The future is bright for the Ringgold Tigers

The Ringgold Tigers wrestling team hasn’t won a state championship since 2008. It’s safe to say that during the past 15 years the program has entered a sort of stagnant state so to speak. The days of multiple time state champions like Garrison Goins and Greg Hopkins for examples, along with consistent team state titles are essentially over, but is it?

In 2022 the Tigers finished 3rd in the state duals championships after dropping their first dual to Bremen 40-20, but bouncing back to beat Gordon Lee 44-30, Pike County 42-27, and Franklin County 40-35.

At the individual state tournament, the Tigers qualified nine wrestlers through area and sectionals, and placed seven. Sophomores Pierce Pennington and Tristan Busch won 3A state titles, Freshman Chandler Craig placed 6th, Junior Hudson Moss placed 4th, Sophomore Jaxon Delgoda placed 6th, Junior Brent Lee Raby placed 6th, and Junior Travis Talley placed 6th. As a team, the Tigers once again placed 3rd, tied with Bremen at 108 total team points. Only 8 points shy of a team state championship, that was won by Gilmer County with 115 total team points.

With seven retuning state placers and two returning state champions, the Tigers look primed for a run at their first state championship since 2008. Transfer freshman William Hamilton will immediately help the Tigers lineup. Hamilton won the USA wrestling Georgia state championship at 110 pounds in his final year of eligibility. Hamilton looks to take over at the 120-pound slot in the Tigers lineup in 2023. In addition, fellow transfer Freshman Boston Chandler will assist the Tigers lineup at 106 pounds.

Waiting in the wings for the 2024-2025 season are 8th graders Luke Jones who placed 3rd this past season at the USA wrestling Georgia state championships at 14u 170 pounds, along with winning a Freestyle USA wrestling Georgia state championship at 165 pounds in May. Luke placed 2nd last season at the NGAC traditional tournament, losing a tight battle with Tennessee AAU state champion Jonas Watkins 2-0. Bryson Drennen who won the USA wrestling Georgia triple crown state championship in 2021 and finished runner-up this past March, along with winning Freestyle at 14u 92 pounds at the Southeast Regional Championships in Cherokee, North Carolina and finishing 2nd in Greco-Roman. Drennen also obtained true All-American status in Farmington, Utah at the end of July by placing 4th in Freestyle at the Kids Freestyle/Greco National Championships at 14u 87 pounds. Drennen won the NGAC championship at Rossville in 2021 at 78 pounds. Last season he won the Tennessee Valley Wrestling Conference for Hammond Creek in Dalton at 94 pounds. Cooper Day at 195 pounds got injured after his challenge match for varsity a year ago for Ringgold middle, but his replacement Ethyn Jones who is now a freshman placed 3rd at the NGAC traditional tournament. Day looks to have a lot of success during his 8th grade season. Cooper Moore had little experience going into this past season, but he trained this past year with Dendy Trained in Lafayette, Georgia for the Freestyle and Greco season. He has made tremendous improvements and will look to take another step this upcoming season between the 150 pound and 160-pound slot for Ringgold middle. Gavin Allerding was the 3 seed this past season at 94 pounds, but unfortunately missed weight at the NGAC tournament. He is slotted to wrestle between 100 pounds and 108 pounds. Xander Bennett a first-year wrestler this past season but with a jiu jitsu background, He made significant improvements throughout the past year. He is slotted to help Ringgold middle anywhere from 115 pounds to 123 pounds. Bo Green who has had success on the youth circuit, along with being a former USA wrestling Georgia state placer, looks to help Ringgold middle at 130 pounds this winter and beyond. Dustin Black was a backup during this past season but placed 2nd in the JV traditional tournament. He will be a crucial starter for the Ringgold middle this season. Julian Barrera placed 3rd last season at the NGAC traditional tournament at 165 pounds. Which was widely considered the toughest weight at the NGAC traditional championships.

With the addition of Derek Murdock as the head wrestling coach at Ringgold middle school, the Ringgold program has undergone a transformation, and continues to transform in a positive way. Focus on strength training and technique development has been big for the Tigers program in the recent year.

In 2023-2024, the Ringgold Tigers have 7 returning state placers, a 14u state champion, and an incoming lightweight with experience. If there was a time for the Tigers to seize the moment and end the drought of state championships, it’s now. The future is bright in Ringgold, Georgia. It may be football season but pay attention to what’s brewing in the wrestling room. Rings seem to be on the way. Stay tuned.

Jason FulmoreAugust 31, 2023Comment