It’s time again for the state’s best wrestlers to settle things at Gwinnett Arena in the GHSA Traditional State Championships. And thanks to Mother Nature, the format will be a bit different this year. Instead of beginning with 16-man brackets in each weight class in AA through AAAAA, last weekend’s weather caused the state sectionals in those classifications to be canceled. As a result, the tournament will start out with 32 wrestlers in each weight class and will begin preliminary weigh-ins on Wednesday night.
Class A wrestlers had to make adjustments as well, as the usual area tournaments were cancelled in favor of a one-day sectional meet at Bremen High School. The field was narrowed down to 16 wrestlers instead of the anticipated eight-man brackets, which would have been a new development in itself after 12-man brackets had become the norm.
So get ready for a 2010 event that will feature more wrestlers than ever before. Here’s a few things to watch for in this week’s state championships.
CLASS AAAAA …
The story in the state’s largest classification is again Collins Hill, which brings wrestlers in all 14 weight classes. Among the Eagles looking for state title repeats are Bazell Partridge (112 – won in 103 last year), TJ Mitchell (125 – won in 119 last year), and Joel Smith (145 – won in 140 last year). Each took first place in the Area 7 tournament a few weeks ago.
Brian St. James of Centennial has been dominant this season on his way to an undefeated season, and moves up to 119 after winning last season in the 112 class. Another star for Collins Hill, Steven Bradtmueller, makes the move to Georgia after qualifying for the Illinois state tournament last season, and is one of the favorites to take the 130-pound division.
Several South Georgia schools will be bringing contenders as well, as Jovon Scott of Valdosta (140) is one to watch. Among the big boys, Central Gwinnet’s Jacob Aiken-Phillips (285) could be ready for a state title after a fourth-place finish as a sophomore last year in that same weight class.
CLASS AAAA …
Loganville is fresh off a state duals title, and has a potential sophomore winner in the 103-pound division in Will Hale, whose win in the 103 finals helped the Red Devils to the January team championship. Joe Denova comes back to defend his state title for Harris County, although the senior has moved up one weight class from last year to 135 pounds.
At 140, South Effingham’s Robbie Collum, who has never finished worse than third in any state meet, goes for a defense of his ’09 championship. Alex Wojcik out of Sandy Creek is also looking to survive a tough 160 field to grab another championship; he took the 171 title last week.
Alexander brings 12 wrestlers to the state meet, with one of them, Ethan Blackstock, looking for his third straight state title. The 189-pounder took the title in that same class last year, and won as a 171-pounder as a sophomore. He will be one of the tournament’s biggest favorites this week.
CLASS AAA …
Preston McCalmon of Lafayette is seeking a win as a 130-pounder a year after taking the 112 crown, and is hoping to help his Ramblers reach the top again after a third-place finish at the state duals. His teammate Justin Ownby will also be defending a title for the northwest Georgia school, as he will try to take the 152-pound division again.
Flowery Branch’s defending champ, Danny Bell, is back for more as well, although the Hall County star will be going for gold down a class in 112.
Derrick Laney of Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, a nationally recognized 215-pounder, will look to grab his third career state title after taking that weight division last year and winning as a 189-pounder as a sophomore.
CLASS AA …
Jefferson will be looking for its 10th straight state traditional title, and should be the favorite after taking the state duals in relatively easy fashion earlier this year. The Dragons will bring 14 wrestlers to Gwinnett this week and will look to best last year’s total of two individual state champions. One of those wrestlers, Cason Thurmond, is back for his junior state tournament in the 112 division after besting the field in the state’s lightest class last year.
Other defending champions in Class AA include Benedictine senior Nick Wright (119 – won in 112 last year), and Chattooga sophomore Brandon Siffles (130 – won in 119 last year). The rest of the classification should be fairly open, with an abundance of ’09 senior talent having departed.
CLASS A …
As mentioned before, the Class A wrestlers certainly took an unorthodox route to Gwinnett, having to come through a tough day of wrestling on Tuesday just to make the field of 16. At state duals in January, it was a fairly tight top three of Bremen (1), Gordon Lee (2) and Wesleyan (3), with Bowdon placing fourth. Bremen has dominated team championships since Jefferson moved up to Class AA, so expect the Blue Devils to once again be the favorite for this meet. Zach Young, Trey Travis and Alex Eriquezzo all won individual titles in ’09 and expect to challenge for state supremacy.
Ewalt can be reached at aewalt@scoreatl.com.
Loading ...
