A historical look at Georgia 6A Traditional State Champions

The 6A classification has been around since 2013 and has seen just a few teams make their way to the title. Archer dominated from 2013-2016 (when 6A was the largest class in Georgia). The Tigers did it in both duals and traditional - earning a total of 8 state titles over the 4 years. Since that domination - 6A has become the wild west of the classes in Georgia. Buford and South Effingham each have won 2 dual titles with Richmond Hill, Valdosta, and Pope also claiming dual titles. over the last 8 years. On the traditional side we see similar programs claiming titles - Buford collected two in 2021 and 2022 and Alexander, Richmond Hill joined Valosta, Creekview, and Woodward Academy in hoisting the 6A title in Macon. Before we get to the Fan’s Guide for 2024 … let’s take a quick peek back at the most recent boys state champions for each of the current 6A programs. 11 current 6A programs have never crowned a State Champion … will 2024 be the first year we see a program like Lanier or Houston County get a champ? The 6A programs have a ton of history and below we take a quick look at just a few of the names you see below. Keep in mind that the individuals were not necessarily individual 6A State Champions … this is a look at the current 6A programs and their last champion.

Let’s take a closer look at just a few of these names (no time to delve into all of them):

Brock Hacker earned Johns Creek’s first ever state title with a win over Collin Kelley of North Forsyth in last year’s 190 lb. final. Hacker is now a 2x State Placer and will look to make a return trip in his final trip to Macon this year. Hacker is Johns Creek’s 3rd ever State Placer (Scean Major was 2nd at 132 in 2018 and Nima Rezaei was 4th in 2020).

Constantine Gavalas was a State Runner-up for Mt Vernon in 2015 before heading to Dunwoody. Gavalas downed Raji Brown of South Paulding in the 2017 6A 195 lb. weight class to claim Dunwoody 7th individual state title and their first since Andy Allen claimed the 4A 112 lb. title in 1992. 25 long years between champs for Dunwoody … DeKalb Schools Article.

Thomas County Central is one of many schools throughout Georgia to have had just one GHSA wrestling State Champion in their long history. Robin Hurst won the 4A 275 lb. State Title over Ray Robinson of Gordon Central in 2003. Hurst, at the time, was Thomas County Central’s second ever state medalist (Dondell Green was 2nd and 4th in the early 1990’s).

Cesar Payton is the only high school wrestling State Champ to ever walk the halls at Newnan. Newnan has had multiple State Placers throughout the years including David Hall who was 4th at 105 and 3rd at 112 in the late 1970’s. But none that have claimed an individual title and Cesar Payton has 2. Payton claimed his first title in the 4A 132 lb. bracket by downing Pat Campbell of McEachern in 1932. He followed that up by defending that title a year later with a win over Matt Huber of Redan in 1984. Click the picture below for an article by the Newnan Times-Herald about Payton’s accomplishments.

Photo Credit: Newnan Times-Herald