North Murray (GA)

Head Coach: David Thornbury (3 years head coach at Kell, first year at North Murray, 9th year coaching high school wrestling)

Staff: Jeremy Norman Jason Wheat Ryan Locke Michael Kimsey

What will we see from a new look North Murray squad in 2022-23? State Placers Hernan Hernandez and Tyler Wheat have graduated as well as Devin Hunte. Coach Thornbury takes over the squad after leading Kell the last few seasons - so North Murray has a change up top as well. This is a team that will likely have several new starters that will look to compliment the core of returners the Mountaineers have coming back.

Brock Bennett qualified for the state tournament a season ago as a freshman and this squad may not have a single senior on the team in 2022-23. Meaning they will be young, but not necessarily inexperienced. Joining Bennett with post-season experience are Elijah Hardin, Cody Wheat, and Ashton Head. Add in Eli Young, Camryn Shaver, Leo Gonzalez, Jacob Debord, and Hunter Walkey and you have a heavy Sophomore and Junior class that will be called upon to lead a solid group of incoming freshmen. If Brandon Locke, Jonathan Vicente, Easton Foster, and Michael Bejarano can make an impact and if the returners continue to get better you should see a North Murray team that grows by leaps and bounds from the beginning of the season to the end. Where they end up will be up to how well they progress.

“North Murray qualified for state duals for the first time in school history last season. The Mountaineers also had back to back seasons with two state placers for the first time in school history. The historic class of 2022 had seven starters graduate, Including state placers Devin Hunte, Tyler Wheat and the school’s first two time state placer Hernan Hernandez. The Mountaineers return six sectional qualifiers, and have a roster full of freshman and sophomores who look to step up on the varsity stage.”

— Coach Thornbury

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.

Chestatee (GA)

Head Coach: Scott DeGraff II (2 years)

Staff: Carey Whitlow, Jessi Askew, Matthew McClellan

Chestatee finished 6th in the 4A Traditional State Tournament a season ago. With the firepower they have returning they are not only looking to push into the top 5, but also make a run for the top step in 22-23. Chestatee return 4 of the 5 wrestlers that made the podium a year ago as well as both of their other state qualifiers … meaning 6 Eagles will be hunting the podium this season. Chris Pruitt, Daniel Zaleta, Angel Solorzano, and Ely Raines each made the podium in 2022 and each will be looking to finish on the top step in 2023. Alexis Guardado and Bryant Barnes each return after punching their ticket to Macon a year ago … this is an experienced Chestatee squad that has all the makings of a championship team.

The key will be the continued development of Andy Cervantes, TJ Terry, Caysen Goss, Triston Minor, Brenden Carlson and Nate Brazier. Each competed at the sectional tournament a year ago and if Chestatee can get a few of those six or a few others to make an impact … this will be a tough team to beat. Keep an eye on Kadin McDonald, Hector Espinoza, Bryan Silgeuro, Angel Garduno, Ulisses Arellano as well as Peyton Rowe, Kevin Santos, Justus Robinson, and Jarim Valderrama. Chestatee also features 8 freshmen that will look to break into the lineup and make a name for themselves … Brody Burke, Owen Etris, Ben Plemons, Aiden Edwards, Liam Budd, Marcus Quijada, Blake Migalla, and Hayden Sullens. Chestatee has the numbers to compete with anyone … not they need to find the right pieces to the puzzle - if Coach DeGraff and his staff can do that then Chestaee will be in the hunt when we get to the last day of the season.

“We have a very experienced group this year that we are excited about. We have multiple state placers returning as well as many others ready to step into the starting line-up. Our kids have worked extremely hard this off season and are anxious for the season to get started. These wrestlers have bought into what we have been trying to do the last 3 years and we are ready to make some noise in 4A. Couldn’t be more proud of the direction our program headed. Our goal is leave it all out on the mat, one match at a time. If we do that, it should be a fun year!”

— Coach DeGraff II

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.

Flowery Branch (GA)

Head Coach: Brett Clark

Staff: Caleb Hamilton, Matthew Seaman, Wyatt Slydek, Anthony Woodall

New program for Flowery Branch … I don’t believe they had any girls compete a year ago, but Coach Clark has put an emphasis on building the program and they will do so with three young ladies - a sophomore and a pair of freshmen. Keep an eye on Peyton Parker-Bittles who was a State Champ in Middle School a season ago - she will be joined by Bethany Noland and Estephanie Arias.

“Just getting the program going this year I am very excited about the girls we have. Peyton was State Champ in Middle school last year and Estephanie wrestled with the middle school as well. It’s a building process but we have the foundation with these young ladies to do well.”

— Coach Clark

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.