Social Circle (GA)

Head Coach: Randy Prater

Staff: Roger Strom, Nate Ethridge

Social Circle returns in 2021-22 absolutely loaded. So does Trion and a few other 1A teams - so this could be one outstanding season in 1A. Social Circle returns each of their starters from a team that put up 182 points and qualified 14 for the 1A State Tournament a year ago. The only critique you could make against the Redskins is that they didn’t have a state finalist … which is unusual when you put 9 on the podium. For Social Circle to breakthrough Trion they will need at least a few of those placers to claim the top step in 2022. Kacen Taylor and Will Hames each finished 3rd with Mitchell, Thacker, Ethridge, Vandergriff, and Bruce 4th and Castillo 5th.

The Redskins also have JD Duval, James Eldridge, Austin Farmer, Caden Prater, and Christian Brock who won multiple matches in Macon and will look to climb onto the podium themselves in 2022. I wonder if any team has had 14 State Placers in a single state tournament … because Social Circle certainly has the team to make a run for that milestone. Keep an eye on Tucker Cleary who broke his hand in the state dual semis a year ago and was unable to compete in the traditional state series. Two other names to pay attention to are CJ Duren and Sam Bowen … they could make some noise in 2022 and in a close team race could prove the difference.

“Returning 13 starters. 8 placers, 5 additional state qualifiers. Returning state placers.
Mitchell 4th
Castillo 5th
Thacker 4th
Taylor 3rd
Hames 3rd
Ethridge 4th
Vandergriff 4th
Bruce 4th
Returning qualifiers. Prater, Farmer, Eldridge, Duval, Brock”

— Asst Coach Ethridge

Pisgah (NC)

Head Coach: Ryan Gibson (entering 15th season)

Staff: Gage Norris, David Bryson, Lance Queen, Brandon Dills, Jerry Mehaffey

Pisgah finished 8th in 2A in 2021 and were led by State Champ Lucas Whitted and State Runner-up Louis Mehaffey. Both have graduated as have State Qualifiers David Queen and Albert Messer. Plus the Bears make the jump from 2A to 3A for this alignment rotation - so 2021-2022 could be a bit of a rebuilding year with some new faces in the lineup.

The Bears still have two returning State Qualifiers - Senior Dylan McClellan and Sophomore Xander Hill … both of whom will look to climb onto the podium in 2022. Pisgah also has 2 other returners that competed at the regional tournament in 2021 - Seth King and Alex Almaraz. Both are Seniors and will look to punch their ticket in their final season for the Bears. Keep an eye on Luis Garcia-Vick as well as freshman Kane Bryson. Pisgah will need for some new faces to step in for the Seniors that have graduated, but this is a team that is young and ready to compete in 21-22.

“Pisgah graduated a lot wrestlers last season. We are very young, but the young kids coming in have a lot of experience and should adjust to High School wrestling without much difficulty.”

— Coach Gibson

Manteo (NC)

Head Coach: Jim Metzinger (entering 9th season)

Staff: Casey Winstead, Charles Spangler

Manteo jumps from 1A to 2A in 2022 and does so with a lineup that should make some noise this season. The Redskins return two State Qualifiers in Logan Davis and Thalia Gomez as well as Seniors Caden Clark, Irving Calderon, Ivan Rubio, and Cody Weaver. Each of the Seniors wrestled in the 1A East Region Tournament in 2021 and will look to punch their ticket to state in 2022.

Nick Brewster, Dustin Vargas, and Kamilla Brooks also return and will look to make some noise. Brooks was 3rd at the Women’s State Tournament last year and should be hunting the top step in 2022. Keep an eye on freshmen Alreanna Reber, Jack Woodson, and Sam Cage as well as a pair of Juniors in Riley Perciful and Dylan Polatty. Moving up in class is usually a challenge, but the Redskins return a solid group that looks ready to make their mark.

“Excited to have a season with tournaments! We will have a good group of wrestlers that like to learn and work hard. We will be fun to watch in January and February!”

— Coach Metzinger