48 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com our sports semifinal set up the long-anticipated crucible with threetime defending state champion Daniel. “We 100% had the talent to beat them,” Costa said. “Whether or not we had the belief was the challenge.” Daniel showed its championship form by scoring first, then hanging tightly to a 1-0 lead, as BE players turned away all other shots on goal. The single goal not only looked like it might be enough to win, but to repeat 2024’s 1-0 finals victory, until All-State BE senior Jonah Cooker scored with only a few minutes left in regulation to tie the game and eventually force overtime. The teams then battled furiously for almost another full period before senior Rowan Pennell scored again for BE with only a minute left in overtime to secure the state championship and the team record. “They started playing their best soccer near the end of the year,” Costa said. “And while we’re losing a lot of talent, we’re returning eight starters — so we could definitely compete for the state title again next year.” Oceanside Boys Golf While golf doesn’t usually draw the kind of crowds that come to see other spring sports, the Oceanside Collegiate Academy boys golf team got its share of notice with three decisive victories in the 2025 state AAA playoffs to win their third state title in four years. “We had a region tournament and Lower State to reach the state tournament and won all three,” said thirdyear head coach Rocky Catalano. “We were undefeated this year in five matches and also won six tournaments.” In the region, OCA beat Hanahan by a whopping 15 shots, 157-172. Senior J.R. Passmore was the team medalist with a 1-over-par 38. The Lower State contest was closer, with OCA beating Hanahan again — this time by 11 shots, 305316. Sophomore Chase Whittle was named the Lower State individual champion by shooting a 1-under-par round of 71. At the state final May 19 in Newberry the OCA golfers were almost untouchable, routing Christ Church by 21 shots, 589-610. Whittle again won the individual title in a playoff with an even par 144. “We had great leadership from our seniors Tyler Taber (committed to USC Upstate), A.J. Dietrich (Keiser University), Parker Harcum and Passmore (both to Erskine College), Harris Wilson (Greensboro College) and Branks Knight,” Catalano said. “We are going to really miss the six graduates from this year’s team, but the future is bright for our program as we return three of the topranked players in the state — Reed Cook, Blake Bocelli and Whittle. So we should be really good again.” Oceanside Boys Lacrosse Nine words best describe the Oceanside Collegiate Academy boys lacrosse team in the 2025 AAAA state playoffs: It wasn’t even close enough to be far away. Led by ninth-year head coach Tom Harris, the Landsharks shredded the competition such that the games were over long before halftime, beating three opponents by a combined total score of 62-9. Put another way, OCA scored more points in their ‘worst’ lacrosse playoff outing than all three opponents put together, and chances are it would have been even more lopsided if the Landsharks hadn’t earned a firstround bye. “It isn’t often you can see a team play to its full potential, but that is exactly what the 2025 Oceanside team did,” said Harris, whose team finished 16-3 overall. “It was a pleasure to watch them execute and really complement the sport in their style of play.” In the first game, OCA dominated Aiken from the Oceanside boys golf wins their third state title in the last four years. Bishop England boys soccer pulls off a comeback victory over the defending champion.
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