Georgia Super 32 Early Entry Tourney - A Reflection

by Tony DiSario

After five years straight of attending the S32 Qualifier, I was waxing nostalgic, jealously watching on Flo from my couch while I watched College Football. With the help of some friends, I have looked at the Georgia Super 32 Qualifier (Early Entry) Tournament going back to 2010. Unfortunately, the brackets have been deleted (smh), but the results remain. Please let me know if I have missed someone. The data is not the easiest to parse.

Chase Horne (GA) takes on overall #1 Braxton Amos in the 2019 Super 32 Final

Chase Horne (GA) takes on overall #1 Braxton Amos in the 2019 Super 32 Final

The GA S32 qualifier has a deep tradition of preparing wrestlers for ultimate success at the main event and at the next level. Over the years the GA qualifier has produced numerous wrestlers who have gone on to do well in Greensboro at the Big Show.

  • Sean Russell (U of MN) and Justin Ruffin (SIUE) are the only wrestlers to win the GA qualifier 4 times. Ruffin was a 5x finalist wrestling up his 8th grade year. Russell would of course go on to place multiple times at Super 32, placing 5th (2011), 2nd (2012) and 3rd (2013). Ruffin would place 4th (2016) and 3rd (2017)

  • Several notable wrestlers competed in the GA qualifier over the years –

    • Taylor Lujan (UNI) a multiple S32 placer and 1x Champion (2014).

    • Jr. Wert (Rider) a 2x S32 placer after competing at the GA qualifier.

    • AJ Alford (Navy) placed after winning the GA qualifier.

    • Zach Carmin, Chase Horne and Jackson DiSario (Stanford) would go on to finish 8th after winning the GA qualifier.

    • The Bullard boys made an appearance at the GA qualifier, each winning the event. They would go on to place at the big show with Thomas (NC State) winning the title and Daniel (NC State) placing 5th.

    • Willie Blivens (Campbell U) was yet another S32 placer. He met Lujan in the GA qualifier both went on to place in Greensboro.

  • It is rare for a wrestler to win the Georgia S32 Qualifier in back-to-back attempts. These are the only wrestlers to do it:

    • Consecutive Championships

      • Sean Russell – 4

      • Justin Ruffin – 4

      • Chad Pyke - 3

      • Daniel Bullard – 2

      • Elliot Lee - 2

      • Charles Thurman – 2

      • Drew Eller – 2 (3 total)

      • Jackson DiSario – 2

      • Vincent Baker – 2

      • Sam Latona – 2

      • James Latona – 2

      • Chase Horne - 2

    • Many wrestlers have placed twice, but these are the only wrestlers to place at the Georgia S32 Qualifier more than twice:

      • 5-Time Placers

        • Justin Ruffin

      • 4-Time Placers

        • Sean Russell

        • Jacob Mariakis

        • Drew Eller

        • Lucas DeSilva

      • 3-Time Placers

        • Griffin Higginbotham

        • Chad Pyke

        • Hunter Gamble

        • Bryson Neace

        • Jackson DiSario

        • Gabe Hixenbaugh

        • Charlie Darracott

        • Julian Farber

        • Kamdyn Munro

Would love for someone else to do the research on this one - Ola High School has had a placer for five straight years, going back to Blake Meadows in 2015. I believe this is the second longest active streak for a high school. Collins Hill has had the most placers overall, I believe, and have had two separate four-year runs, but was missing a placer in 2014 and 2015. So who holds the record for longest active streak of placers at the Ga S32 Qualifier? It is Union Grove with at least one placer every single year since 2010! Griffin Higginbotham started the Streak in 2010, and it continues this year with Torrance Dumas. I believe UG’s record will end this year, but I believe Reese Jones or Sam Harris will continue the Ola streak!

If we are counting girls, Amani Jones will also definitely continue the Ola streak which I believe will be the longest active streak since the qualifier began in 2010!

Jason FulmoreComment