A Fan's Guide to the Georgia 6A State Tournament

Welcome to the Fan’s Guide for the GHSA 6A State Tournament

So what is a Fan’s Guide?

The Fan’s Guide is a look at the tournament as a whole and each individual weight class … from a fan’s perspective. But it is not a prediction of who will win or who will make the podium. In fact, a Fan’s Guide is a little different. It is a look at a few individual pieces from each bracket … they include:

  • Favorite: the wrestler that enters the tournament as a section champ and has the best shot to claim the top step.

  • Contenders: a wrestler that finishes 1st or 2nd at sectionals has a decent chance to make the podium … one of the champs and both runners-up should be considered contenders.

  • Darkhorse: a wrestler that finished 3rd or 4th at one of the sectional tournaments, but could make a run for the top step.

  • Bracketbuster: a wrestler that finished 5 or 6 in their section, but could make a run for the podium.

Isn’t that kind of a prediction?

Yes and no. I do identify the favorite, but beyond that I have no idea of who will march through the bracket and claim a title (don’t get me wrong - I’ve watched a lot of wrestling this season so I have an idea of what will happen). I could give you an educated guess about a possible finals match and who will make the podium, but in the world of high school wrestling that is dangerous territory. Few wrestlers (if any) are unbeatable … but we do have past results and past accomplishments on which to make a guess or two. In reality, I am as much of a fan as any of you and like to talk wrestling. I hope each athlete goes out and performs to her ability and we, as fans, get an opportunity to watch some great wrestling.

Remember the sole purpose of the website, twitter, instagram, fan’s guides, pictures, etc. is to promote the sport in the Southeast. Have a great time this weekend, enjoy the wrestling, and best of luck to everyone competing.

NOTE: ALL INFORMATION BELOW IS ASSUMING THAT THE INFORMATION INPUTTED INTO TRACKWRESTLING EITHER BY THE EVENT DIRECTOR OR THE COACHES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON IS CORRECT.


A Look Back to 2023

Team Race

Numbers matter … but they aren’t the only thing that matters. South Effingham entered last year’s state tournament with 2 more wrestlers than Woodward Academy. Woodward finished with 6 on the podium, South Effingham with 5 and that was enough to be the difference between first and second. I can’t emphasize enough how important champs are to a team in terms of points … just look at Sprayberry and Johns Creek. Each brought just one wrestler - both finished in the top 20 because their one (Josh Sanders and Brock Hacker) won titles. 6A is always close … this year will be no different. Whoever can put the most of the podium will likely walk away with the title.

Section Success Predicts State Success

Nothing is given, everything is earned … but there is a strong correlation between how well someone does at sectionals and their success in Macon. Ultimately team (and individual) success begins at sectionals (and honestly long before that). There is a direct relationship between being a Section Champ and eventually making the state podium. Keep that in mind when looking at our favorites, contenders, etc. further down the Guide.

Exactly what one might expect based on sectional results … 11 State Champ were Sectional Champs the week before, the other 3 were Runners-up. All but one of the State Finalists were either a section champ or runner-up. Jaylin Tate of Woodward Academy being the exception after taking 3rd in Section A at 285. And we see the numbers drop in a steady way as we go down to those that finished 6th at sectionals … where just 4 made the podium. Paul Childs, Jamil Ramsey, Colin Spencer, and Jack Garrett were your bracketbusters.


Team Notes

The table below is a list of every qualifier by school, along with their place. So we could talk about a number of different teams, but in reality there are just a handful that have enough to really make a run for a team title. They are discussed below the table.

Will it be South Effingham vs. Woodward Academy again in 2024? Those were the top teams a year ago and based on sectional results you have to believe they are the in position to repeat that in 2024. Four teams come in with double digit qualifiers, but just South Effingham and Woodward come in with 4 champs and 2 runners-up (and South Effingham has one more qualifier (a 6th place finisher). On paper, this looks like it is going to be super close, but we don’t compete on paper … each of the qualifiers must do their job in order for the team to be in the hunt. Glynn Academy, Tift County, Jackson County, and Lee County all have a shot … particularly Glynn with 7 of their 10 that finished in the top 3 at sectionals. Still this looks to be a battle between South Effingham and Woodward - expect it to be close.


