MONROE — South Pointe High took first place back to Rock Hill, S.C., at the Redhawk Invitational Wrestling Tournament Saturday with a team score of 276 points, finishing well ahead of second-place Central Academy (225).

South Pointe wrestlers grabbed gold in five of the 14 weight classes and had 11 medalists overall (top three).

The Cougars had a strong showing with nine medalists, including Ryan Megargee, who won the 160-pound class, and heavyweight Will Robinson.

Megargee (5-1) took down Monroe’s Kevin Phinney (8-1), who was previously unbeaten, in the championship match with a 7-2 decision.

Robinson (6-0) pinned Parkwood’s Kevin Mullis (8-1) in 3:18 to win the gold at heavyweight. Robinson had pins in all three of his matches during the tournament.

Porter Ridge finished third as a team with 201 points, led by senior 125-pounder Chris Lingle, who not only claimed gold but was also named most outstanding wrestler for the tournament.

Lingle cruised through his bracket, pinning all three of his opponents. In the finals, Lingle pinned South Pointe’s Jake Mitchell in 2:18. Mitchell finished second in the state of South Carolina a year ago.

Lingle (9-0) feels that he has improved a great deal from last years state qualifying effort to this year.

“During the summer I went to all of these camps,” Lingle said. “I’ve been to Virginia Tech, wrestled with a bunch of college wrestlers. They really put me through some work and really improved me.”

Lingle said his goal for this year is to get back to the state tournament and place, and also earn a college scholarship.

Lingle has counted on superior technique the past couple of years, but he also showed off his strength in his finals when he threw Mitchell, knocking the wind out of him.

Andrew Baatz won a gold medal for the Pirates at 119 pounds. Baatz major decisioned (18-4) Monroe’s Zack Cooper in the championship match to improve to 9-0 on the season.

Monroe finished fifth as a team with 141.5 points. Miles Cook brought home the only individual championship for the Redhawks at 189 pounds.

Cook (9-0), a senior, pinned Sam Curtis in 4:38 to win the gold.

Cook has also been the thorn in the side of Parkwood 189-pounder Austin Craig, who has now lost three times to Cook in eight days. Craig has won the rest of his matches this season.

Cook is looking to make the state tournament for the first time in his career after falling just short a year ago.

“I’m looking to go to states this year,” said Cook, “... and I’m working on going to college after school.”

Team Scores

1. South Pointe 276.0

2. Central Academy 225.0

3. Porter Ridge 201.0

4. Buford 168.5

5. Monroe 141.5

6. Parkwood 126.5

7. Anson 103.5

8. Forest Hills 51.0

9. Union Academy 19.0

Championship Finals (1st place matches)

103: Adam Taylor (SP) dec. over Luke Johnson (CATA) 11-7

112: Marcus Pressley (BUF) dec. over Frankie Best (PR) 7-5

119: Andrew Baatz (PR) major dec. over Zack Cooper (MON) 18-4

125: Chris Lingle (PR) pinned Jake Mitchell (SP) 2:18

130: Rashad Cunningham (BUF) pinned Tre’Barber (SP) 5:43

135: Jonathan Cloud (SP) major dec. over James Swann (MON) 18-8

140: Rasheem Hall (SP) injury default over Brandon Smith (ANS)

145: Jermaine Williams (SP) pinned Josh Green (PR) 4:48

152: Jonathan Sellers (ANS) tech. fall over Eric McPhearson (BUF) 19-4

160: Ryan Megargee (CATA) dec. over Kevin Phinney (MON) 7-2

171: Lamont McPhearson (BUF) tech. fall over Danail Deese (un affiliated) 15-0

189: Miles Cook (MON) pinned Sam Curtis (SP) 4:38

215: Patrick Thompson (SP) pinned Jontral Caudle (BUF) 3:36

Hwt: Will Robinson (CATA) pinned Kevin Mullis (PWD) 3:18

Consolation Finals (3rd place matches)

103: Kevin Leak (ANS) pinned Josh Langley (BUF) 0:51

112: Kyle Rollins (CATA) pinned Charlie Keese (SP) 3:20

119: Sean Hira (SP) dec. over Robert Geyer (CATA) 4-1

125: Jairo Valazquez (CATA) pinned Jamie Baker (FH) 4:32

130: Tyrell Neely (Un affiliated) major dec. over Jamie Lemon (CATA) 11-3

135: Brandon Griffin (PR) dec. over Christian Valazquez (CATA) 6-1

140: Tyler Couick (PWD) tech. fall over Ben Rodgers (un affiliated) 15-0

145: Dusty Wallace (PWD) dec. over Anthony Quinones (un affiliated) 7-1

152: Stephen Dysard (MON) dec. over Zac Womack (PWD) 5-2

160: Jimmy Irvin (PR) dec. over James Mackey (BUF) 5-0

171: Mike Ryan (CATA) pinned Caleb King (un affiliated) 2:09

189: Austin Craig (PWD) dec. over James Sellers (ANS) 13-7

215: Travis Dixon (PR) pinned Quinton Plyler (CATA) 0:53

Hwt: Michael Ashley (SP) pinned Patrick Brewer (MON) 2:10