A Fan's Guide to the Georgia 6A State Tournament
Welcome to SEWrestle’s Fan’s Guide to the Georgia 6A State Tournament. For those of you unfamiliar with the Fan’s Guide … here are a few things to know. First, I don’t believe in making predictions … happy to leave that to others. Anything can happen on the mat and these wrestlers must win multiple matches to earn a title … so don’t jump to the conclusion that the favorite is my prediction for the champ. Second, the Fan’s Guide is simply designed to give the average fan an idea of the bracket and who are some of the bets wrestlers to keep an eye on. This is determined by a number of different things including how they placed at the sectional tournament, how they performed at past state tournaments, etc. Third, if you have never heard the term “darkhorse” before … it is usually identified as someone “flying under the radar” that could surprise some people (for the purpose of the Fan’s Guide it will always be a wrestler that finished 3rd or lower at their sectional tournament). I don’t necessarily believe the darkhorse will win it all, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they found a way high onto the podium.
I hope you enjoy the state tournament and best of luck to everyone competing.
Lucas and I talk the 6A State Tournament in the video and I breakdown my thought on the favorite, contenders, etc. below the video.
106
Favorite: Rylan Ibold (Buford)
Contenders:
Mal Santiago (Effingham Co)
Luke Bullard (Allatoona)
Jacob Stellhorn (South Effingham)
Darkhorse: Clayton Hicks (Brunswick)
Best 1st Round match: Corbin Xayabouth-Jones (Alexander) vs. Riley McElligott (Lassiter)
What to Expect: Buford’s Rylan Ibold is the defending State Champ at 106. Rylan had 3 first period falls and a 12-1 major of Karol Olalde on his way to the Section A title. Ibold is one of the best 106’s in Georgia regardless of class and amongst out top 10 106’s in the Southeast. It is the heavy favorite to claim another title this weekend in Macon. Mal Santiago won Section B with relative ease - 2 1st period falls and a 6-1 decision of Jacob Stellhorn of South Effingham. It will be interesting to see how Santiago handles the winner of Xayabouth-Jones and McElligott as both are tough and have their sights set on making the podium.
113
Favorite: Kieron McCormack (Buford)
Contenders:
Jacob Galindez (South Effingham)
Hunter Keane (Cambridge)
Alex Tabb (Lee Co)
Darkhorse: Carter Brickley (Lassiter)
Best 1st Round match: Buck Merritt (Carrollton) vs. Elian Fabrini (Wheeler)
What to Expect: The Buford freshmen take centerstage beginning with Kiernon McCormick. McCormick has dominated at 113 this season (I believe his only losses came up at 120 and two of them came at the Knockout in Florida). He had 3 1st period falls and a 10-0 major of Brickley on his way to the Section A title last weekend. South Effingham’s Jacob Galindez took the Section B title with a fall of Hunter Keane of Cambridge in the finals. So we will likely get a McCormick vs. Keane semi … what some thought would be the eventual final. Galindez will have his hands full with the winner of Brickley and Tabb (again assuming that is the quarterfinal matchup).
120
Favorite: Maddox McArthur (Buford)
Contenders:
Durban Carpenter (Chattahoochee)
Riley Brewer (Lee Co)
Conner Nevin (Effingham Co)
Darkhorse: Cabe Doker (Lanier)
Best 1st Round match: Josh Scheele (Pope) vs. Jefferson Cuttino (Glynn Academy)
What to Expect: The Buford train continues to roll down the tracks with freshman Maddox McArthur. McArthur, like many of the other section champs, has looked sensational this season. He had 2 first period falls, a 14-0 major of Scheele before pinning Riley Brewer in the Section finals last weekend. Brewer took out returning state runner-up Cabe Doker 6-0 in the quarters … and we could see those two matchup again in the quarters this weekend. Durben Carpenter also looked outstanding in the taking the Section B title with a fall, a tech fall, a 9-0 decision, and a 10-1 major decision of Nevin. The bottom side will be entertaining … be sure not to miss the possible rematches between the 2’s and 3’s in the quarters.
126
Favorite: Andrew Voiles (Alexander)
Contenders:
Drew Gorman (Buford)
Josh Sanders (Sprayberry)
Colin Dragon (Richmond Hill)
Darkhorse: Carson Chalk (Pope)
Best 1st Round match: Anton Blanchard (South Effingham) vs. Brandon Conley (Rockdale)
What to Expect: This one is going to be interesting. Voiles, I believe and correct me if I’m wrong, won a state title as a freshman but has been injured over the last 2 seasons and hasn’t really had a shot to claim another. Drew Gorman, along with Logan Paradice and Dominic Bambinelli, is the face of the new group of freshman hammers in Georgia. So will Voiles hold off the hard charging Gorman and stop him from getting a title or will Gorman down Voiles and prevent the senior from another title? Both wrestled superbly at sectional and although the bracket is deep with talent … it should come down to Gorman vs. Voiles. Neither can look ahead though … Voiles will likely get the winner of Sanders and Chalk and Gorman could get 2021 106 lb. State Runner-up Colin Dragon in the semis. The battle for the spots on the podium will be fun to watch.