Schedule


106 lbs.

  • The Field:

    • Angel Ayala  (Rockdale County) - Section A 1st

    • Casey McElligott  (Lassiter H.S.) - Section A 2nd

    • John Soha  (St Pius X School) - Section A 3rd

    • Thad Mullins  (Lee County) - Section A 4th

    • Jared Katz  (Dunwoody) - Section A 5th

    • Santi Skurzak  (Pope) - Section A 6th

    • Donavon Spry  (Jackson County) - Section B 1st

    • COLE WARREN  (Creekview) - Section B 2nd

    • Liam Bee  (Glynn Academy) - Section B 3rd

    • Jason Dixon  (Lakeside (Evans)) - Section B 4th

    • Christopher Hardeman  (South Effingham) - Section B 5th

    • Rowan Kennedy  (Gainesville) - Section B 6th

  • Favorite: Donavon Spry  (Jackson County)

  • Contenders:

    • Angel Ayala  (Rockdale County)

    • COLE WARREN  (Creekview)

    • Casey McElligott  (Lassiter H.S.)

  • Darkhorse: Liam Bee  (Glynn Academy)

  • Bracketbuster: Christopher Hardeman  (South Effingham)

  • Things to know:

    • Based on season results I would’ve thought that Liam Bee would have been the favorite heading into the state tournament. He has had a great season and is a returning State Qualifier, but then Donavon Spry dropped from 113 - beat Bee and Warren and claimed the Section title

    • Both Bee and Warren are tough and they will likely meet in the quarters on the top side with the winner getting Section A champ Ayala.

    • We take Hardeman as the bracktbuster for 2 reasons … 1) South Effingham will be looking for points so his motivation to gets wins will be high and 2) he beat Ayala (who he could get in the quarters) 12-4 at state duals


113 lbs.

  • The Field:

    • Isaac Hoshide  (Lassiter H.S.) - Section A 1st

    • David Ayala  (Rockdale County) - Section A 2nd

    • Antron Johnson  (Tift County) - Section A 3rd

    • Ean O`neal  (Thomas County Central HS) - Section A 4th

    • Jackson Hitt  (Woodward Academy) - Section A 5th

    • Tristan McCloskey  (Johns Creek) - Section A 6th

    • Tyler Herring  (Woodstock) - Section B 1st

    • Malachi Kahele-Carranco  (Jackson County) - Section B 2nd

    • TY WARREN  (Creekview) - Section B 3rd

    • Alarik Gibson  (South Effingham) - Section B 4th

    • Julian Adams  (Allatoona) - Section B 5th

    • Arcadian Eaton  (North Forsyth) - Section B 6th

  • Favorite: Tyler Herring  (Woodstock)

  • Contenders:

    • Isaac Hoshide  (Lassiter H.S.)

    • Malachi Kahele-Carranco  (Jackson County)

    • David Ayala  (Rockdale County)

  • Darkhorse: TY WARREN  (Creekview)

  • Bracketbuster: Jackson Hitt  (Woodward Academy)

  • Things to know:

    • Tyler Herring, a returning SQ at the weight, won a close 3-2 decision over Kahele-Carranco to take the Section B title

    • Isaac Hoshide was 6th last year at 106 hand easily took care of business in Section A with a fall of Antron Johnson and a tech fall of Ayala

    • Ayala and Johnson did not meet at sectionals so that could be a quarter to watch; neither did Warren and Kahele-Carranco

    • Alarik Gibson beat Warren in the section quarters and then forfeited to him to take 4th … the matchup with Hitt from Woodward Academy could be important in the team race


120 lbs.

