A Fan's Guide to the Georgia 1A State Tournament
Welcome to SEWrestle’s Fan’s Guide to the Georgia 1A 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.
106
Favorite: Braydon Mitchell (Social Circle)
Contenders:
Conner Doherty (Mt. Pisgah)
Jason Jenkins (Trion)
Isaac Palmer (Commerce)
Darkhorse: Blake Jones (Mount de Sales)
Best 1st Round match: Ty Inglesby (Holy Innocents) vs. Jad Abdelhadi (Walker School)
What to Expect: 1A may not have as much depth as some of the other classes, but the top level competition is right there. Braydon Mitchell and Conner Doherty are perfect examples of that. Mitchell has to be among the best 106’s in the state regardless of class and Doherty has demonstrated that he can wrestle with anyone (two of his losses came at the Knockout to likely Florida 2A State Placers). Mitchell beat Doherty earlier this season and based on that and past accomplishments he is our favorite. Both should make their way to the finals, but don’t sleep on the rest of the bracket. Keep an eye on Blake Jones - he should get a rematch with Palmer in the quarters.
113
Favorite: Daegan Vaughn (Trion)
Contenders:
Kolby Dempsey (Armuchee)
Trent Matthews (Commerce)
Thomas Johnson (Charlton Co)
Connor Kirby (Calvary Day)
Darkhorse: Allen Calderon (ELCA)
Best 1st Round match: Justin Pearce (Screven County) vs. Landon Brown (Gordon Lee)
What to Expect: Exceptionally good weight that features a returning State Champ (Dempsey), a returning Runner-up (Calderon), as well as the favorite in returning State Placer Daegan Vaughn. Vaughn likely draws Calderon in the quarters in what should be the best quarterfinal match in the arena. Dempsey sits on the top side after losing to Vaughn in the section finals last weekend and will likely have Trent Matthews in the semis … although can’t look past Johnson of Charlton County. This is a fun bracket and one to keep an eye on all weekend.
120
Favorite: Jordan Dunlap (Irwin Co)
Contenders:
Seth Huskins (Trion)
Connor Castillo (Social Circle)
Kyle Hancock (Commerce)
Darkhorse: Sean Alleyne (Landmark)
Best 1st Round match: Asher Neubauer (Mount de Sales) vs. Broder Conley (Wesleyan)
What to Expect: Obviously the unexpected. I expected Huskins to be the favorite coming in … he is a returning runner-up at the weight, but lost to Dunlap 9-4 in last weekend’s sectional final. Now Dunlap winning isn’t a surprise … he is a returning state placer at this weight as well, but if the score is indicative of the match (and we can’t see the details) then Dunlap pretty much took care of business. Dunlap also beat Connor Castillo 8-2 and demonstrated that he is the wrestler to watch this weekend. Kyle Hancock won Section A, but had to fend off a tough Broder Conley 2-1 in the semis. Conley is a real threat to make a run in the middle part of the bracket. Another wrestler to watch is Sean Alleyne of Landmark Christian, but he draws Dunlap in the quarters.
126
Favorite: Lance Thacker (Social Circle)
Contenders:
Joseph Daniel (Mt. Zion, Carroll)
Brady Nardella (Mt. Pisgah)
Crawford Lee (Trion)
Parker Mertens (Pacelli)
Darkhorse: Brayden Adams (Calvary Day)
Best 1st Round match: Hayden Skinner (Screven County) vs. Maddux Pierce (Irwin Co)
What to Expect: Fireworks. One of the best weights in 1A features a bevy of returning State Placers including Lance Thacker of Social Circle who was 4th at this weight in 2021. Thacker beat fellow State Placer (4th at 132) Joseph Daniel in the Section B finals and Crawford Lee of Trion in the semis last weekend. Pisgah’s Brady Nardella downed State Placer (3rd at 113 in 2021) Brayden Adams 9-8 in the semis of Section A before beating Parker Mertens of Pacelli in the finals. This weight is deep and there will be some exciting matches right out of the gate.
132
Favorite: Robert Westbrook (Walker School)
Contenders:
Marley Washington (Mt. Pisgah)
Joseph Kindred (Strong Rock)
Andrew Jones (Trion)
Zachary Westerfield (Pacelli)
Darkhorse: Caden Prater (Social Circle)
Best 1st Round match: Caden Prater (Social Circle) vs. Terry Moore (Holy Innocent)
What to Expect: Interesting bracket with returning State Champ Robert Austin Westbrook and State Placer Marley Washington winning Sectionals last weekend. The thing that stands out is that Washington is ranked ahead of Westbrook by Grappler - but Westbrook is a returning Champ (mind you that is at 120). I don’t believe the two have crossed paths this year - so not sure why. Washington was 2nd last year as a freshman at 126 and this looks like the two are on a collision course with one another. Washington dominated Section A and Westbrook downed Jones 8-2 and Kindred 10-2 to win Section B … the path for Washington appears more difficult, but it would be a surprise if they weren’t in the finals against one another on Saturday. We highlighted Prater and Jones as well because their ability to climb onto the podium could be important in the team race.
