Walnut Grove (GA)

Head Coach: Paul Vanstone (19th year coaching wrestling and 12th as the head coach at Walnut Grove)

Staff: Kyle Smith, Lane Seale

Walnut Grove finished 5th in 5A a season ago and with the new classes in Georgia - we get to see them make the move down to 4A in what should be an exciting class to watch in 22-23. The Warriors return State Champ Landen Moss, State Runner-up Parker Warren, and State Placer Zeb Dawkins, but lose some firepower with the graduation of Jacob Helms, Kyle Smith, Kale Griswell, and Skyler Jones. Expect Moss, Warren, and Dawkins to all make a run for the top step in 2023 and for 2022 State Qualifier Luke Meredith to be in the hunt for a spot on the podium as well … but if the Warriors are going knock off defending Champs West Laurens or incoming 2A Champs Lovett - they will need some others to step up and make some noise.

Look for the return of two seniors - Gareth Aderhold and Damion Wasendorf to play a big role this year. Both were lost to injury last year and both should make an impact this year. Gunnar Stringfield and Brandy Rangel made an impact last year and both will be called on to take that next step this season. Keep an eye on Devin Nopple and Graham Dawkins - two freshmen that have a ton of experience and will look to take that next step in their freshman campaign. Walnut Grove has a chance to be in the hunt, but for that to happen they will need their hammers to do their thing and for the other parts of the lineup to step up and make an impact.

“Despite heavy losses to graduation last season, we’re excited and optimistic about this new team. Last year much of the hay was in the barn before the season started and things went well but we couldn’t quite reach our full potential due to injuries. This year is a completely different story. We have a few returning stars but also the coaching staff has a lot of work to do with young talent. That dynamic is going to be the most exciting part about this team. We expect it to be a bit of a roller coaster ride of a season with lot of highs, lows, growing pains and excitement.”

— Coach Vanstone

NOTE: All mentions of placers and qualifiers in the body are based on the 2021-22 season. If a wrestler placed higher or lower in a previous year it is not captured above.

Murray County (GA)

Head Coach: Drake Enloe (2nd Year head coach at Murray County /13th Year as a Wrestling Coach)

Staff: Josh Zeigler (High School) Jeff Johnson (Girls Team) Sandra Johnston (Girls Team) Chad Stafford ( Middle School, High School)

The Indians make the move down to 2A after finishing in the top 25 in 3A a year ago. A move down doesn’t necessarily mean any easier of a path to the top 10 so they will need their hammers to step up and do their thing in 2023. Fortunately, Coach Enloe returns all four of his 2022 State Qualifiers and has a solid core on which to build.

Eli Hope and Todd Banks each won multiple matches at the state tournament a year ago and should be hunting spots high on the podium this season. They could be joined on the podium by returning Qualifiers Aaron Flood and Caleb Blair. It would be a surprise if the Indians didn’t have a State Placer when all was said and done in 2023 … in fact it is more likely they will have 3 or 4 rather than none. That means you can expect Murray County to climb up the 2A rankings this season. Luke Sims returns for his senior campaign and will be one to watch … certainly another Indian that could punch his ticket to Macon. Aiden Johnson has been described by Coach Enloe as “one of the hardest workers in the room” and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a breakout season in 22-23. A few others to keep an eye on include freshman Blaine Tarvin (215), and move-in’s Kristopher McGinnis (145) and Eli Bowers (138). The Indians have a solid core … how they end up could come down to how well those others step up and compete.

“Murray County Returned to the State Duals last season after a 19 year hiatus. The Indians were led by first year Head coach Drake Enloe. The Athletes here at Murray have bought into the process. Murray County will return majority of last years line up and have new Athletes to complete a competitive line for the upcoming season. The Expectation is Murray County is a top team and will return to the Elite 8 and expect to finish better than last year. It has become the standard and Murray county is Hungry and wants it. They have been committed to improvement as off season they have put in the wrench time to progress forward.”

— Coach Enloe

NOTE: All mentions of placers and qualifiers in the body are based on the 2021-22 season. If a wrestler placed higher or lower in a previous year it is not captured above.

Harlem (GA)

Head Coach: Kevin Waters (8th year at Harlem; 20 years total)

Staff: Gary Perez, Joel Gross, Corey Rector, Jean Jordan

Harlem finished 13th in 3A in 2022 … they lose their top two hammers with the graduation of Donovan Miller and Luke Rhodes (both State Placers), but return a ton of others that will look to make some noise in 2023. Harlem returns nearly their entire lineup from a year ago except for Miller and Rhodes who both made the podium. Mason Linkous and Orlando Santiago both claimed Area 4 titles last season and will be looked upon to lead the way this year. Dylan Hiller, Chance Diles, and David Stanton also return for their season seasons and that should make the middle of the Harlem lineup very tough.

Keep an eye on Braxton ross, Ryan Rector, Tahki Hale, and James Frazier down low and Cainan Thomas, Braden Wall, Marcus Wheeler, Chase Bisel, Conner McCuistian, and DaOne West up top. If Harlem is going to break into the top 10 they must have Linkous, Santiago, Hiller, Diles, and Stanton lead the way and make some noise. Harlem also boasts a quartet of freshmen that could make an impact as well. Watch for Max Maya, Josiah Steadman, and Landon Moore down low and Andrew Collins in the middle of the Harlem lineup this season.

“We have a great mix of every grade that should round out our lineup. We had a very tough, but exciting off season and the wrestlers have bought into the program and what we are trying to accomplish this season. We will be led by Dylan Hiller (12th) 165, Chance Diles (12th) 138, David Stanton (12th) 144, Orlando Santiago (12th) 156, Mason Linkous (12th) 150. They have all been in the program for at least 3 years and expect them to be great leaders on and off the mat for our team. We lost our state placers from last year, Donovan Miller (4th 126) and Luke Rhodes (5th 195), but we return 12 wrestlers from sectionals. We will be competing all over the state this year and looking to crack the top 10 in 3A.”

— Coach Waters

NOTE: All mentions of placers and qualifiers in the body are based on the 2021-22 season. If a wrestler placed higher or lower in a previous year it is not captured above.