  • The Field:

    • Alexander Tabb  (Lee County) - Section A 1st

    • Forrest Briesacher  (Marist School) - Section A 2nd

    • Heath Augustyn  (Woodward Academy) - Section A 3rd

    • Matt Walker  (Pope) - Section A 4th

    • Andres Soto  (Tift County) - Section A 5th

    • Alex McKissick  (Dunwoody) - Section A 6th

    • Emilio Santana  (South Effingham) - Section B 1st

    • Clayton Hicks  (Brunswick) - Section B 2nd

    • William Bruce  (Glynn Academy) - Section B 3rd

    • Logan Robinson  (Woodstock) - Section B 4th

    • Tyler Ramos  (Lanier) - Section B 5th

    • Mikey Castro  (Jackson County) - Section B 6th

  • Favorite: Alexander Tabb  (Lee County)

  • Contenders:

    • Emilio Santana  (South Effingham)

    • Clayton Hicks  (Brunswick)

    • Forrest Briesacher  (Marist School)

  • Darkhorse: Heath Augustyn  (Woodward Academy)

  • Bracketbuster: Tyler Ramos  (Lanier)

  • Things to know:

    • Tons of returning state tournament experience in this bracket

    • Alexander Tabb was 3rd last year at 113 and beat Augustyn and Briesacher to claim the Section A title last week

    • Emilio Santana pinned his way to the finals before downing Hicks 7-3

    • Heath Augustyn was 4th, Clayton Hicks 6th at 113 last year and Briesacher was 3rd and Logan Robinson 6th at 106

    • A bracketbuster is returning Runner-up Tyler Ramos who finished 5th in Section B after losses to Hicks and Bruce


126 lbs.

  • The Field:

    • Riley McElligott  (Lassiter H.S.) - Section A 1st

    • Alex Reid  (Riverwood International Charter School) - Section A 2nd

    • Kenneth Wilcox  (Tift County) - Section A 3rd

    • Tommy Cavanaugh  (Woodward Academy) - Section A 4th

    • Jaxon Ward  (Thomas County Central HS) - Section A 5th

    • Charlie Ruark  (Dunwoody) - Section A 6th

    • Hunter Kegley  (Glynn Academy) - Section B 1st

    • Jacob Stellhorn  (South Effingham) - Section B 2nd

    • Reece Meyers  (North Forsyth) - Section B 3rd

    • Bruno Gomez  (Lanier) - Section B 4th

    • Preston Duffy  (Alexander) - Section B 5th

    • DYLAN JUROVSCHI  (Jackson County) - Section B 6th

  • Favorite: Riley McElligott  (Lassiter H.S.)

  • Contenders:

    • Hunter Kegley  (Glynn Academy)

    • Alex Reid  (Riverwood International Charter School)

    • Jacob Stellhorn  (South Effingham)

  • Darkhorse: Reece Meyers  (North Forsyth)

  • Bracketbuster: Preston Duffy  (Alexander)

  • Things to know:

    • Another weight with a lot of returning experience

    • Riley McElligot is your returning 113 lb. State Champion - but he only beat Alex Reid 4-2 in the Section A final

    • Hunter Kegley beat Stellhorn 5-0 in the Section B finals and Stellhorn beat Meyers in tiebreakers in the semis

    • Stellhorn vs. Meyers should be a good quarterfinal to watch

    • Each of the names mentioned above were on the podium a year ago (except Stellhorn who was a SQ) … McElligot (1st at 113), Kegley (3rd at 120), Meyers (6th at 120), Reid (4th at 120)


132 lbs.

  • The Field:

    • Tanner Spalding  (Woodward Academy) - Section A 1st

    • Carter Brickley  (Lassiter H.S.) - Section A 2nd

    • Will Lazarus  (North Atlanta HS) - Section A 3rd

    • Tanner Musgrove  (Lee County) - Section A 4th

    • Rodney Edwards  (Thomas County Central HS) - Section A 5th

    • Austin King  (Tift County) - Section A 6th

    • Karmel Thompson  (Paulding County) - Section B 1st

    • BROCK SALAS  (Creekview) - Section B 2nd

    • Ryan Alfau  (Glynn Academy) - Section B 3rd

    • TOBY JUROVSCHI  (Jackson County) - Section B 4th

    • John Badami  (South Paulding) - Section B 5th

    • Brayden Bringer  (South Effingham) - Section B 6th

  • Favorite: Tanner Spalding  (Woodward Academy)

  • Contenders:

    • Carter Brickley  (Lassiter H.S.)

