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NEWBERRY/WHITMIRE — Five Newberry County wrestlers qualified this weekend to compete in the 1A/2A State Championship Finals on Friday and Saturday.

Newberry High School wrestlers Davon Powell, Jacob Hopper and Eric Gallman and Whitmire Community School wrestlers Kenny Page and Austin Amick are all going to the state meet.

The five wrestlers finished in the top four in their respective weight classes among the 27 competing schools.

Of the five wrestlers, three made it to the championship finals where they wrestled for upper state championships, which included Davon Powell in the 103-pound weight class, Kenny Page in the 132-pound weight class, and Jacob Hopper in the 138-pound weight class.

All three wrestlers finished second and will face the number three seeds from the lower state next weekend for the 1A/2A State Championship Finals at the Anderson Civic Center. All five will leave Friday for Anderson.

Austin Amick of Whitmire Community School in the 145-pound weight class and Eric Gallman of Newberry High School wrestling in the 285-pound weight class both competed in the consolation championship round and finished third in their respective weight classes.

“I am very proud of all three guys that qualified and will be representing Newberry High School next weekend at the state championship finals,” said Coach Brian Gordon of Newberry High School. “All three of our guys worked hard all year and battled through numerous obstacles to qualify for the State, which is what all wrestlers at the high school level dream of. It has been a long hard fought year for our wrestlers and now after all the hard work has been put in, we have three wrestlers who are reaping the benefits from their hard work and have an opportunity to wrestle for an individual state championship”.

Coach Jarrod King of Whitmire Community School echoed Gordon.

“I couldn’t be prouder of our two young men who have qualified for state,” King said. “These guys have worked hard all season and earned their shot at winning a state championship in their sport. Most high school athletes can go their entire career and not be able to say they had the chance to compete for a state championship. I’m very excited to say that for the second consecutive year, there are Whitmire wrestlers who can say they are going to state. I know they will represent the Whitmire community and school well.”