St Francis (GA)

Head Coach: Chuck Bailey

Staff: Tom Mejia, Sam Rollins, Taylor Weaver

St Francis enters the 22-23 season with a ton of hype after breaking into the top 10 last season in Georgia 1A with pretty much a freshman lineup. They and the other 1A teams welcome Pepperell and Dade County into the mix this season, but that shouldn’t impact St. Francis’s climb. This team returns all of their point-getters from a year ago and entered the 2022 Sectional Tournament with 10 freshmen. This year’s squad will have another season under their belt and should be hunting a top 5 finish in Macon in 2023.

Returning State Placers Jace Parent (2nd at 138), Cade Parent (3rd at 138), and Daron Pigram (6th at 195) will be hunting the top step on the podium and should lead the way for the Knights. Egan Hadelman was a State Qualifier a season ago and will look to climb onto the podium this season. With 4 placers the Knights will be in the hunt, but in order to climb into the top 5 they will need several of the following wrestlers to step up and make an impact in 22-23. Chase Lent, Kevin Maven Winchester, Cole Erickson, Nathan Dobrzynski, and Daniel Davis each made sectionals last year as freshmen … if several of them can punch their ticket to Macon - watch out for the Knights. Keep an eye on Senior Henry Smith down low, as well as Sophomores Jack Hassler, Owen Hadelman, and Marcus Major … they will look to break into the lineup and push those in front of them. Also watch for a trio of freshmen - Eli Pawlish, Pace Lilenfeld and Mac Town - this season.

“We have a good group of guys that are working hard in the offseason whether it is in the weight room, track, or with 4 on 1’s these young men like to compete! We are excited about the upcoming season and planning on improving on our 10th place finish in traditional from last season.”

— Coach Bailey

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.

Carrollton (GA)

Head Coach: Allen Newton (3rd year as Women’s Head Coach at Carrollton; 9 years overall)

Staff: Tucker Rey, Morgan Dudley

If the GHSA had kept track of points at the Girls State Tournament a season ago … Carrollton would’ve been right in the mix for a top 3 finish (perhaps 2nd behind Chestatee). Much of that squad returns this season and they should be in the hunt once again. State Placer Alejandrina Griggs has graduated, but fellow State Placer Bailey Moore as well as State Qualifiers Lilianna McKinley and Katlyn Thomas return. The key for Carrollton making a push for the top spot is the continued development of Bella Moore, Sam Camp, and Cadence Wilson … all three return and could make a huge impact for the Trojans this season. Keep an eye on newcomer Madison Cooley who could turn some heads this season.

“We are very excited about the upcoming season. We have several starters coming back from last year and a good bit of new wrestlers that we can’t wait to see on the mat. We are working to be the top girls program in the state of Georgia. We know this is not going to come easy but we are ready for the challenge.”

— Coach Newton

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.

Coahulla Creek (GA)

Head Coach: Seth Broome (entering 4th year as Head Coach; 2 years prior as an Assistant)

Staff: Ed Reimer (4th year); Noah Smith (3rd year); Daniel Lopez (4th year)

Coahulla Creek finished in the top 20 at the traditional state tournament a season ago … and as Coach Broome notes in his quote below … they lost a mighty Senior class to graduation. That means the Colts will need some new faces to step up in 22-23. But before we get to them it is important to note that the Colts aren’t starting from scratch. While they lose State Qualifiers Jesus Sanchez and Austin Adams to graduation, they actually return the bulk of their point-getters in returning State Runner-up Adonnis Sanchez and State Qualifier Eion Keener. Sanchez, who is just a Junior, should be in the hunt for the top step in Macon anywhere from 106-120. Keener qualified at 195 in 2022 and will be counted on to lead the way up top.

The key for the Colts being in the hunt for a top 10 finish in 2023 is the development of Baily Smithers, Brody Sherrill, Bryson Bartley, and Draven Green as well as the emergence of a new crop of hammers. Smithers, Sherrill, Bartley, and Green each have post-season experience and will be looked upon to step in and make some noise in 22-23. Keep an eye on Jerrick Campbell, Noe Sandoval, Pablo Guerrero, and Carlos Guerrero … each are Seniors with the opportunity make an impact this season. Sean Bartley, Micah Smith, Cain Guffey, and Sammeer Shukri as well as transfer Levi Lowery could make an impact as well. Finally, the Creek have a solid group of freshmen that could help immediately, but most certainly will help lay the foundation for future success. Watch for Danny Liddy, Sean Baily, Greg Christie, Chevy Joyce, and Jaxon Lowery.

“We lost one of our largest Senior classes this past season, graduating 7 starters. However, we have the largest freshman group coming in this season that we have ever had, and fully expect several of those kids to step in and be competitive from the start. We have a solid core, returning 1 state finalist, 2 state qualifiers, and 4 sectional qualifiers. Between our upperclassmen who will finally have an opportunity to make the lineup, and our incoming freshman, we expect to fill all of our holes, and be very competitive. With the new region alignments, our expectation is to compete for a Region title, and push for a top 5 finish at State Duals and Traditional.”

— Coach Broome

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.