Georgia 7A is a relatively new phenomenon. The classification began in 2017 and Jess Wilder’s Camden County Wildcats have reigned supreme over the class since its inception. Camden has won every state title awarded in 7A (in both duals and traditional). They will look to make it 8 traditional titles in a row this weekend. They also hold a huge lead in terms of the number of State Champions (24 in 7A) … although keep in mind that schools move in and out of classes all the time (Buford for example only became a 7A school in the 2022-2023 school year - this is just their 2nd season as a 7A program). Below is graphic recognizing the most recent Boys State Champion at current 7A schools (keep in mind that when Rommell Neu won it for Berkmar in 1989 - Georgia only had 4 classes and Neu won it at 135 in 4A). So we are not saying that these were all 7A State Champions - just that these schools are currently 7A and the person listed is their most recent champ.

Let’s take a closer look at just a few of these names (no time to delve into all of them):

Christian Flavin beat Josh Hodge of Kell in the 5A finals at 215 in 2008 to give the Indians just their third ever State Champion and the last one to claim the top step. Flavin is just one of 10 wrestlers in East Coweta history (on the men’s side) to make the podium and only one of 2 (Hawk Cochran being the other) to do it twice. Flavin is the current Women’s Assistant Coach for the top-ranked Life University Running Eagles.

Alex Paucar beat Shay Eskew of McEachern to claim the 4A 125 lb. title in 1992. Paucar is the only male wrestler to claim a state title in the program’s history. Paucar, who is currently an assistant coach at Mountain View High School, won the 103 lb. title as a freshman and then finished 3rd and 2nd before claiming the title again his senior year. Paucar is only 1 of 15 State Placers in Meadowcreek history and the only one to have stepped onto the podium more than twice.

South Gwinnett has had 18 wrestlers make the state podium, but just one to have won a state title. Ross Mitchell beat Doug Shaw of Walton to claim South Gwinnett’s only state title to date. Mitchell is also the only Comet to make the state podium twice in his career.

Kennesaw Mountain’s Justan Rivera is the only 4x State Champion on the list above. Rivera won state titles from 2012 to 2015 and then was a 2x Division 2 National Qualifier and 1x D2 All American for Notre Dame College (Ohio). He is also Kennesaw Mountain’s last male State Champion and just their 4th in program history.

The 3A classification takes us back to nearly the beginning. The 1970-1971 year marks the first time that the sport was separated into the different A classifications with 1A, 2A, and 3A (although 1A was still a combined A, B and C - not sure what that means). Prior to 1970 we had Division I, II, and III much like they do to this day in Tennessee. 3A began with Walker taking the first title (they were the reigning Division I champs in 1969 and 1970 - so no surprise) and over the years we have seen Columbia rise to be a 3A power (winning traditional titles in 1972, 1973, 1976, and 1977), Troup won multiple titles, but it was the Westminster teams of the early 1990’s that 3A might be remembered for. Westminster won 3A titles in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, and 1996 (they won 2A titles in other years). Gilmer, Jefferson, Sonoraville, and others have all taken a turn on top of the podium. 3A, like 6A, might be the most chaotic of the classes over the years. In 53 years, 28 different schools have won a traditional state title. Probably the biggest reason for that is that for 20 years it was the largest classification and as things have changed we have seen different powerhouse programs come through 3A (Troup and Gilmer have the most 3A titles with 6 followed by Westminster). Below are the most recent state champions of the current 3A programs (keep in mind that the individuals were not necessarily individual 3A State Champions … this is a look at the current 3A programs and their last champion).

Let’s take a closer look at just a few of these names (no time to delve into all of them):

We begin back in 1992 with Hart County’s Johnny Fuller. Hart County has had 11 different placers from 1987 to 2023, but just one champion. Fuller claimed the 145 lb. 3A title over Douglas Bailey of North Gwinnett. We couldn’t track down any more information on Fuller - only that he is Hart County’s only State Champion.

