18 hours Ago
There has been a turning over of the guard for the Fort Dorchester Wrestling program, but it doesn’t look like that will slow down the Patriots. After serving as an assistant coach for the program the past seven seasons, Rashad Palmer has stepped into the role of the Patriots’ head coach. He replaces Andrew Young, who stepped down to take a position in administration.
“Becoming the head coach at Fort is a blessing to me,” Palmer said. “Though I never had aspirations of being the head coach, I am proud to be a part of such a strong tradition of wrestling. I hope to live up to the legacy of coaches like B.
D. Laprad, Skip Parker, Derel Brown and Andrew Young who preceded me.” Prior to coming to Fort Dorchester, Palmer was an assistant at Berkeley High from 2011-2016.
He is the founder of Legacy Elite Wrestling Club and has served as Coaches Director for USA Wrestling. He has also coached for the Mafia, Junior Stags and Citadel Old Timers youth wrestling programs. He is optimistic about the team Fort Dorchester puts on the mat this season.
“We have a strong core group of returners who worked all summer and I am expecting great things,” Palmer said. “My goal this year is to establish a team full of leaders. Everyone has a role and everyone is held to a standard.
All of my returners have taken younger guys under their wing and will help develop them into leaders as well.” That core includes three wrestlers who advanced to the semi-finals for their weight class last season during the individual state wrestling championships. They core also helped the Patriots place third in their region behind Summerville and Ashely Ridge and advance to the second round of the duals playoffs.
Fort Dorchester is ranked 15th in the state 5A, Division 1 coaches’ rankings released Dec. 19. Patriots’ senior Ricky Springs is a three-time state champion who is ranked second for the 126-pound weight class.
Last season he won the 120 class. As a sophomore he won the 113 class and as a freshman he won the 106 class. Sophomore Evan Gates placed second at 106 last season and is currently ranked second at 120.
Senior Zach Gomer-Chrobocinski placed third in the state for his class the past two years (113 and 106) and is currently ranked fourth at 132. Senior Caleb Wilson is a two-time state qualifier who is ranked 12th at 138. Palmer also expects big things from Dustin Gorman (113), Jacob Bannister (138), Julyun Bonneau (175), and heavyweight Savon Garrett.
Gorman is currently ranked fourth at 113. Bonneau and Garrett are both stepping into a role held by a state qualifier last season..
