What to know
Schedule:
Bracket:
Seeds:
Greenbrier
Carrollton
Gilmer
Jordan
History:
2023 marked the first time we had a Girls State Duals Tournament and it didn’t disappoint. Carrollton came in unseeded and knocked off #4 Woodward Academy 54-21 and then top seed Chestatee 41-40 to advance to the finals. In the finals they knocked off fellow unseed Jordan 48-36. Greenbrier, the #2 seed, fell to Jordan in the opening round 54-30 and then won 3 in a row to take 3rd including beating #1 seed Chestatee 53-27. Each team that competed a year ago (it was an 8-team bracket) are qualified for this year’s State Duals.
What to know about each team (from top of the bracket to the bottom):
NOTE: Information and results is tough to come by so this is our best guess based on what we’ve been able to collect.
Top side:
Greenbrier - Greenbrier is led by a trio of returning state placers in Arie Bacon (155), Jordan Epstein (100), and Phoebe Melvin (190). But what makes Greenbrier particularly tough in duals is their depth. They also return 3 State Qualifiers in Esperanza Huitron (125), Kaylynn Hottenrott (130), and Ryan Lewis (120). Greenbrier has the luxury of having the ability to move Epstein up to 105 if needed, but look for Stella Stancoven, Jansen Drumgoole, and Journey Drumgoole to take care of the weights between Epstein and Lewis. A important key for a Greenbrier run to the title will be in the middle with Abigail Sekajipo (135), Mya Pilger (140), Liz Martinez (140), and Trinity Pritchett (145).
Putnam County - Lilly Frisch is Putnam’s hammer and we could see an excellent first round match with her and Ryan Lewis. It looks as if Putnam might have a few forfeits in the lineup and against the top seed Greenbrier that could be tough to overcome. Keep an eye on Natalie Hinson (100), Michelle Hernandez (125), Ashyln Fuller (170), and Kannericka Nelson (235) … all four are freshmen and are going to be good in the future.
Houston County - Houston County has come a long way with their program and is one of the many that should have a full lineup heading into the weekend. And having a full lineup cannot be overstated where forfeits are worth 6 points. Their strength vs. Lumpkin is their numbers, but they will still need to count on their leaders to do their job. Riley Flickinger (125), Sophia Franklin (105), Mikayla Williams (115), and Alahyah Grayson (140) will be counted on … for Grayson that’s a tough ask because she will likely pull one of the Garbuzovas sisters.
Lumpkin County - Lumpkin has four legit hammers in Nora and Greta Garbuzovas (140 and 145), Gewnnie Wight (170), and Cadence Grulla (100). Add in Caroline Cunningham (125), Lily Cuny (145), Mia Avina (155), Maxine Sullens (190), and Alyssa Allison (235) and this is a squad that can compete with anyone. But their margin is small … it doesn’t appear that they have anyone between Kylee Melton at 105 and Cunningham at 125 and that could be their achilles heel.
Osborne - Osborne is one of the traditional powers on the girls side and this year is no different. Rebekah Jean-Baptiste (100), Bianca Reyes (120), and Mariana Gossett (155) are all returning State Qualifiers. Osborne, like some other we’ve mentioned, have the depth to make a run … they shouldn’t give up any weights, but they will need wrestlers like Jacqueline Olivares (100), Shayla Peralta (130), Sandra Desouza (235) and others to make an impact if they are going to beat a good Chestatee squad right off the scale.
Chestatee - A year ago Chestatee did not have the showing at the duals most expected … so they enter with something to prove in 2024. This team is solid, but does have some holes (unless they’ve been wrestling and we haven’t seen the results). Abby Plemons was 3rd a year ago will look to solidify the middle of the lineup with Ivana Munoz (155) and Selena Trejo (170). Don’t be surprised to see Isabel Ayala and Kylee Rodgers work into the lineup as well. The key for Chestatee is down low. Jayden White (105) returns after qualifying for the state tournament a year ago, but they will need some new faces to step in from 110-140.
Shiloh - a newcomer to the dance and the heavy hitters we’ve already mentioned. We don’t know much (really not anything) about this squad except for the fact that they have a large number on their roster. They pull a solid Jordan squad first.
Jordan - One of the top programs in the state and they come in as the #4 seed. Jordan is solid from top to bottom and isn’t likely to yield any points by way of forfeits … so you will need to beat them straight up to advance. Paola Vazquez (135), Arrie Battle (125), Alliyah Rone (120), and Najada Morris (190) are all returning State Qualifiers and Rone, Battle, and Vazquez makeup the toughest part of the Jordan lineup down low. Add in Aniya Hawkins (100), Aaliyah Holt (105), and Josilyn Thomas (110) and Jordan is stout from the word go. Don’t get me wrong - Jahajah Banks (135), JoHaylee Davis (145), Jame’la Moore (190), and Beatrice Suomie (235) join Morris to make the top side tough as well. Jordan doesn’t give up many points and will be tough to beat this weekend.
