Ashley Ridge has some quality wins on the wrestling mat, but fell to a rival during the 2025 Cane Bay Duals.
The Swamp Foxes are ranked No. 3 for 5A Div. I in the preseason poll. The team is off to a good start with quality wins over Chapin and Blythewood, both top 10 teams in their divisions.
“Those were really good showings by our young guys,” said Ashley Ridge head coach Alan Aponte. “We are going to need more of that down the road. We are plugging holes right now, but I’m proud of the effort. Hopefully, after Christmas, some of our injured wrestlers will be back, and we will make a push for that region and state title.”
Rival Summerville, ranked No. 6 in 5A Div. I preseason, tripped up Ashley Ridge in the semifinals of the Cane Bay Duals. The Green Wave handed the Swamp Foxes a 42-30 loss. Ashley Ridge regrouped and claimed third place for the event with a 38-33 win over Chapin in the consolation match.
“We have a next-point mentality,” Aponte said. “We can only control what is in front of us, so we focus on the next match. I was proud of the way they rebounded.”
The Swamp Foxes defeated Cane Bay (73-6) during the tournament but also lost to Lugoff-Elgin (48-26). Ashley Ridge enters this week with a 7-4 record, having also lost to Fort Mill and Stratford, both preseason top-5 teams in their divisions.
Earlier this month, Ashley Ridge won a tournament in Aiken, with Gabriel Jager (126), Grady Brewer (144) and Talon Campbell (175) winning their weight classes. Aponte is confident in his squad.
“Rahiem Skyers is our 120-pounder, but we actually have him weighing in at 126 and bumping him to 132,” he said. “We think he is the best in the state, so we are trying to get him the best competition we can. At 144, we rely heavily on Captain Grady Brewer to win and earn bonus points. Same thing with junior captain Talon Campbell at 175.”
Judah Puckett is a heavyweight who was out with an injury this past week. He is expected to strengthen the upper part of the lineup when he returns.
Caption:
Ashley Ridge’s Rahiem Skyers bumped up to the 132-pound weight class during the Cane Bay Duals Dec. 13.
Roger Lee/Journal Scene
Junior Talon Campbell is a captain for Ashley Ridge this season.
Roger Lee/Journal Scene
December 17, 2025 | Summerville Journal-Scene, The (SC)
Author/Byline: Roger Lee rlee@journalscene.com | Page: 014 | Section: A