138
Favorite: Art Martinez (Holy Innocents)
Contenders:
Bryce James (Trion)
Jace Parent (St Francis)
Sean Crews (Social Circle)
Darkhorse: Elijah Batchelor (Mount de Sales)
Best 1st Round match: Peyton Pierce (Irwin Co) vs. Tim Frank (Screven Co)
What to Expect: The old guard vs. the new guard. Martinez is the returning 126 lb. champ and only has one loss on the season … but that came to Jace Parent’s brother Cade. Martinez beat Jace last weekend in the Section A final 5-2. Parent is one of those rising freshmen in Georgia that has all the tools to make some noise this weekend. The only question is … will he? He has a likely rematch with Denmark before a very tough Bryce James who was 3rd last year at 132. And top it off with Martinez. Martinez should take care of business on the top side, but Crews making the podium will be huge for Social Circle. Martinez vs. James looks like the final, but watch for some outstanding semis.
145
Favorite: Tyler Nelson (Mt. Pisgah)
Contenders:
Kacen Taylor (Social Circle)
Cade Parent (St. Francis)
Perry Jake Stone (George Walton Academy)
Kason Brooks (Mount Paran)
Darkhorse: Rome Thornton (Montgomery Co)
Best 1st Round match: Rome Thornton (Montgomery Co) vs. Gus Hames (Trion)
What to Expect: Nelson, the returning 132 lb. State Champ, showed this season that he has all the tools to be amongst the top 145’s around. He finished top 4 at the Knockout and dominated last weekend with a tech fall, 2 falls, and then a solid win over Cade Parent 11-5 in the finals. Kacen Taylor was 3rd last year at 138 and won Section B with relative ease … 2 falls and 2 major decisions. Add in returning 145 State Runner-up Perry Jake Stone, who was 3rd in Section A after losing 5-0 to Parent and you have an outstanding bracket.
152
Favorite: Joey Bertrand (Mt. Pisgah)
Contenders:
Alan Cordero (Darlington)
Ford Jones (Armuchee)
James Eldridge (Social Circle)
Braelyn Cain (Crawford Co)
Darkhorse: Collin Hall (Commerce)
Best 1st Round match: Jordan Daniels (Treutlan) vs. Connor Deparlier (Trion)
What to Expect: Bertrand vs. Cordero. Bertrand is the defending State Champ and easily took care of business at last weekend’s Sectional Tournament. Cordero, who was 3rd at 145 a year ago, was also dominant last weekend in taking the Section B title with 4 falls. The battle between Jones, Eldridge, Cain, Hall, and others for spots on the podium will be fierce - and potentially very important in the team race.
160
Favorite: Grant Hamilton (Commerce)
Contenders:
Toby Maddux (Trion)
Will Hames (Social Circle)
Kyler Williams (Charlton Co)
Antonio Benjamin (Dublin)
Darkhorse: Colton Hardeman (ELCA)
Best 1st Round match: Nick Morgan (Holy Innocents) vs. Grant Young (Whitefield Academy)
What to Expect: Such a good weight class … Hamilton, the returning 152 lb. State Runner-up, is the favorite after a super season and a dominating performance last weekend. The only match that ended up close was a 5-2 decision of Liam O’Toole in the quarters. But Hamilton’s path to the finals (or the top step) is far from easy and it isn’t a given that he will make it there with the depth of this bracket. First he gets the winner of Hardeman and O’Toole … both will be tough in the quarters. Assuming a win there - he could get the winner of Will Hames and Kyler Williams. Hames who was 3rd a year ago lost in overtime to Maddux in last weekend’s semis. Maddux set himself up in a great position to make a run by beating Hames and taking the Section B title last weekend.