    • Karmel Thompson  (Paulding County)

    • BROCK SALAS  (Creekview)

  • Darkhorse: Will Lazarus  (North Atlanta HS)

  • Bracketbuster: Rodney Edwards  (Thomas County Central HS)

  • Things to know:

    • No bigger favorites in 5A (except for Latrell Schafer) than Tanner Spalding

    • Spalding is a returning State Champ, an Air Force Academy commit, and was 2nd at Knockout in a wild one to Jovani Solis

    • We were wondering how close returning State Runner-up Carter Brickley was to Spalding (could he give him a match or not) and based on the Section A final … Spalding pinned him in the 1st period - it would seem the Spalding is a heavy favorite to claim another title

    • Karmel Thompson won Section B (by injury default) and will likely have to beat Brickley in order to get his shot at Spalding

    • Keep an eye on the Jurovschi vs. Edwards first round match


138 lbs.

  • The Field:

    • Gene Smith  (St Pius X School) - Section A 1st

    • Hunter Block  (Woodward Academy) - Section A 2nd

    • Dean Rollins  (Thomas County Central HS) - Section A 3rd

    • Emilio Morejon  (Blessed Trinity Catholic) - Section A 4th

    • Dallas Hunter  (Lee County) - Section A 5th

    • Colin Murphy  (Dunwoody) - Section A 6th

    • Eli Wood  (South Effingham) - Section B 1st

    • Jefferson Cuttino  (Glynn Academy) - Section B 2nd

    • Joabe Araujo  (North Forsyth) - Section B 3rd

    • Landon Robinson  (Woodstock) - Section B 4th

    • AARON CAMPBELL  (Creekview) - Section B 5th

    • David Gomez  (Lanier) - Section B 6th

  • Favorite: Eli Wood  (South Effingham)

  • Contenders:

    • Jefferson Cuttino  (Glynn Academy)

    • Gene Smith  (St Pius X School)

    • Hunter Block  (Woodward Academy)

  • Darkhorse: Joabe Araujo  (North Forsyth)

  • Bracketbuster: AARON CAMPBELL  (Creekview)

  • Things to know:

    • Who you got at 138? It looked like returning State Runner-up Cuttino was the favorite before he lost to Eli Wood 5-3 in the Section B finals. Cuttino had beaten Wood at least twice this season prior to that meeting, but that goes to show that past results do not necessarily predict future success.

    • As a result, Cuttino sits on the same side on the bracket as returning State Placer Gene Smith who took care of business in Section A

    • We are going with Wood as the favorite for that reason, but it feels like the hot hand wins 138 this weekend … Landon Robinson is a returning State Placer, Aaron Campbell is a returning State Placer … don’t be surprised to see chaos at 138.


144 lbs.

  • The Field:

    • Noah Anderson  (Lee County) - Section A 1st

    • Steven Zheng  (Tift County) - Section A 2nd

    • Jack Garrett  (Blessed Trinity Catholic) - Section A 3rd

    • Roc`keem Ross  (Rockdale County) - Section A 4th

    • Miller Guy  (Pope) - Section A 5th

    • Luke Hamby  (Marist School) - Section A 6th

    • Aiden Waters  (Glynn Academy) - Section B 1st

    • Thomas Clay  (Brunswick) - Section B 2nd

    • Gannon White  (South Effingham) - Section B 3rd

    • Kaleb Cooper  (South Paulding) - Section B 4th

    • Jonathan Fogus  (Rome) - Section B 5th

    • Graysen Turley  (Sequoyah) - Section B 6th

  • Favorite: Noah Anderson  (Lee County)

  • Contenders:

    • Aiden Waters  (Glynn Academy)

    • Steven Zheng  (Tift County)

    • Thomas Clay  (Brunswick)

  • Darkhorse: Jack Garrett  (Blessed Trinity Catholic)

  • Bracketbuster: Jonathan Fogus  (Rome)

  • Things to know:

    • Lots of unknowns here

    • Neither section champ or runner-up has state tournament experience (at least from 2023), but 3rd place finisher in Section A - Jack Garrett was 6th last year at 138. Anderson pinned Garrett in the quarters at sectionals and then pinned Ross in the semis and beat Zheng 1-0 in the finals

    • The Section B bracket was equally as close … Waters beat Cooper 4-3 in the semis and Clay 6-4 in the finals (Clay beat White 5-2 in the other semis)


150 lbs.