It is hard to be around Georgia wrestling and not run across the name Pete Yates. Yates is considered by many to be amongst the best high school wrestlers to ever come out of the state. He was a 3x State Champion for Salem High School and a 2x D1 All American at Virginia Tech. Yates finished his high school career 161-1 (or is it 163-1 - according to this article) with his only loss coming in the state finals to Garrison Goins of Ringgold in his sophomore season. Yates is the only State Champion from Salem High School.

We continue the theme with being the only wrestler from their high school to ever win a state title as we pivot to Logan Winkles of Upson Lee. Winkles, the current coach of Upson Lee, is one of four individuals to have the podium for the Knights. He was a two state placer in 2009 and 2010 at 285 - winning the title in 2010 after taking second the previous year (Macon Telegraph article on Sweet Redemption). Winkles is the current head coach at Upson Lee and will be looking to gt one of his wrestlers on the top step (and remove him from the graphic above). And just for everyone to be aware - the official record has it as Logan Wrinkles.

Gordon Lee has a long and storied history and unlike the three schools mentioned above have had numerous state champions over the years. Jonathan Ragsdale won 4 titles from 2012-2015, Alex Spires was a 3x Champ in 2010, 2011, and 2013, as well as a couple of 2xers, but it is Braden Jarvis who sits on this list as Gordon Lee’s most recent State Champion. Jarvis was a 2A State Runner-up at 152 in 2016 and the 1A State Runner-up at 170 in 2017 before finally breaking through and claiming the 1A 170 lb. title in 2018. Grodon Lee has had state placers since, but none that have made the top step. Will that change in 2024?

For those of you that know wrestling in Georgia … can you take a guess about who won the first 2A traditional title? If you said Woodward Academy (without looking it up) then be sure to find me in Macon this week and I’ll buy you a drink. Woodward Academy, last year’s 6A Traditional Champs, was the first program to win a 2A title and did it in back to back years in 1971 and 1972. If you are a fan of Chick-Fil-A, you might even know some of the champs/placers from those teams (Dan and Don Cathy). Over the years, a handful of programs have dominated the 2A landscape. Lovett has 8 2A traditional titles and had a 5 year streak from 1990-1994. Jefferson has 6 2A traditional titles and they won all 6 in consecutive years from 2009-2014, Social Circle had a run of 5 titles from 2015-2019 and our current 2A Champions - Rockmart have 7 traditional titles (their titles range from the early 1980’s to 2023). In all, 20 different programs have won a 2A Traditional title. Below are the most recent state champions of the current 2A programs (keep in mind that the individuals were not necessarily individual 2A State Champions … this is a look at the current 2A programs and their last champion).

Let’s take a closer look at just a few of these names (no time to delve into all of them):

Forty years. That’s how long it took Model to crown another state champion. After crowning 4 champs in 6 years from 1977 to 1983, Model had a champion drought. Noah Allmon ended that drought in 2023 by claiming the 2A 190 lb. title over Tank Morris of Toombs County. Model had state placers throughout the years during that time including 2x placers Joe Wallace, Riley Davis and 3x placer Walker Byrd (who finished 2nd twice in 2017 and 2018), but it was Allmon that finally got Model over the hump in 2023.

Cook has assembled quite a squad in 2023-2024 and Destry Walker’s reign on this graphic could come to an end. Cook had their first placer in 1982 and had 4 a year ago, but it has been more than a decade since anyone has ascended to the top step for the Hornets. Cook 21 champs over the years, but none since Destry Walker claimed the 285 lb. 2A title with a win over Ben Lanier of Dublin in 2012. Will a 2023-2024 Hornet be replacing Walker’s name this year?

Demarko Dixon placed twice at the state tournament - both times climbing the top step. Dixon was your 3A 152 lb. State Champion in 2013 and the 3A 170 lb. State Champion in 2014. Dixon is just the second Appling County wrestler to win a state title (the first being Thomas Johnson in 1992) and the only one to win two titles. Dixon was part of the Air Force Academy’s 2014 signing class. Check out this article on Dixon from ITGNext.