170
Favorite: Grady Tisdale (Tattnall Square)
Contenders:
Brayden Phillips (Commerce)
Josh Lange (Mt. Pisgah)
Jaxon Ethridge (Social Circle)
Darkhorse: Cohen Blaschke (Trion)
Best 1st Round match: Michael Pozzobon (Mount Vernon) vs. Jack Cowan (Darlington)
What to Expect: This should be a good one. Grady Tisdale of Tattnall Square Academy is a returning placer, is on his home turf, and had a very good sectional tournament last weekend to emerge as the favorite. Tisdale pinned Henderson and Ethridge on his way to the Section Finals. Brayden Phillips of Commerce comes in on a hot streak as well after hammering his way to the Section A title with a nice tech fall of Cardenas and a 12-2 major decision of Josh Lange. Ethridge beat Blaschke last weekend and a rematch seems likely in the quarters with the winner getting Phillips. Lange, also a returning placer, and Cardenas did not cross paths last weekend - so it will be interesting if that is the other #2 vs. #3 quarter.
Interestingly, Tisdale is the only wrestler at Tattnall Square … as a result we did a short piece on Tisdale in collaboration with Georgia Public Broadcasting and the Macon Telegraph.
182
Favorite: Bladyn Bowman (Trion)
Contenders:
James Gleeson (Holy Innocents)
Trent DeBow (Wesleyan)
Jaylen Llley (Charlton Co)
Darkhorse: Jacob Carpenter (Montgomery Co)
Best 1st Round match: Ali Nabusi (Athens Christian) vs. Nathan Buchanan (Mt. Zion, Carroll)
What to Expect: Returning State Placer Bladyn Bowman enters as the favorite after taking 3rd at the weight a year ago and beating Llley in the finals a week ago. That said - James Gleeson was 4th a year ago at the weight and has some impressive wins this year. He beat DeBow 2-1 in the Section A finals and as a result set himself in position to make a run at the top step. Bowman vs. DeBow should be a very good semifinal - assuming they both get there. The battles for a spot on the podium will be entertaining and for Social Circle and Commerce extremely important in the team race.
195
Favorite: Logan Eller (Trion)
Contenders:
Hoke Poe Hogan (Commerce)
Rowan Vandergriff (Social Circle)
George Hopkins (Pacelli)
Darkhorse: Gage Renfroe (Charlton Co)
Best 1st Round match: Oliver Gustafson (Landmark) vs. Tripp Inglesby (Holy Innocents)
What to Expect: This is one of the top 5 potential finals this weekend. Kilic vs. Cochran headlines it for me, but Poe-Hogan vs. Eller is right there. Eller is the returning 160 lb. Champ and Poe-Hogan is the returning 4A 152 lb. Runner-up. When Trion and Jefferson met earlier in the year - Poe-Hogan was down at 182 and pinned Bowman and Eller beat Poe-Hogan’s teammate (at the time) Luke Cochran 12-10. The battle here is for the other spots on the podium … expect Vandergriff to come through huge for Social Circle, but watch the matches on the backside. As Lucas says - this final is popcorn approved.
220
Favorite: Brantley Willbanks (Trion)
Contenders:
Luke McFarland (Screven County)
Josh Petty (Fellowship Christian)
Jack Chandler (Darlington)
Joy Chane (Mt Pisgah)
Darkhorse: Asad Akbar (Charlton Co)
Best 1st Round match: Andrew Santander (Landmark Christian) vs. Joy Chane (Mt Pisgah)
What to Expect: Trion’s Brantley Willbanks returns after taking 2nd at this weight a year ago. He wrestled extremely well last weekend in beating Sparks, Akbar, and Chandler. He does draw the winner of Chane and Petty on the bottom side (although we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves because Chance must beat a good Andrew Santander in the opening round). Luke McFarland took care of business in the Section A tournament and holds down the top spot on the top side. McFarland’s path - in my opinion - is much more difficult with a quarterfinal against the winner of McLane and Cleary and then against the possible winner of Akbar and Chandler (yes Singleton sits there as well and was close to making the finals after losing in overtime in the semis).
285
Favorite: Zach Sharp (Trion)
Contenders:
Cole Spence (Mt. Pisgah)
Ethan Epps (Commerce)
Kyle Leonard (Mt. Zion, Carroll)
Darkhorse: Sincere Bell (Pacelli)
Best 1st Round match: Ben Bruce (Social Circle) vs. Jemiah Stewart (Screven Co)
What to Expect: Difficult to know … Cole Spence was 3rd last year at 220 and had 4 falls to claim the Section A title. Sharp won Section B with a medical forfeit over Leonard. Sharp won the 195 lb. bracket a year ago, but the move to 285 is a different ballgame. He has been on point thus far - it will be interesting to see how he handles the bottom side. This looks like Spence vs. Sharp … I don’t know if they have met this year (but Spence shows an unbeaten record - so if they did then Spence probably won … although I don’t trust Georgia records at all). Regardless this should be a good one.