Walnut Grove (GA)

Head Coach: Paul Vanstone (19th year coaching wrestling and 12th as the head coach at Walnut Grove)

Staff: Kyle Smith, Lane Seale

Walnut Grove finished 5th in 5A a season ago and with the new classes in Georgia - we get to see them make the move down to 4A in what should be an exciting class to watch in 22-23. The Warriors return State Champ Landen Moss, State Runner-up Parker Warren, and State Placer Zeb Dawkins, but lose some firepower with the graduation of Jacob Helms, Kyle Smith, Kale Griswell, and Skyler Jones. Expect Moss, Warren, and Dawkins to all make a run for the top step in 2023 and for 2022 State Qualifier Luke Meredith to be in the hunt for a spot on the podium as well … but if the Warriors are going knock off defending Champs West Laurens or incoming 2A Champs Lovett - they will need some others to step up and make some noise.

Look for the return of two seniors - Gareth Aderhold and Damion Wasendorf to play a big role this year. Both were lost to injury last year and both should make an impact this year. Gunnar Stringfield and Brandy Rangel made an impact last year and both will be called on to take that next step this season. Keep an eye on Devin Nopple and Graham Dawkins - two freshmen that have a ton of experience and will look to take that next step in their freshman campaign. Walnut Grove has a chance to be in the hunt, but for that to happen they will need their hammers to do their thing and for the other parts of the lineup to step up and make an impact.

“Despite heavy losses to graduation last season, we’re excited and optimistic about this new team. Last year much of the hay was in the barn before the season started and things went well but we couldn’t quite reach our full potential due to injuries. This year is a completely different story. We have a few returning stars but also the coaching staff has a lot of work to do with young talent. That dynamic is going to be the most exciting part about this team. We expect it to be a bit of a roller coaster ride of a season with lot of highs, lows, growing pains and excitement.”

— Coach Vanstone

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.

Mater Lakes (FL)

Head Coach: Brandon Neifeld (entering 11th season)

Staff: JD Ramsey, Alex Noa, Ethan Vergara

2022 State Champions Ethan Vergara and Azakin Sejour led the Bears into the top 10 in 1A a season ago. But both are now gone and the Bears will look to a new group of young hammers to step up and take the reigns. Don’t be fooled - this team is still loaded with talent, but losing Vergara and Sejour will put pressure on the rest of the lineup to step up and take control of where the Bears finish in 2023. Damian Soto and Ethan Tran both made the podium a year ago and both return ready to lay claim to an individual title. Tran makes up a solid bottom part of the lineup that features State Qualifiers Kellen Messina, Anthony O’Dell, and Malikai Badillo. Add in Bruce Li and whoever emerges as the 106 (should be a great battle between Mason O’Dell, Chris Greene, and Matteo Gonzalez) and you have the strength of the Mater Lakes lineup … 106 through 132 will be lights out for the Bears.

That’s not to say the rest of the lineup will be easy for the competition … it is just a top of the cap knowing that the first 5 weights feature 1 returning placer and 2 returning qualifiers as well as several others that will look to make some noise in 2022-23. Look for Jorge Garcia, Emanuel Celestin, Kalias Nazario, Kenny Alvarado, and Croccifixio Mazzrillo to battle for spots from 132-152. Returning State Qualifier Eric Hodge kicks off the top side of the lineup - a top side with a ton of potential. Manny Nazco, Calogero Mazzrillo, and Branden Marerro all came within a match of punching their ticket a year ago … something that should happen in 2023. Returning State Placer Damian Soto pairs with Emiliano Solache at 220 and 285 to finish out a Bears lineup that is stacked from top to bottom. Look out 1A - this team is good and despite losing Vergara and Sejour will be back knocking on a top 5 finish in 2023.

“After losing state champions Azakin Sejour and Ethan Vergara this group of seniors has big shoes to fill. With their leadership and a ton of young talent we think we have the pieces to compete with any team in the state. We believe we underperformed last season and have something to prove this year.”

— Coach Neifeld

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.

Dutch Fork (SC)

Head Coach: Bryan Bush (2nd year at Dutch Fork; 9th year overall)

Staff: Wes Bard, Campbell Clarkson, David Mckee, Vinnie Salek

Dutch Fork sits in an interesting place as we begin the 2022-23 season. They don’t return any state qualifiers from a season ago, but they do return some young talent that will look to make their mark. This team should get better and better as the season progresses and there are several hammers in the lineup that will look to punch their ticket to the big dance at the end of the season.

Kolin Kunkle finished 2-2 at Lower State in 2022 and is certainly the Silve Foxes best shot at having a qualifier in a tough 5A this season. Wilson Immesberger, Kalb McNeil and New Jersey transfer Noah La Vigne are all ones to keep an eye on. The Silver Foxes should feature two freshmen at the bottom of the lineup in Jackson Stocker and Lucas Thrun. Both competed well for their middle school team a year ago and will look to get the Silver Foxes off to a good start every time out.

“Our team is still in the rebuilding phase, but we should be very competitive this year. We only graduated 3 seniors (1 starter) and our MS program is coming off an incredible season last year and we hope to be adding some of those hammers to our Varsity lineup. We were very busy this summer in the weightroom, at multiple camps and other tournaments. We also have a good problem where we have multiple guys in most weight classes, so we’ll see who will be where in November.”

— Coach Bush

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.