Brookwood (GA)

Head Coach: Chris Cicora (entering 16th season)

Staff: Joe Daniels, Scott Tomlinson

Lots of changes for the Broncos during the “off-season” as they lose State Champ Landen Moss (transfer to Walnut Grove), but add multiple time State Champ Amantee Mills and Jaheim Mills to the lineup. 120/126 in 7A just got interesting. Beyond that - Brookwood goes back to work with a fairly similar group to what we have seen over the last few years. They return 9 State Qualifiers including Ivan Gonzalez, Xavier Bentley, and Alex Bonn - each won multiple matches in Macon and should be hunting a spot on the podium in 2022.

One key to Brookwood’s success will be how well some other parts of the lineup compete in 2021-22. Evan Gonzalez, Jordan Oldknow, Daniel Wu, and Kage Horner each qualified a year ago and will be an important part of Brookwood’s success this coming season. Keep an eye on freshmen KJ Jett, Gilberto Balbuena, and Parker Trotter to make an impact.

“After losing several pieces from last years squad the Broncos reload with a talented group of freshman and the addition of the Mills brothers. This year the competition level in our room will be better and individual success should be a biproduct of that. At Traditional we should be able to put up some competitive points, especially in the lower half of our line up. However, the lack of depth and experience in the upper half of the line up may cause a challenge in Duals. When this team comes together they will be tough.”

— Coach Cicora

McIntosh (GA)

Head Coach: Nick Bellantoni (1st year back at McIntosh - previous head coach)

Staff: Joey Petras

McIntosh return a nice core group that could make the 21-22 season a memorable return for head coach Nick Bellantoni (Bellantoni was the head coach at McIntosh for more than a decade). This is a Junior-heavy squad and that means McIntosh should make some noise in 21-22, but could really make their mark in 2022-23 (but let’s not get ahead of ourselves). Senior Nick Kallas and Juniors Gavin Proffitt and Xander Harris each won matches in Macon in 2021 and all three will be hunting a spot on the podium in 2022.

State Qualifiers Brayden Petras and Tony Jimenez also return looking to climb onto the podium in their second trip to Macon. The return of Chase Nerenberg could be huge for this team … Nerenberg qualified for the state tournament as a freshman, but missed last season due to injury. A few others to keep an eye on include James Ward, Grant McKenzie, Lex Chao, Robbie Julian, and Tristan Newton-Smith. They will be key to how far the team goes in 2022.

“We have 6 returning state qualifiers coming back this season and several other wrestlers who could qualify for state. Returning state qualifiers include:
-Brayden Petras
-Chase Nerenberg (not last season, but the season before)
-Xander Harris
-Gavin Proffitt
-Tony Jimenez
- Nick Kallas”

— Asst. Coach Petras

Richmond Hill (GA)

Head Coach: Bill Evans (entering 4th season as Head Coach)

Staff: Jeff Delgrosso, Zach Sheets, Robert Parker

Richmond Hill has long been a powerhouse in Georgia 6A and the 21-22 should be no different. Coach Evans crew graduates several hammers including State Champ Tate Evans and State Placer Anthony Taylor, but this squad returns 6 that have been to Macon before. State Runner-up Colin Dragon as well as Seniors Thomas Crawford, Jackson Crawford, and Caleb Gonser should lead the way in 2021-22. 6A is probably the deepest class in Georgia so the Wildcats will need others to step up if they are going to make a run into the top 5 again.

Hunter Cash and Bradley Barrett both qualified a year ago and figure to be hunting a spot on the podium like Crawford x2, Gonser, and Dragon. The key for Richmond Hill is how well David Wright, Gaven Hill, Adam Cardenas, Raymond Luna, and the other Wildcats wrestle this season. Keep an eye on transfer Charles King (who took 2nd at the Georgia Super 32 Qualifier) as well as Lucas Raymond - both will make some noise in 2022.

“The team looks good, we should be solid.”

— Coach Evans