot for a program filled with young and inexperienced wrestlers. Poythress advanced to state last season and placed fifth in Class 6A.
Saturday, after defeating Josefik by majority decision 14-6, Poythress raised his record to 19-1, according to Internet site TrackWrestling.
But the win wasn’t quite as easy as the score might suggest. Poythress’ five-point lead to start was sliced to one after an opponent’s escape and takedown as the match headed into the second round.
“(Poythress) has no problem making a match exciting,” ECHS coach Isiah Royal said. “He did just come off football and we have to get him in wrestling shape. He can’t put himself in bad situations. You have to stick to the basics. The basics, that’s what wins high level matches.”
Poythress was a backup nose guard and played on special teams on the football team. He found advantages of being just 150 pounds, significantly lighter than most on the line of scrimmage.
“Sometimes the smaller you are the quicker you can get through (the offensive line),” he said.
Certainly, he isn’t intimidated on the football field or the wrestling mat.
He said he wasn’t extended to the third round by any wrestler in the team matches at Jeff Davis two weeks ago.
Poythress’ only loss came at South Effingham’s Turkey Duals.
“He’s one of our hardest workers,” Royal said. “He’s also a leader on the team. He leads by example. I’m blessed to have him.”
Poythress has learned to overcome poor eyesight. He wears thick lensed glasses while walking around, but without the glasses on the mat, he has trouble seeing the score and time stationed about 20 feet away.
But score and time aren’t always on his mind.
“I’m here to wrestle,” Poythress said. “I get asked, “when do you wrestle?” I’m (thinking) ‘I don’t know.’ I just look and ‘oh, I’m up.’ In three matches, I go.”
SEHS wrestlers continue to roll
South Effingham had eight first-place finishers among the 14 weight classes and took first place as a team at the 24th-annual Rebel Invitational at the Clarence Morgan Recreation Complex.
Christopher Hardeman (106-pound weight class), Tahrik Bailey (113), Noah Knowlton (126), Emilio Santana (132), Alarik Gibson (138), Brayden “Bear” Bringer (144), Brandon “Moose” Bringer (157) and Kevin Steptoe (285) all won their respective weight classes.
In an all-local final, Gibson defeated Effingham County’s Adam Thompson 9-1.
Mustangs coach Christopher Bringer praised Knowlton, a sophomore, for his weight class championship.
“Noah Knowlton has been the shock of the year for me,” Coach Bringer said. “He beat the Richmond Hill kid who beat earlier in the season. It’s exciting to see the 10th graders doing well.”
Effingham County finished fourth in team scoring. 15 schools participated and South Effingham and Richmond Hill brought B teams. South’s B team placed eighth.
