State of the Program ... Trion (GA)
Trion (GA)
Head Coach: Eric Brock (entering 15th season)
Staff: Derek Murdock, Dustin Thrasher, Dwayne Tinney, Adam Cordell
Georgia 1A has developed into must-watch wrestling for fans … two years ago Trion was finally able to knock the Commerce train from the top step (in duals) and a year ago Mt Pisgah put together quite a run to beat Trion, Social Circle, Commerce, and others. The Bulldogs return all 14 of their 2021 State Qualifiers (and all of the 195 points those wrestlers earned in 2021) … meaning Trion has to be amongst the favorites to claim a 1A title in 2022. In fact, Coach Brock’s biggest challenge might be finding a way to get all of his hammers in the lineup (not a bad problem to have).
Trion return State Champs Logan Eller and Zach Sharp - both will look to claim another title in 2022. The Bulldogs also return State Runners-up Seth Huskins and Brantley Wilbanks … both will look to take home a title after just missing out on one in 2021. State Placers Bryce James, Bladyn Bowman, Toby Maddux, Crawford Lee and Daegan Vaughn also have the ability to take the top step in 2022. If the Bulldogs can put 9 in the finals or on top of the podium - I don’t see how anyone will beat them. Add in Alan Paiz, Cohen Blaschke, and Kaleb Park - each won matches in Macon and Trion could (and maybe should) have Bulldogs all over the podium in 2022. Keep an eye on Andrew Jones who returns for his Junior season after missing last year with an injury - Jones was a State Placer as a freshman two years ago. Trion has quite a roster with tons of kids and should be in the hunt for a team title in 2022.
“I am very excited about this season. We did not lose anyone from last season and started of the summer with 57 wrestlers. That number has fallen to about 44, but I believe that number will stand. The 44 wrestlers have wrestled multiple years and I don’t see losing any of them. Last season was a very difficult year with Covid. I don’t think any team wrestled with the same lineup each week, so I am looking forward to hopefully getting back to some normalcy. The boys had a promising summer competing in 3 summer duals tournament and attending Appalachian State University wrestling camp. I saw a lot of promising things, and things that we need to work on. This years team will be lead by 11 very good seniors and I know that they will do it the right way.”