ANDERSON – Was Tiyanna Mack destined to make history?
Whether it was fate or pure willpower, Mack, a sophomore at Blythewood High School, cemented her place in Bengal and South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) wrestling history on Feb. 26 as she claimed the 132lb state title in the first ever SCHSL sanctioned Girls’ State Championship.
Blythewood wrestling head coach Paul D. Watson said Mack was locked in during the tournament.
“Everything was clicking for her,” Watson said.
In the first round, Mack pinned Ori Martin from North Augusta, then won by forfeit against Abbeville’s Madelein Cramer, who had a first round bye, in the second round. Next, Mack pinned Spartanburg’s Madeline Moore and then pinned Summerville’s Sydney Palma.
Then Mack dominated Rock Hill’s Trinity Davis 10-0 in the finals to go 5-0 on the day and claim the individual state title.
She credited much of her success to the Bengals’ coaching staff and her practice partners for preparing and pushing her in a press release on Blythewood High School’s athletic website.
“To go out and do this is truly one of the highlights of my life,” Mack said. “I am ready to come back even better next year and do it all over again.”
And with two years of eligibility left, Mack’s goal may very well become reality.
Watson looks for her title win to help grow the Bengals’ young program.
“This is a huge accomplishment for our Women’s Team and overall program,” he said. “With the SCHSL sanctioning women’s wrestling next season, we hope to be able to fill a team with all 14 weight classes. TMack winning this helps in those recruiting efforts.”
Mack went 6-0 on the season against female opponents. She was 9-14 during the season, when she competed with the Bengals against male opponents.
But Mack doesn’t just shine on the mats. She was featured in The Voice on September 22, 2022 for her breakthrough night playing outside linebacker for the Bengals’ junior varsity football team. In the game, Mack broke through the Goose Creek offensive front and delivered eight tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss in her first official snaps as a Bengal defender.
Jason Seidel, Blythewood’s head varsity football coach at the time, said Mack’s outstanding game “was an awesome moment, and one I know our coaching staff won’t forget… She’s not just a female football player, she’s a Blythewood Bengal.”
Mack wasn’t alone in this year’s wrestling tournament. Among the seven Bengal girls who competed in the individual state championship, juniors Brianna Shepard-Schell (138lbs), Liz Veguilla (132lbs) and sophomore Abby Ely (145lbs) competed for podium spots on Saturday.
For the boys, junior Rylan Madison for finished fourth at Heavyweight at the 5-A State Wrestling Championships. He held a 43-7 record on the season.
