WRESTLING RECAP: Top teams in position for finals

The GHSA traditional wrestling quarterfinals and semifinals took place Friday, and the best teams and wrestlers in the state took center stage at The Arena at Gwinnett Center. Wrestlers from across the state did battle over the course of the day in hopes of earning themselves a shot at a state championship. The cream of the crop rose to the top on Day 2 of the championships as the competition’s intensity level ramped up.

In Class AAAAA Collins Hill, winners of five consecutive traditional titles, is atop the team leaderboard comfortably leading Camden County in points 152 to 126.5. Collins Hill has six wrestlers vying for individual championships in Sean Russell (106), Ryan Millhof (113), Drew Ferguson (120), Steven Bradtmueller (132), Spencer Rickman (138) and Andrew Krawulski (170) each are in the championship finals while John Bradtmueller (126), Matthew Connell (160) and Zach Carmin (285) will each wrestle for a chance at third place.

With nine wrestlers left in the finals they will have plenty of opportunities to extend their overall points lead and capture their sixth consecutive title. Camden County has a tall order in trying to catch Collins Hill, and to do so they will need everyone to dominate their matches. Chris Bartek (106), Nick Armstrong (120), Parie Jared (132) and A.J. Walthour (160) all are wrestling in the third-place brackets, while Austin Trott (152), Gray Jones (182), Michael Johnson (195) and Desmond James (220) represent Camden County’s individual championship contenders. Being down 25.5 points and having one fewer wrestlers in the finals will pose major problems for Camden County’s chances to pull off the upset and sweep both the traditional and duals, which they won earlier in the month.

Pope came out on a mission after a disappointing first day that saw them second in the points, but they now have a stranglehold on the Class AAAA team points standings. At 93 points, Pope is 27.5 points clear of second place Alexander. The battle for second and third will be tight in Class AAAA as Alexander, 65.5, Loganville, 59, and Whitewater, 53.5, are all tightly bunched. Pope’s Cameron Munsey (113), Jake Henson (152) and Billy Meek (160) are in championship matches while Joey Tabachino (170) and Trevor Stevens (182) are left in the third place brackets. Alexander is well behind, but could make a charge with Roman Boylen (120) and Chad Starnes (138) in championship matches, and Jamie Prescott (132), Cody Dickerson (145) and Deandre Sims (152) in the third place brackets.

Class AAA is also a two-horse race with Heritage-Catoosa leading Gilmer 128 to 104 in the team standings. Gilmer will need great performances from their finalists to make a run at the team title. Their championship contenders are Cameron Perry (106), Johnie Flakes (138) and Joey Ray (160). Daniel Bautista (113), Justin Karr (120), Brady McCollum (126) and Ben Deloach (182) are left in the third place brackets. Heritage-Catoosa needs to keep their foot on the gas and will follow the lead of Madison Martin (126), Landon Reed (132), Logan Perkins (145), Andy Braton (170) and Michael Moore (195) who are all in championship matches, while Jacob Tripp (182) remains in the third place brackets.

The story in Class AA continues to be the dominance of Jefferson. At 216 points they are blowing the competition out of the water, Morgan County is the next closest at 69.5. Challenging Morgan County for second place are Elbert County at 68, Greater Atlanta Christian at 66 and Lovett at 63 points. Jefferson has nine wrestlers in championship matches, Chase Piperato (106), Kyle Kashuba (113), Tyler Marinelli (126), Isaac Kelly (132), Clay Richardson (138), Jack Dollar (145), Cain Finch (152) and Forrest Przybysz (182), while Josh Harris (120) and Jake Sherman (160) have third place possibilities. With 11 wrestlers remaining Jefferson could reach the unthinkable point total of 300.

Class A has the tightest race remaining for first place with Bremen leading Gordon Lee by only 8.5 points, 112 to 103.5. Bremen has Tristan Williams (113), Zac Young (120), Brock Cooper (126), Cory Morgan (132), Ryne Eriquezzo (138), Kannon Madden (145), Darron Boxley (170) and Joe Bexley (285) remaining in the competition to try to maintain their slight advantage. Gordon Lee will look to Johnny Ragsdale (106), Chase Woods (113), Mika Clark (126), Will Jacks (132), Cory Almond (138), Ethan West (160), Michael Farmer (170), Clayton Reeves (182), Cory Jewel (195) to close the gap between them and Bremen. With one more wrestler remaining than Bremen, Gordon Lee has a good opportunity to overtake them for the Class A title.