  • The Field:

    • Noah Song  (Woodward Academy) - Section A 1st

    • Nathan Johnson  (Riverwood International Charter School) - Section A 2nd

    • Javon Bateman  (Tift County) - Section A 3rd

    • Daniel Phillips  (Sprayberry High School) - Section A 4th

    • Luka Heron  (Rockdale County) - Section A 5th

    • Luke Pinson  (St Pius X School) - Section A 6th

    • Dmitriy Vostrikov  (North Forsyth) - Section B 1st

    • Ryan Seymour  (South Paulding) - Section B 2nd

    • Victor Smith  (Grovetown) - Section B 3rd

    • Adan Mills  (Glynn Academy) - Section B 4th

    • Roman Ochoa  (Alexander) - Section B 5th

    • Kevin Poythress  (Effingham County) - Section B 6th

  • Favorite: Dmitriy Vostrikov  (North Forsyth)

  • Contenders:

    • Ryan Seymour  (South Paulding)

    • Noah Song  (Woodward Academy)

    • Nathan Johnson  (Riverwood International Charter School)

  • Darkhorse: Javon Bateman  (Tift County)

  • Bracketbuster: Luka Heron  (Rockdale County)

  • Things to know:

    • Vostrikov is the returning State Champ at 144; Seymour was 2nd at 150 … Vostrikov beat Seymour 8-2 in the Section B finals

    • Vostrikov got takedowns at the end of both the 1st and 2nd periods and pushed the lead to 4-1 as they entered the 3rd period … Seymour can’t give up those late takedowns if he is going to win it all

    • Noah Song won Section A with relative ease - I don’t know if Seymour and Song have wrestled yet this season


157 lbs.

  • The Field:

    • Dylan Reel  (Woodward Academy) - Section A 1st

    • Tim Kernan  (Blessed Trinity Catholic) - Section A 2nd

    • Dawson McMillan  (Tift County) - Section A 3rd

    • Mason Brown  (Thomas County Central HS) - Section A 4th

    • Dominic Fiorenza  (Lassiter H.S.) - Section A 5th

    • Josh Nesbitt  (Sprayberry High School) - Section A 6th

    • Brandon Bringer  (South Effingham) - Section B 1st

    • Cade Morgan  (Glynn Academy) - Section B 2nd

    • Dylan Spencer  (Grovetown) - Section B 3rd

    • Justin Whitney  (Habersham Central Hs) - Section B 4th

    • Jamil Ramsey  (Paulding County) - Section B 5th

    • Miles Lesley  (River Ridge) - Section B 6th

  • Favorite: Brandon Bringer  (South Effingham)

  • Contenders:

    • Dylan Reel  (Woodward Academy)

    • Cade Morgan  (Glynn Academy)

    • Tim Kernan  (Blessed Trinity Catholic)

  • Darkhorse: Dylan Spencer  (Grovetown)

  • Bracketbuster: Dominic Fiorenza  (Lassiter H.S.)

  • Things to know:

    • Pick em. That’s how I view 157 … both Moose Bringer and Dylan Reel come in as the section champs and both looked great last weekend.

    • Both were 3rd a year ago - Bringer at 132 and Reel at 150. Both have beaten Cade Morgan who was 2nd at 138 last year and both beat Morgan by similar margins (although I don’t believe in the transitive property of wrestling).

    • So this is a pick em weight for me. Morgan sits on the same side as Reel which is a consideration although Reel beat him 10-2 at state duals.


165 lbs.

