2022 Traditional Wrestling State Championships

2022 TRADITIONAL WRESTLING STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

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2022 TRADITIONAL WRESTLING STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS W ORD FROM THE EXECUTIVE D IR ECTO R

GHSA TRADITIONAL WRESTLING SCHEDULE FEBRUARY 10-12, 2022

WELCOME GHSA TRADITIONAL WRESTLING

THURSDAY - FEBRUARY 10

Welcome to the 2022 GHSA Traditional Wrestling State Championships! The best teams from all classifications throughout our state will compete in what is sure to be an exciting highlight of the wrestling season. Thank you for your support of this tournament and for your support of high school wrestling throughout this season.

The GHSA is fortunate to have many partners and volunteers that make quality events such as this possible. These championships are hosted by the Atlanta Takedown Association whose members give their time to plan and operate the tournament.

Special thanks go out to Bud Hennebaul and Don Corr who is GHSA’s Associate Director for wrestling.

The Georgia High School Association believes that life lessons are learned through participation in athletics and hard work and discipline are especially true in wrestling.

Our athletes have worked tirelessly and sacrificed much to reach this point. Thanks again for your support of these fine athletes and get ready for an exciting tournament.

WEIGH-IN OR ROUND TIME Weigh-in 8:00 AM Round of 12 9:00 AM Round of 8 Round 1 WB Semifinals & Conso Quarters Conso Semifinals

WEIGHT CLASSES BOUTS ALL ALL 112 ALL 112 ALL 112 ALL 112 ALL 56

CLASS 3A & 4A 3A & 4A 3A & 4A 3A & 4A 3A & 4A 3A & 4A

WEIGH-IN OR ROUND TIME Weigh-in 1:00 PM Round of 12 2:00 PM Round of 8 Round 1 WB Semifinals & Conso Quarters Conso Semifinals

WEIGHT CLASSES BOUTS ALL ALL 112 ALL 112 ALL 112 ALL 112 ALL 56

CLASS 5A & 6A 5A & 6A 5A & 6A 5A & 6A 5A & 6A 5A & 6A

FRIDAY - FEBRUARY 11

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WEIGH-IN OR ROUND TIME Weigh-in 7:00 AM Round of 12 8:00 AM Round of 8 Round 1 WB Semifinals & Conso Quarters Conso Semifinals

WEIGHT CLASSES BOUTS ALL ALL 112 ALL 112 ALL 112 ALL 112 ALL 56

CLASS 1A & 2A 1A & 2A 1A & 2A 1A & 2A 1A & 2A 1A & 2A

WEIGH-IN OR ROUND TIME Weigh-in 12:00 PM Round of 12 & 16 1:00 PM Round of 8 Round 1 WB Round 2 WB Semifinals & Conso Quarters Conso Semifinals

WEIGHT CLASSES BOUTS ALL ALL 136 ALL 96 ALL 136 ALL 80 ALL 96 ALL 48

CLASS 7A & Girls 7A & Girls 7A & Girls 7A & Girls 7A & Girls 7A & Girls 7A & Girls

WEIGH-IN OR ROUND Weigh-in Conso Finals FINALS

WEIGHT CLASSES BOUTS CLASS ALL 3A, 4A, 5A & 6A ALL 56 3A, 4A, 5A & 6A ALL 56 3A, 4A, 5A & 6A

TIME 4:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:00PM

SATURDAY - FEBRUARY 12 The 2022 Georgia High School Association Traditional Wrestling State Championship Guide is published by Score Media, a division of Score Atlanta, in conjunction with the GHSA. The guide was designed by Adam Schindler and edited by Craig Sager II, Seth Ellerbee and Graham David. Information was provided by the GHSA and ATA. For more information on Score Media, go to Scoreatl.com or call 404-256-1572.

WEIGH-IN OR ROUND Weigh-in Conso Finals FINALS

TIME 8:00 AM 10:00 AM 10:00 AM

WEIGHT CLASSES BOUTS CLASS ALL 1A, 2A, 7A & Girls ALL 52 1A, 2A, 7A & Girls ALL 52 1A, 2A, 7A & Girls

Awards given during all finals.