132
Favorite: Jacob Seymour (South Paulding)
Contenders:
Darrell Rochester (Valdosta)
Tyler Henley (Buford)
Peter McKinney (Brunswick)
Darkhorse: Aidan Karpinski (Pope)
Best 1st Round match: Ananth Manibushan (Lassiter) vs. Peter Gunter (Sequoyah)
What to Expect: Darrell Rochester’s path to another state tournament mirrors his foe from his freshman season … Andrew Voiles. Not sure if Rochester has been injured or not, but we do know he hasn’t been on this stage for several years. He draws multiple time State Champ Jacob Seymour of South Paulding. Seymour dominated a good Section B tournament - especially in the finals where he beat McKinney 16-0. Rochester on the other hand had to battle to get a 4-3 decision of Tyler Henley of Buford in the Section A finals. We also see the return of 2020 State Champ Aidan Karpinski who finished 3rd in Section A. Seymour is the clear favorite, but the weight has some hammers … he will need to bring his “A” game to claim another state title.
138
Favorite: David Panone (Lassiter)
Contenders:
Gavin Pope (Buford)
Josh Bledsoe (Creekview)
Jackson Crawford (Richmond Hill)
Darkhorse: Drake McMinn (Lee Co)
Best 1st Round match: Hudson Andrews (Sequoyah) vs. Derek Counsel (Lakeside, Evans)
What to Expect: Panone is the returning champ at 132 and has made the transition to 138 with little problem. He received a medical forfeit over Gavin Pope in the Section A finals - so there are some uncertainties in the bracket moving forward (if Pope cannot go this week - every section placer will move up a spot and Paul Childs of Pope will enter the tournament). I don’t know if that will happen and the bracket still has Pope - so we will go with it. A Pope vs. McMinn quarter will be good - McMinn took Panone to overtime last weekend and could be a real problem for anyone in the bracket. Josh Bledsoe wrestled lights out in Section B to claim the title … downing Cone 3-2 in the semis and Crawford 11-8 in the finals. Based on match scores … this bracket looks like a number of different wrestlers should feel confident about making a run to the top step. Panone is the favorite, but the pack is looking to overtake him.
145
Favorite: Tyler Lamon (Valdosta)
Contenders:
Cullen Kane (Cambridge)
Willie Thang (Creekview)
Dallas Brewer (Lee Co)
Darkhorse: Marcus Norman (Brunswick)
Best 1st Round match: Mkel Smith (Dacula) vs. Jaylen Hosking (South Effingham)
What to Expect: Both Tyler Lamon and Cullen Kane have appeared all over the podium in the past … but never on the top step. Both won their sectionals a week ago and enter his their sights set on claiming a state title on Friday evening. The pack - which includes Willie Thang, Dallas Brewer, Marcus Norman, JT McCullough and others - looks ready to make either Lamon’s or Kane’s path difficult. As in most cases - the potential quarters of the #2’s and #3’s should be very entertaining. I lean to Lamon in terms of being the favorite, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see Kane on top of the podium or - in reality - a few other names. Whoever wins 145 will have wrestled their best 2 days this season.
152
Favorite: Andrew Cory (Creekview)
Contenders:
Talen Thompson (Buford)
Sutton Cadman (Alexander)
Justin Gregory (Lee Co)
Darkhorse: Ryan Seymour (South Paulding)
Best 1st Round match: Enrique Santana (South Effingham) vs. Alex Le (Lassiter)
What to Expect: Returning State Champ Andrew Cory hammered the competition last weekend and seems to be “peaking” at the right time to dismantle the 152 bracket this weekend and take home another state title. Cory had 3 tech falls including one over Sutton Cadman in the finals … his closest match this past weekend was a 11-2 major decision of Blake Ethridge of Brunswick. Buford’s Talen Thompson also wrestled great this past weekend with 3 falls and a 7-0 decision of Justin Gregory of Lee County in the finals. Cory and Thompson appear - based on last weekend’s wrestling - to be headed for a clash in the finals.
160
Favorite: Joey Robinson (Pope)
Contenders:
Cade Sousa (Creekview)
Grayson Santee (Buford)
Charlie Throne (Sequoyah)
Darkhorse: Sebastian Sherred (Cambridge)
Best 1st Round match: Sanuel Gadsden (Lassiter) vs. Titus Washington (Brunswick)
What to Expect: Probably my favorite weight to watch in 6A. Picking a favorite was exceptionally tough and you could definitely make a case for Sousa being the favorite. Robinson looked great at the sectional tournament with 4 first period falls including one over Grayson Santee of Buford. Sousa had to battle through a more difficult sectional (in my opinion), but still looked great in taking the top step with a 9-3 decision of Charlie Throne. You know you have a deep bracket when a previous state runner-up is the darkhorse in the group … and Sherred has the ability to surprise everyone (but his path is exceptionally tough). This is the weight to watch in 6A - from the opening whistle to Friday night.