Bottom Side:
Gilmer - From top to bottom, Gilmer might be the deepest team in the bracket. They enter as the 3 seed and have hammers throughout their lineup. They are missing their biggest hammer in 2023 State Champ Taylor Schiesser who has missed the season due to injury. I don’t believe she is back, but if she is that is just another hammer that everyone else will have to deal with. Like Gilmer squads of the past … keep an eye on a few names … and one of those is Tercero. There are a ton of them and they come to compete. Leticia Tercero and Linda Tercero are both returning placers (expect them to be part of a solid middle of the lineup for Gilmer (135 and 155). But they aren’t the only Tercero’s to watch. Juana Tercero wrestles 100, Carmelina Tercero is at 190, and freshman Abelinda Tercero should be in the middle as well. This is a good squad, but they will only go as far as Sarai Solis (also a returning placer who is at 115), Josephine Royer (105), and Amayah Jones (170) wrestle. Scrappy didn’t have Gilmer in his top 4 … I think that’s a mistake.
Northside Warner Robins - Another squad we don’t have a ton of information on. We know Justice Williams (115), Ariyanna Crane (120), Haley Marcum (130), Amarii Reese (190), and Cyn’Aja Jackson (235) all have experience, but with no results we aren’t sure where Northside might be strong elsewhere. They draw a tough Gilmer squad first.
Campbell - Another of the power programs on the Georgia Girls landscape. Campbell has always put together a solid squad and this year is no different. We don’t have many results from Campbell, but we do know that Fatima Darbo (170) is a returning State Qualifier, Dayra Martinez (115), Alethia Turner (120), Bradye Bass (140), and Amy Dike (235) have post-season experience and that the Campbell lineup should be solid from top to bottom if their roster is accurate (their only holes might come in the middle around 155).
Woodward Academy - What we know about Woodward is fairly straightforward … Aneri Patel and Zammy Okoli are returning State Runners-up. Patel has to be amongst the favorites at 100 and Okoli has been solid all season at 125. Daniella Palatchi (145), Efa Oju (155), Audrey Zents (155), and Lillian Stokes (190) are all returning state Qualifiers and provide Woodward Academy with the horses to make a run at a title. The key for Woodward are the other cogs in the machine … Chloe Bierria (105), Ryley Yasseri (110), and Nora Boylan (130) to name just a few. If the Patel, Okoli and the rest of the returning qualifiers can pull 5-6 wins against the top teams then Woodward has a legit shot to be hunting a trophy.
Gainesville - There is a lot to like about this Gainesville squad. Emely Mejia-Martinez is a returning state qualifier, but she’s a legit hammer at 110. Julia Carcamo (100), Alicia Rogers (105), Ashley Morales (115), and Ailani Soto (120) give Gainesville a nice run at the top of the lineup. Litzy Soto comes over from Johnson after a 3rd place finish last year and really gives Gainesville a presence up top (which is where they needed help). The key for me is the run to Soto at 170 from 130-155. Kaitlin Morales (120), Alexa Mondragon (135), Kimberli Rocha-Trujillo (140), Sharmareya Turner (145), and Itel Salcido (155) will determine whether Gainesville ends up on the podium or not.
Richmond Hill - Another squad we don’t know much about … except for returning State Placer Izzy West (115). West is a hammer, but Richmond Hill as a group might be a little overmatched given the level of competition. Liliana Flackensburg (105), Kaitlyn Platt (140), and Atori Perefrina (190) might give Richmond Hill some dubs, but this is a dual event and winning at other spots is going to be important for Richmond Hill to advance.
Meadowcreek - Congrats to Meadowcreek on making the state duals. As a reward they get the defending State Champs and #2 seed Carrollton. Meadowcreek has some horses in their lineup, but in reality they will likely struggle against a deep Carrollton squad. Elaina Williams (120), Kyana Spearman (140), Zorah Lee (235) and others will look to get wins, but the roster isn’t overly deep and they could have a few forfeits which will be hard to overcome against a deep Carrollton team.
Carrollton - Your defending State Champs come in as the 2 seed. Madison Cooley (140) and Bella Moore (125) are your returning State Placers. Johana Mejia (155), Bailey Moore (130), and Maggie Dudley (135) are all returning State Qualifiers. That means Carrollton is stacked in the middle and will be tough to beat from 125-155. They key for a Carrollton return trip to the top step are the other weights. If Gabby Carnes (100) and Tomaya Boykin (120) can help down low and Sierha Lopes (170), Journey Gray (190), and Hailey Lussier (235) take care of the top of the lineup … Carrollton will repeat.
Summary: I’ve been doing interviews with all of the boys coaches that won a state dual this past weekend and the themes are still the same … and they will be the same this weekend for the girls.
Get bonus especially falls
Avoid giving up bonus points
Race to 8 - teams that get 8 wins win 97% of the time
Finally the picks …
Scrappy’s picks are:
Carrollton
Greenbrier
Jordan
Woodward Academy
My picks:
Both Carrollton and Greenbrier have traveled out of state to matchup with the best teams around the Southeast. As a result, they are battle-tested and that will be in their favor this weekend.
Carrollton are my favorites, but the duals are 5-6 teams deep and a few swing matches could easily change who wins.
Greenbrier, Gilmer, and Jordan are the contenders and each of them has a lineup that can win it all.
Gainesville is my darkhorse and is a team that Carrollton can’t overlook.