GHSA.NET // 3

2022 TRADITIONAL WRESTLING STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

TOP PROGRAMS LOOK TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DEPTH IN STACKED TRADITIONAL FIELD

BY CRAIG SAGER II | CSAGER@SCOREATL .COM

I

n the highest classification, Camden County will attempt to complete its eighth-consecutive title sweep—which is the longest active streak in the state and second all-time only to Jefferson’s 18-straight sweeps (2002-19). The Wildcats qualified wrestlers in 11 different weight classes to undertake this feat and are fresh off an absolutely dominant performance in their run to this year’s Class 7A Dual Championship. Camden County outscored Lambert 64-3 before scoring a 64-0 win over North Paulding and a 56-18 victory over North Forsyth in the finals. There are several other Class 7A programs that qualified double-digit wrestlers to provide enough depth to challenge Camden County’s bid for its eighth-straight traditional title, including Archer (10) and Brookwood (10). Camden County will have defending 120-pound state champion Riley Dahlgren and many top finishers back this year. Konlin Weaver won the 126-pound title last year and will now be in the 145-pound class. Also, CahMari Johnson is back to compete for the 170-pound title after a second-place finish last year.

In Class 6A, Buford is coming off last month’s dual championship victory and the Wolves will be at full-capacity after qualifying wrestlers in all 14 weight classes. Ryan Ilbold won the 106-pound title last year as a freshman and will be returning to defend his title as a sophomore. Ilbold is one of 11 underclassmen leading Buford’s title run this weekend. Tyler Henley earned third-place last year at 126 pounds and is com-

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peting at 132 pounds. Buford’s victory at last year’s traditional tournament was a narrow 183-point total to second-place Lassiter’s 171. Lassiter will have 10 wrestlers this year, Valdosta will have 11 and Brunswick will have 13 wrestlers after last year’s fifth-place finish.

Cass captured its first wrestling state title since 2008 last month with a dramatic 36-34 victory over Woodward Academy in the Class 5A duals. The Colonels will have 11 wrestlers competing for the traditional title this weekend as the program looks to complete its first-ever title sweep. Senior Cole Hunt is back to defend his 120-pound title and carries a 36-0 record. Additionally, sophomore Jake Crapps will compete at 126 pounds after a third-place finish last year in the 113-pound division. As the duals showcased, Class 5A is deep with talented programs and will have a long list of potential contenders. Defending state champion Woodland-Cartersville qualified eight wrestlers and Woodward Academy and Jackson County will each have 10 wrestlers and Ola will have 12. Woodward Academy’s Colby McBride will compete at the 113-pound class this year after winning last year’s 106-pound title.

West Laurens scored a stunning victory over Jefferson in the Class 4A duals and will look to complete its first championship sweep since 2006. The Raiders have 11 wrestlers qualified and Jefferson will have nine—including Luke Co-

chran who is competing at 195 pounds after taking last year’s 170-pound title. Marist has nine wrestlers that qualified for state—including defending 182-pound state champion Nolan Pozzobon.

Rockmart’s championship last year was the program’s first wrestling state title since 2003 and the Yellowjackets followed that up by earning a top finish at this year’s duals in a narrow 31-30 win over Gilmer. Rockmart qualified 11 wrestlers, Gilmer will have 12 wrestlers competing and Sonoraville is sending 10 wrestlers to state. In Class 2A, Lovett cruised to the dual title and snapped a championship drought that dated back to 2003. Now, the Lions will have a chance to sweep titles and will have 13 wrestlers leading the way. Oglethorpe County (12), Dade County (10) and Fannin County (9) will also be boasting significant depth.

Trion has won two dual state titles in the last three seasons, but has not earned a traditional title since 1994. The Bulldogs qualified wrestlers for all 14 weight classes and will look to complete the sweep against the Class A field. Social Circle qualified 13 wrestlers and recently won five-straight traditional titles in Class 2A (2015-19). Also, Commerce qualified 11 wrestlers and is coming off a third-place finish in the duals.

2022 TRADITIONAL WRESTLING STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

GIRLS DIVISION GEARS UP FOR EXCITING YEAR FOUR

BY CRAIG SAGER II | CSAGER@SCOREATL .COM

I

t’s been four years since the launch of the first-ever traditional girls state championships. The introduction of this separate competition followed a historic achievement that was celebrated at the 2018 state championships. It was that year when Statesboro’s Kasey Baynon made history by placing fifth in the boys Class 5A 106-pound bracket. In doing so she became the first-ever girl to place in the traditional wrestling state championships.

Baynon’s success and a growing interest behind the possibility of adding a girls division quickly became a reality and the new format made its debut following the inaugural 2019 competition. State qualifiers in 10 different weight classes competed for individual girls titles. The weight classes were divided into 95, 106, 116, 126, 136, 146, 156, 166, 176 and 225. The 10 classes slightly shifted last year to 102, 112, 122, 132, 142, 152, 162, 172, 197 and 225-pound divisions. The result was a thrilling championship weekend and there will be a ton of intriguing storylines to keep an eye on again this year.

