The defending dual wrestling state champions in each of Georgia’s six classifications successfully returned to the championship podium on Saturday at the Macon Centreplex.
In the state’s largest classification, North Forsyth challenged three-time defending state champion Archer in the class AAAAAA finals, but the Tigers’ depth prevailed in a 37-30 decision to capture the program’s fourth straight dual title. Archer’s victory extends its win meet streak to 95 consecutive matches, which dates back to the 2012 season. Mountain View, which was sent to the consolation bracket with North Forsyth’s 28-23 semifinals victory on Friday, edged Lambert 38-24 to earn a spot in the consolation finals where they secured a third-place finish with a 45-16 win over Tift County.
Class AAAAA: Camden County won a championship rematch with Woodland-Cartersville 59-8 to win its second straight Class AAAAA title on Saturday and third all-time dual crown. The Wildcats cruised through this year’s bracket with a combined 257-26 scoring advantage over their four opponents. Cass was sent to the consolation bracket with a heartbreaking 29-28 loss to Clarke Central, but exacted revenge with a surprising 50-15 runaway victory over the Gladiators in the third-place match. Woodland held off Allatoona with a 56-12 win in the semifinals and then it was Cass that ended the Bucs’ run in the consolation bracket with a 29-25 victory. Clarke Central faced South Paulding in the consolation semis and used a 35-24 win to set up the unsuccessful rematch with Cass.
Class AAAA: Gilmer captured its seventh straight title with a 45-21 decision over Buford in the AAAA finals. The Bobcats’ closest test came in the quarterfinals, where they held off North Hall 40-30. Gilmer won its semifinals match over Locust Grove 50-27. Buford’s run to the finals went through a gauntlet of top programs as the Wolves edged Heritage-Catoosa 43-31 in the first round and had to survive a 42-31 match with West Laurens in the quarterfinals. Buford matched up with Marist in the semifinals and edged the War Eagles 41-24. North Hall survived a 37-36 win over Heritage-Catoosa in the consolation semis and then edged Marist 38-34 to set up a third-place clinching 46-27 win over West Laurens.
Class AAA: Jefferson remains unbeaten in state meet action since the inception of the state duals in 2002 and brought home the program’s 15th straight title on Saturday with a 61-11 win over Jackson County in the finals. After falling to Jefferson 53-15 in the semifinals, Lumpkin County beat Calhoun 42-22 to set up a third-place match with Ringgold. Ringgold was able to hold off the Indians 32-29 to take third place. Ringgold advanced past Franklin County 51-23 in the first round and cruised to a 52-21 win over Blessed Trinity in the quarterfinals before runner-up Jackson County sent the Tigers into the loser’s bracket with a 45-22 win.
Class AA: Social Circle edged Bremen 34-31 to capture its first state title a year ago and added back-to-back Class AA crowns with a 38-25 win over the Blue Devils in Saturday’s championship rematch. After falling to Bremen 28-21 in the semifinals, Lovett used a 49-27 win over Fitzgerald and a 39-20 victory over Armuchee to take third place.
Class A: Commerce won its third straight Class A title with little resistance as the Tigers took a 54-15 win over Mt. Zion-Carroll in the finals. Commerce outscored Turner County 60-10 to open the meet before a 69-6 win over Trion in the semifinals. Mt. Zion outscored Treutlen 45-34 in the semis to set up the finals rematch with Commerce, which they fell short 54-24 last year. Trion battled past Turner County 39-34 in the consolation semifinals and then edged Treutlen 47-25 in the third-place match.
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