Monroe Area (GA)

Head Coach: James Daniel

Staff: Scott Hill, Bud Nguyen

The Canes finished in the top 30 at the 2021 3A Traditional State Tournament. With those that are returning - I’d expect that they will push into the top 15 or 20 in 2022. State Placer Bernard Manga returns and will lead the way. Manga who was 3rd in 2021 will be hunting the top step in 2022. Tyler Willhite also returns for his senior season and will look to climb onto the podium in 2022 after just missing a year ago.

Keep an eye on Bradyn Sorrow, Mason Keenum, Zillion Hammond, and Jose Padilla. They will be the key to whether Monroe Area makes a big jump in 21-22 … each will look to punch his ticket to Macon (and if they can make that happen then the Canes should have 6 working to make the podium). Coach Daniel will look to some others that have experience to take that next step and make an impact in 2022.

“We bring back 12 of 14 weight classes and a have a few State Qualifiers returning in the line-up. Manga, Sorrow, and Willhite all have State Tournament experience. There are some other who just missed qualifying last year, so I expect some of them (Keenum 45, Hammond52/60, Padilla 82/95) to make the jump! ”

— Coach Daniel

Alexander (GA)

Head Coach: Daryk Cochran

Staff: Sean Moistner, Dave Mathews, Kyle Cadman, Tracy Palmer

To say that the Alexander Girls program “has always been strong” would be a huge understatement. Coach Cochran and Moistner had a very strong program long before girls wrestling was sanctioned by the GHSA and have continued to recruit and develop the talent at Alexander over the last several years. Alexander finished 2nd to Chestatee a year ago - brining 9 to the state tournament and putting two on the podium in what were some extremely large brackets (not qualifying with Covid a year ago - so wrestlers had to win 6 or more matches in some weights to make the podium).

Dream Santiago - multiple time State Champ - has graduated, but ALX looks ready to make another run with those returning. Brooke Ligon finished 6th in 2021at 132 and should be pushing for the top step on the podium in 2022. She is joined by returning State Qualifiers Meta Xayabouth-Jones, Paige Fennell, Lindsay Watts, Leia Bossie, and Lily Buckelew. Add in Sophomore Haley Alexander and freshman Lilly Jaillet and Alexander looks poised to make another run for the top step in 2022.

“Our girls program has always been strong; we are looking to continue our growth to dominating our opponents.”

— Coach Cochran

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.”

— Coach Brock