Loganville (GA)

Head Coach: Myles Johnson (1st year)

Staff: John White, Tyler Malmberg, Cole Kendall

Loganville finished just outside the top 20 in 5A a season ago, but with the return of State Runner-up Jason Eligwe they have a real shot to break into the top 20 in 2023. Eligwe was 2nd at 195 and figures to be the foundation on which Coach Johnson will begin to build the Loganville program. Coach Johnson will also look to seniors Michael Turner and Jardel Hill - both whom have post-season experience and will be counted on to punch their ticket to Macon this season. The future though will have to come through the development of the non-seniors in Tyler Rhodes, Matthew Medina, Elijah Glasco, and Rylan Stephens.

If Rhodes, Medina, Glasco, and Stephens can develop with the senior leadership of Eligwe, Turner, Hill, Robert Erikson, and Landon Britt then this team could be competitive in a very deep 5A. Keep an eye on a pair of freshmen in Christin Noblett and Noah Phillips … both will be counted on to make an impact in the middle of the Loganville lineup.

“Very excited for this upcoming season and opportunity as Loganville’s new head coach. We have a very solid senior class leading this team with a returning State Finalist as leader of the team. We look to build on the success we have had in the past and develop our new wrestlers to buy into the culture of the program and promote higher expectations as a wrestling program this year. Looking to set a new standard and reach some new goals this year as a team. It’s going to be a great season.”

— Coach Johnson

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.

Kendrick (GA)

Head Coach: Anthony Mitchell (2nd year)

Staff: Isaiah Sellers, De’Angelo Taylor

Kendrick makes the move to 2A after spending the 2021-22 season in 4A. The Cherokees return Jordan Owens and Andre Sheppard - both of whom wrestled in the post-season in 2022. Owens and Sheppard represent Kendrick’s best shot to have a Cherokee represented in Macon this season. Keep an eye on James Chatmon and Mason Paschal … both could make some noise this season. If Kendrick is going to make noise as a team they will need some newcomers to step up … but keep an eye on Owens, Sheppard, Chatmon, and Paschal this season.

“Last year we were very young and inexperienced, we will be bringing back two sectional competitors from last year Jordan Owens & Andre Sheppard they will be solid for us, and we are happy to hopefully fill more numbers with some young talent in the wings!! We also have a new additions Kendrick Alumni and former William Baptist University wrestler Isaiah Sellers as a new assistant coach we are excited to what he may bring.”

— Coach Mitchell

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.

South Walton (FL)

Head Coach: Travis Laxton (3 yrs as head coach)

Staff: KJ Beavers, Hayden Meyer, Carey Nick

A young squad with a ton of upside. South Walton finished 15th a season ago and return both Nick Lee and Isaac Brinson. Lee finished 8th in 1A at 285 and will come into his senior campaign looking to climb the podium. Brinson qualified for the state tournament a season ago as just a freshman and will look to be hunting a spot on the podium in 2023. Lee is just one of five Seniors on the squad. Chase Maas has post-season experience and will be looked on to punch his ticket to Kissimmee this season. Lee and Maas are joined by fellow seniors Frank Bonjean, Daniel Hamichi, and Judah McCoy.

The bulk of this squad are freshmen and sophomores … so expect a few growing pains this season. Gibson Moore and Kaden Shaw have post-season experience, but the majority of the squad will be learning as they go. Look for Noah Withers, Madden Jackson, Sam Madden, Devohn Fowlkes, Dylan Hardin, Owen Kurfirst, Aspan Ridge, and Donavan Trinidad to fill the spots around Brinson down low. Madden is just a freshman but could make some noise at 113 this season. The middleweights feature talented freshman Jackson Roach as well as Blaine Stout, Charlie Fife, Barron Kutz, Weldon Terry as well as seniors McCoy, Bonjean and Maas. The top should be led by returning State Placer Nick Lee, Hamichi and Zachary Budd, Sampson Souder, Jonathan Almeida, and talented freshman Cody Johnson. This is a young squad that should be much better in February than they are in November … look for tons of growth this season.

“We’re extremely young but there is still plenty of experience on the team. I’m excited to watch these young men grow this season.”

— Coach Laxton

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.