SC Wrestling Weekly Stories and Photos - Sunday - January 23, 2005

Andrew Hinson from Carolina Forest

Wrestling is primarily an individual sport. It’s a one on one competition between you and
your opponent when you are on the mat. However, much goes into the preparation for those
mat appearances and that is where a good teammate is important.

Strength, quickness, and intelligence are all important to a wrestler, but conditioning is
probably the most important quality a wrestler can carry with him to the mat.

Carolina Forest’s Andrew Hinson embodies all of these.

“A better conditioned wrestler can often beat a more skilled opponent, especially in the
third period of a match,” said Carolina Forest wrestling coach Bill Mayer.

While Hinson is, indeed, very skilled, he is probably the best conditioned wrestler at any meet.

“Andrew is the hardest working athlete I have ever coached,” said Mayer. “He sets the example
on our team of what it takes to be a winner.”

Hinson was 27-5 in dual matches last year and is rated the top wrestler in the state at
140 lbs. in this year’s pre-season rankings. However, looking for an extra edge to help him
win the state championship this year, Hinson spent the fall running on the cross country team.

“I did it basically to stay in shape and have better wind during matches this year,” said Hinson.

“He is the guy who pushes his teammates in the weight room and at practice,” said Mayer. “
He makes sure the guys are getting their work in so they will be successful on the mat.”

In addition to being one of the top wrestlers on the Carolina Forest team, Hinson is also the
Panthers number one cheerleader at matches. When not on the mat himself, Hinson intently
watches his teammates’ matches, shouting encouragement and suggestions to help them during matches.

He recently claimed the 140 lbs. championship at the Horry County Invitational Wrestling Meet in typical style.

Facing former state champion Rocky Phillips of Loris, Hinson trailed after the first period of the match.
Midway through the second, he could sense his opponent was tiring and Hinson turned up the pressure.

“I could tell he was starting to get a little tired in the second period and I still felt strong,
so I took advantage of that,” Hinson said.

From an 0-2 deficit at the end of the first period, Hinson went on to a 13-3 win that included three
takedowns and a near fall on his opponent.

“I love the individual part of wrestling, just me and my opponent on the mat, but we also have the
potential to be a very good team and I want to do my part in making that happen,” he said.

The season is young and there are many matches to go. Hinson cracked a bone in his wrist about
two-thirds of the way through last season.

While he continued to wrestle with the wrist padded and taped, that injury may have kept him
from winning the state title.

“My goal is to go the whole way this year,” he said. “A state championship would be a great
way to finish my senior year.”


Article by Paul Gable