Winter sports and the holidays are back, Panthers! Winter sports consist of basketball and wrestling.   The Forest is back in action. The Panther family is excited to watch our Varsity and JV athletes perform to the best of their abilities. 

Boys basketball just started back before Thanksgiving Break, and they won their Forest Basketball Classic Tournament. The boys started their season with a great win over North Myrtle Beach 53-47. Head Coach Emmanuel Dewalt has big goals for this season. Although this year’s team only has three returning players from last year, Coach Dewalt feels good about this season, and he is confident that his team will be competitive in the region and into the playoffs. As of Thursday, December, 7, they have a 7-0 record!

Senior shooting guard, Ty Bennett, comments, “Our goals for the season are to be Region Champs and then go on and become State Champs. I want for our team to strive and develop the program starting now and for the future. In order to achieve these goals, we have to put in the work during practices and get better everyday.”

Girls basketball also won their Green Sea Floyds Tip-Off Thanksgiving Classic Tournament over break. They started off their season strong with a win against North Myrtle Beach 39-22, and they are holding a record of 5-1. Head Coach Stacey Hughes hopes for a great season as her Lady Panthers have put in a lot of hard work. Coach Hughes believes that her team will be able to upset some good opponents this season if they continue to work and stay together as a family. 

“My goal is to improve every single day as a team.We are focusing on us and getting better!” Coach Hughes states.

Wrestling is another winter sport, bringing lots of action to the mat. Coach Matt Perdue has been head coach for six years. This Panther Wrestling team is unstoppable. Perdue believes that the State title is within reach this season.  

Coach Perdue shares,“I’m really looking forward to the individual state championship this year. We have a great team, but we have about four individuals who are going to have a great chance at winning individual State titles. So, I’m really excited to see how they fare at that tournament.”

We are so excited to watch our Panther Winter Sports teams succeed and reach their goals. Good Luck to all winter athletes. Go, Panthers!