  • The Field:

    • Robby De Haven  (Woodward Academy) - Section A 1st

    • Bo Davis  (Blessed Trinity Catholic) - Section A 2nd

    • Micah Wood  (Thomas County Central HS) - Section A 3rd

    • Brody Duffy  (Roswell) - Section A 4th

    • Bryan Melton  (Tift County) - Section A 5th

    • Jakore Brown  (Northside) - Section A 6th

    • Xavier Cepican  (Jackson County) - Section B 1st

    • Dylan Bland  (Alexander) - Section B 2nd

    • Timothy Brown  (South Paulding) - Section B 3rd

    • Bobby Craun  (South Effingham) - Section B 4th

    • Brian Strickland  (Grovetown) - Section B 5th

    • COSTEN WRIGHT  (Creekview) - Section B 6th

  • Favorite: Robby De Haven  (Woodward Academy)

  • Contenders:

    • Xavier Cepican  (Jackson County)

    • Bo Davis  (Blessed Trinity Catholic)

    • Dylan Bland  (Alexander)

  • Darkhorse: Timothy Brown  (South Paulding)

  • Bracketbuster: Brian Strickland  (Grovetown)

  • Things to know:

    • Robby DeHaven is the returning 165 lb. State Champion

    • Xavier Cepican was 4th last year at 157

    • Close losses tell me a lot - especially when they come against solid competition. Brown lost to Cepican 6-5 in the quarters and then came back through to take 3rd. He will likely need to beat Bland to get a shot at DeHaven, but he is certainly one to watch.


175 lbs.

  • The Field:

    • Latrell Schafer  (Veteran`s) - Section A 1st

    • William Childs  (Pope) - Section A 2nd

    • Vincent Casal  (St Pius X School) - Section A 3rd

    • David Remigailo  (Dunwoody) - Section A 4th

    • Danny Freeman  (Tift County) - Section A 5th

    • Makhai Jones  (Alcovy) - Section A 6th

    • Luke Hayes  (South Paulding) - Section B 1st

    • DaMyon McFarlin  (South Effingham) - Section B 2nd

    • Nazareth Bates  (Grovetown) - Section B 3rd

    • Michael Reid  (New Manchester) - Section B 4th

    • Zack Scott  (Jackson County) - Section B 5th

    • DOMENIC VELARDEZ  (Creekview) - Section B 6th

  • Favorite: Latrell Schafer  (Veteran`s)

  • Contenders:

    • William Childs  (Pope)

    • Luke Hayes  (South Paulding)

    • DaMyon McFarlin  (South Effingham)

  • Darkhorse: Vincent Casal  (St Pius X School)

  • Bracketbuster: Zack Scott  (Jackson County)

  • Things to know:

    • Schafer is the biggest favorite in 5A. Latrell will look to claim his 3rd state title this weekend.

    • Not to hand out medals before they are earned, but Schafer not winning would be one of the biggest surprises of the weekend

    • The other side of the bracket should be fun … Luke Hayes beat McFarlin in ultimate tiebreaker and will now likely have to beat the winner of Childs and Casal in the semis (Childs and Casal did not wrestle last weekend)

    • McFarlin’s march to a spot on the podium could be huge for South Effingham’s bid for a team title


190 lbs.

  • The Field:

    • Damion Moate  (Tift County) - Section A 1st

    • Simon Palatchi  (Woodward Academy) - Section A 2nd

    • Carson Hulse  (Veteran`s) - Section A 3rd

    • Kejuan Greene  (Lovejoy) - Section A 4th

    • Conor Eggleston  (Johns Creek) - Section A 5th

    • Jaylen Williams  (Lee County) - Section A 6th

    • Anthony Lowe  (Brunswick) - Section B 1st

    • Colin Kelley  (North Forsyth) - Section B 2nd

    • Jackson Waters  (Newnan) - Section B 3rd

    • John Sams  (Glynn Academy) - Section B 4th

    • Lonnis Jordan  (Grovetown) - Section B 5th

    • JOSUE MENDOZA  (Jackson County) - Section B 6th

  • Favorite: Anthony Lowe  (Brunswick)

  • Contenders:

    • Colin Kelley  (North Forsyth)

    • Damion Moate  (Tift County)

    • Simon Palatchi  (Woodward Academy)

  • Darkhorse: Jackson Waters  (Newnan)

  • Bracketbuster: Conor Eggleston  (Johns Creek)

  • Things to know:

    • Lowe is the returning 215 lb. State Champion

    • Kelley was 2nd at 190 last year to Brock Hacker and took 2nd to Lowe at the Section B tournament last weekend

    • Damion Moate was 4th at 175 in 2023 and won Section A with a 7-4 decision of Palatchi


215 lbs.

