Flowery Branch (GA)

Head Coach: Brett Clark (1st year Flowery Branch; 20th year overall)

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

Flowery Branch bumps up to 5A this season after finishing 11th at the Traditional State Tournament in 4A in 2022. Coach Clark comes over from Discovery with the Falcons returning three of their five qualifiers including 2x State Champ Seth Larson and State Placer Cal Rockenbach. Add in State Qualifier Quinn McDowell and this is a team that should be in the running for a top 10 finish in a very deep 5A. Connor Schroder, Max Woodford, and Vinny Kilroy each qualified for Sectionals last year and will be counted on to make an impact this season.

Keep an eye on Colin Pearson, Jack Breakfield, Johnathan Valentine, Ethan Grooms, and Rodrigo Magana down low, but this team’s strength is up top (150-285). The above five (Pearson, Breakfield, etc.) along with Schroder, freshman Preston Valentine, and senior Tobby Timmons will be counted on to keep the Falcons competitive until the middleweights take over. The middle and top should be the strength of this squad with Larson and Rockenbach as well as McDowell, Woodford, and Kilroy (all with post-season experience). Matthew Valentine, Matthew Young, and Tommy Hillard will look to challenge Kilroy and Woodford at 215 and 285. Aiden Valentine, Samuel Espinoza as well as freshman Griffin Harper, transfer Jason Clark, and Wyatt Harrison will look to compliment Larson and Rockenbach between 150 and 190.

“Excited about this year’s team with the coaches and athletes we have, but trying to get to know each other, It’s a learning process for all of us. With guys like Seth Larson a two time champ and Cal Rockenbach 3rd last year leading the team we are looking to get more to join them on the podium at the state this year.”

— 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.

Chestatee Girls (GA)

Head Coach: Scott DeGraff II

Staff: Carey Whitlow, Jessi Askew, Matthew McClellan

The Chestatee girls set the bar a year ago. Although the GHSA did not keep team scores (so no team titles were awarded), the Chestatee girls likely outscored everyone else. They had 2 Champs and 4 total Placers with 3 others also getting points. They graduate State Champ Catarina Velasquez and State Qualifier Dorothy Gerrell, but this team remains largely intact and as hungry as ever.

State Champ Isabella Redlinger returns as do State Placer Ashley Godinez as Qualifiers Abby Plemons and Jaden Lee. Each should be in the hunt for a spot high on the podium again in 2023 and as a result this is the team to beat as we enter the season. Add in Isabel Ayala, Courtney Hawkins, and Lanie Richmond and you have a solid squad from top to bottom. This is the first year for the Girls State duals and if Chestatee is going to hold off the competition they will need newcomers Marley Phagen (FR), Ivana Munoz (SO), Kylee Rodgers (SO), Riley Etris (SR), Charlotte Wheeler (SR), Tyler Satterfield (FR), and Grace Jones (SO) to step in and solidify the lineup. Look for Chestatee to be back in the mix again this season.

“Our girls have put in a lot of work this off-season. This group is very excited and ready to build off the success that our ladies have had in the past. This team is eager to get on the mat and prove themselves as a contender. October 24th can’t get here soon enough for our ladies. Our goal is to be aggressive and out work our opponents. If we take care of what we can control, it should be a fun season for this group.”

— 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.

Morgan County (GA)

Head Coach: Jared Rector (2nd year with the program)

Staff: Carter Schultz, Stuart Spence, Tim LeClaire, Sam Simmons

Morgan County finished 9th at the 3A Traditional State Tournament a year ago with a fairly young squad. The dogs do graduate State Runner-up Micah Reid, but the bulk of the lineup is back and looks ready to make a run for a top 5 finish in 2023. Caleb Turner and Paul Bessette both climb onto the podium last year as a sophomore and freshman. Both have an opportunity to make a run for the top step this season. Cason Turner and Omar Hayes both punched their ticket to Macon a year ago and will look to do the same (and climb onto the podium) in 2023.

They key will be solidifying the lineup around those four and continuing to develop to get more tickets punched this season. Miles Butler and Chase Scherer should join Bessette down low … both have post-season experience. Dylan Rivers and Trip Davis will be counted on to step in around Omar Hayes and Cason and Caleb Turner. With Reid gone - the dogs will be back in the hunt for someone to nail down the top part of the lineup. Look to Christopher Morgan and freshman Jetavious Ward. Keep an eye on Andrews Casillas who returns from injury - he was one match from placing in 2021. Dylan Smith and Judson Carter could step in down low as well.

“We made a lot of steps foward last year with a very young team. Now that team is a little older and more experienced everyone is ready to make an impact and take this team to the level we should be at.”

— Coach Rector

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.