Vote for the Savannah Morning News Boys Wrestler of the Year in an open poll

It was another stellar wrestling season in the Greater Savannah area as Coastal Empire athletes and teams put together stellar performances on the biggest stages in GHSA competition.

The South Effingham boys led the way as the Mustangs finished second in the Class 5A State Dual Meet Tournament where the Mustangs were edged in a 36-35 loss to Creekview.

South Effingham came back strong to win the team championship at the Class 5A Traditional Tournament with nine wrestlers taking home medals with Kevin Steptoe winning the heavyweight title.

Junior Bear Bringer was second at 138 pounds and his classmate Andreo Manlove finished second at 113 pounds.

South Effingham had four wrestlers take home bronze medals. Adam Hardeman was third at 106 pounds after an overtime loss in the semifinals. Sophomore Tahrik Bailey took third at 120 pounds. Mayson Young finished third at 126 pounds, and Maddox Vasquez was third at 144 pounds.

We recently published the All-Greater Savannah Wrestling team.

Now readers have a chance to select their top wrestler in a poll with no restrictions on the voting. The poll will close on Friday, April 17th, at 10 a.m.

The winner of the poll is not necessarily the winner of the the Coastal Empire Wrestler of the Year honor, which will be announced at the Coastal Empire High School Sports Awards Show, set for June 5th on at the Savannah Convention Center. 

Here are the candidates.

Adam Hardeman, South Effingham, sr., 106 pounds (50-2)

Andreo Manlove, South Effingham, jr., 113 pounds (53-8)

Tahrik Bailey, South Effingham, soph., 120 pounds, (26-2)

Mayson Young, South Effingham, jr. 126 pounds (52-6)

Noah Knowlton, South Effingham, jr., 132 pounds (43-16)

Bear Bringer, South Effingham, jr., 138 pounds (42-4)

Maddox Vasquez, South Effingham, jr., 144 pounds (47-16)

Zach Utnehmer, South Effingham, jr., 175 pounds (30-12)

Kevin Steptoe, South Effingham, jr., 285 pounds (49-11)

Alessandro Vitello, Richmond Hill, fresh., 120 pounds (36-3)

Riley Atkins, South Effingham, jr., 165 pounds (46-17)

Josh Pacheco, Richmond Hill, sr., 138 pounds

Brexton Bell, Calvary Day, jr., 175 pounds (20-1)

AJ West, Benedictine, soph., 138 pounds (55-6)

Ethan Braswell, Effingham County, soph., 106 pounds (39-22)

Carter Anderson, Richmond Hill, sr., 126 pounds

Ethan Fitts, Richmond Hill, sr., 150 pounds (24-8)

Aiden Simmons, Benedictine, jr., 126 pounds (52-15)

Noah Hampton, Richmond Hill, sr., 165 pounds

Jaylon Deal, Richmond Hill, jr., 215 pounds

Ian Verrett, South Effingham, soph., 215 pounds (29-21)

Caysen Fisher, South Effingham, sr., 190 pounds (38-20)

Caiden Gaeth, Richmond Hill, sr., 190 pounds

Angel De Los Santos, Jenkins, sr., 138 pounds (29-9)

Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Vote for the Savannah Morning News Boys Wrestler of the Year in an open poll