  • The Field:

    • Brock Hacker  (Johns Creek) - Section A 1st

    • Weston Bryan  (Lee County) - Section A 2nd

    • Christian Bell  (Woodward Academy) - Section A 3rd

    • Luke Cole  (Dunwoody) - Section A 4th

    • Carlos Hernandez  (North Atlanta HS) - Section A 5th

    • Shemar Scott  (Northside) - Section A 6th

    • JACKSON LOCKE  (Creekview) - Section B 1st

    • Sky Niblett  (Gainesville) - Section B 2nd

    • Brett Sharp  (Apalachee) - Section B 3rd

    • Nathan Horsley  (Newnan) - Section B 4th

    • Christopher Lord  (South Effingham) - Section B 5th

    • Travis Roberts  (Grovetown) - Section B 6th

  • Favorite: Brock Hacker  (Johns Creek)

  • Contenders:

    • Weston Bryan  (Lee County)

    • JACKSON LOCKE  (Creekview)

    • Sky Niblett  (Gainesville)

  • Darkhorse: Christian Bell  (Woodward Academy)

  • Bracketbuster: Christopher Lord  (South Effingham)

  • Things to know:

    • Brock Hacker is the returning 190 lb. State Champ - he beat Weston Bryan, the returning 215 Runner-up, 2-1 to take the Section A title last weekend

    • Don’t be surprised if we see that match again for a state title

    • Also in the mix is Christian Bell who was 2nd at 285 last year in 4A and was a State Champ the year before … he lost to Hacker 3-2 in the semis

    • Bell vs. Bryan in the quarters is going to be outstanding - winner likely gets Jackson Locke who beat State Placer Sky Niblett for the Section B title (a 3-2 decision).

    • Locke beat Sharp 4-1 in the Section B semis … meaning both potential quarters of 2’s and 3’s could be outstanding


285 lbs.

  • The Field:

    • Tommy Hires  (Thomas County Central HS) - Section A 1st

    • Emmanuel Johnson  (Rockdale County) - Section A 2nd

    • Dominic Vigil  (Lee County) - Section A 3rd

    • Steven Crespo  (Dunwoody) - Section A 4th

    • Rylan Holder  (Woodward Academy) - Section A 5th

    • Sam Markham  (Marist School) - Section A 6th

    • Ashton Anderson  (South Effingham) - Section B 1st

    • River Creel  (Brunswick) - Section B 2nd

    • Seth Daugherty  (North Forsyth) - Section B 3rd

    • Kai Keller  (South Paulding) - Section B 4th

    • Erick Willock  (Gainesville) - Section B 5th

    • Quay Evans  (Glynn Academy) - Section B 6th

  • Favorite: Ashton Anderson  (South Effingham)

  • Contenders:

    • River Creel  (Brunswick)

    • Tommy Hires  (Thomas County Central HS)

    • Emmanuel Johnson  (Rockdale County)

  • Darkhorse: Seth Daugherty  (North Forsyth)

  • Bracketbuster: Rylan Holder  (Woodward Academy)

  • Things to know:

    • Ashton Anderson is the defending State Champ at 285 - he beat Creel 3-0 to take the Section B title

    • Creel was 6th a year ago and will look to take the top side to setup a rematch with Anderson

    • Tommy Hires won Section A, but had to win a close one over Vigil in the semis to get it done

    • Daugherty and Creel was a 3-1 win for Creel in the semis and that rematch could happen in the quarters this weekend

Jason Fulmore