170
Favorite: Zyan Hall (Wheeler)
Contenders:
Conor McCloskey (Buford)
Ryan Throne (Sequoyah)
Daniel Driggs (Cambridge)
Darkhorse: Aiden Chilson (Lee Co)
Best 1st Round match: Joshua Mojica-Smith (Evans) vs. Trey Bowkett (Richmond Hill)
What to Expect: Wheeler’s Zyan Hall finished 2nd a year ago and returns looking to claim a title in 2022. Hall has beaten much of the field including a tough 4-1 decision of freshman Conor McCloskey of Buford at last weekend’s sectional tournament. Sequoyah’s Ryan Throne dominated the Section B tournament last weekend with 3 falls and a 17-1 tech fall of Daniel Driggs in the finals. Not trying to get ahead of ourselves, but it is difficult to not look a possible semi between McCloskey and Throne.
182
Favorite: Jackson Wakeland (Glynn Academy)
Contenders:
Leon Charlton (Brunswick)
Dylan Burton (Alexander)
Anthony Maldonado (Grovetown)
Brayden Suber (Lee Co)
Darkhorse: Aaron Riner (Buford)
Best 1st Round match: Mikel Anderson (Valdosta) vs. Brock Hacker (Johns Creek)
What to Expect: Section B at 182 was must watch … Wakeland is the defending champ, but had lost (I’m almost positive) earlier in the season to returning State Placer Leon Charlton … add in returning State Runner-up (at 160) Dylan Burton of Alexander and you had a monster sectional bracket. Charlton beat Burton 5-3 in the semis and Wakeland downed Charlton 8-4 to claim the section title. Grovetown’s Anthony Maldonado was cruising in Section A before having to survive a tough semi aganst Noah Flisser of Lassiter (9-8) … and interestingly those two matches could happen again on the top side in the quarters with Maldonado vs. Flisser and Charlton vs. Burton. Wakeland will likely have to deal with Suber or Riner on the bottom, but he can’t look past a good Brock Hacker as well. This is a really good weight … sit back and enjoy the action.
195
Favorite: Josh McCutchen (Valdosta)
Contenders:
Nigel Wright (Effingham Co)
Colby Watson (Habersham Central)
RJ King (Statesboro)
Darkhorse: Ty Hubert (Creekview)
Best 1st Round match: Caleb Gonser (Richmond Hill) vs. Ben Martin (Buford)
What to Expect: Valdosta’s Josh McCutchen is the defending State Champ and looked the part as he destroyed the 195 Section A bracket. The biggest question entering this weekend at the 195 weight is … can Wright stop McCutchen’s run? Wright has looked good this season (and I don’t know if the two have crossed paths), but he will need to wrestle a fantastic match in order to beat McCutchen. Now we are getting ahead of ourselves … both need to get there. As is almost always the case … the potential #2 vs. #3 quarters are the ones to watch. King and Hubert did not wrestle last weekend (but Watson pinned Rassmusen).
220
Favorite: Jacob Levy (Carrollton)
Contenders:
Trelain Maddox (Buford)
Logan Webster (Sequoyah)
D'Avion Davis (Valdosta)
Darkhorse: Anthony Lowe (Brunswick)
Best 1st Round match: Thomas Crawford (Richmond Hill) vs. Demario Henderson (Lakeside, Evans)
What to Expect: Carrollton’s Nick White said at the beginning of the year … “if you don’t know the name Jacob Levy now, you will before the season is done.” And he is 100% correct. The freshman has burst onto the scene at 220 and has established himself as the favorite entering this weekend. He looked good in every match, but the most impressive win came over Logan Webster in the finals 9-6. Webster was 3rd a year ago and has signed to wrestle at Tennessee-Chattanooga next year … that win showed where Levy stands with some of the bets 220’s around. Still the weight is deep and we can’t make the assumption that what happened last week will repeat itself … the top side of the bracket also features a relative newcomer to the mix in Buford’s Trelain Maddox. Maddox won the Section A title with ease, but will likely have to beat Webster or Lowe if he is going to get a shot at Levy.
285
Favorite: Madden Sanker (South Paulding)
Contenders:
Cheikh Kiota (Pope)
Aaron Inman (Valdosta)
Izaiah Sanders (Sequoyah)
Darkhorse: Riley Souther (Dalton)
Best 1st Round match: Riley Souther (Dalton) vs. Marquis Moss (Grovetown)
What to Expect: In reality - 285 can be one of the most unexpected weights to watch. They are big and strong and get someone in a tough position and even the top fall … as we saw a few weeks ago when defending State Champ Madden Sanker lost to Riley Souther. Sanker rebounded last weekend to run through the Section B bracket, but that possibility always exists (especially at 285). Sanker is the favorite, but the weight is deep with plenty of talent. Pope’s Koita won the Section A title last weekend and is the favorite on the top side, but he will need to be sharp with a potential quarterfinal matchup with Souther.