The 102-pound division will have a new champion after Mountain View’s Kennedy Shropshire’s victory last year. Catarina Velasquez was defeated in the finals, but she will be back to lead the field as a senior and is coming off a top qualifying finish and boasts a 16-1 record. Lisa Glymph placed third in the 102-pound division last year and will be competing in

the 112-pound class this year. Glymph earned a top finish in her qualifier and is 3-0 heading into the championships.

The 122-pound title was won by Ola’s Amani Jones the last two years, but Jones has since graduated and the field appears wide open. Columbus sophomore Jasmine Jenkins-Bey won her qualifier and is heading into the traditional championships with an outstanding 33-1 record.

The 132-pound bracket will also be highly-competitive. Kennesaw Mountain’s Genevieve An earned a second-place finish in the 132-pound bracket last year, but will be headlining the 142-pound class this season. Alexander’s Brooke Ligon carries a 23-1 record and will be among the contenders in this year’s 132-pound class.

An is not the only top finisher that moved up from the 132-pound to 142-pound class. Jackson County junior Raven Cook also moved up and she is coming off last year’s third-place finish in the traditional championships. Unlike most of the previously-mentioned weight classes, the 152-pound division will present an opportunity for a title defense. White County senior Sidney Sullens is back to defend her title with her already outstanding career. Sullens placed second in 2020, but triumphed over Ashley Godizez of Chestatee to take last year’s crown. Godizez will be competing in the 162-pound class this year, but Sullens will still

have a stacked field of competitors, including Greenbrier sophomore Arieana Bacon.

Godizez will look to take the 162-pound title after her second-place finish last year and will be joined by defending state champion Caitlyn Mixon of Ware County. NorthsideWarner Robins junior Beyonce McColumn is back in the 172-pound field after earning a second-place finish a year ago as is Gilmer’s Taylor Scheisser—who earned a thirdplace finish last year as a freshman.

In the 197-pound division, defending state champion Amariah Marenco of Carrollton will be back as a junior and she is carrying a 26-3 record. Marenco will headline the field with Jackson County junior Lilly Chavis—who qualified with a top finish and is 15-1 on the year.

The 225-pound division has been extremely competitive over the years. Kyleigh Haney claimed the title in 2019 and 2020 before Chestatee’s Isabella Redlinger took the crown this past year. Redlinger will be back to defend her title as a junior and the field includes Osborne senior Kiarra Nylander—who posted a runner-up finish last year.

GHSA.NET // 5

2022 TRADITIONAL WRESTLING STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

TEAM DUALS PAST CHAMPIONS YEAR AAAAAA AAAAA AAAA AAA AA A 2002 McEachern Ringgold Lovett Northgate Jefferson 2003 McEachern Woodland Lovett Dawson Co Jefferson 2004 Parkview LaFayette Dublin Dawson Co. Jefferson 2005 Collins Hill Ringgold Gilmer West Laurens Jefferson 2006 Parkview Henry County Columbus West Laurens Jefferson 2007 McEachern Stockbridge Gilmer Wesleyan Jefferson 2008 Collins Hill Ringgold Cass/Henry Co. LaFayette Jefferson (Co-Champions) 2009 Collins Hill Whitewater LaFayette Jefferson Bremen 2010 Collins Hill Loganville Gilmer Jefferson Bremen 2011 Collins Hill Woodland, Cartersville Gilmer Jefferson Bremen 2012 Camden Co. Pope Gilmer Jefferson Holy Innocents’/ Gordon Lee (Co-Champions) 2013 Archer Pope Gilmer Banks County Jefferson Gordon Lee 2014 Archer Pope Gilmer Buford Jefferson Commerce 2015 Archer Camden County Gilmer Jefferson Social Circle Commerce 2016 Archer Camden County Gilmer Jefferson Social Circle Commerce YEAR 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

AAAAAAA Camden County Camden County Camden County Camden County Camden County Camden County

AAAAAA Alexander Richmond Hill Valdosta Pope Buford Buford

AAAAA Buford Buford Woodland-Bartow Woodland-Bartow Woodland-Bartow Cass

AAAA Jefferson Jefferson Woodward Woodward Jefferson West Laurens

AAA Bremen North Hall Jefferson North Hall (Vacated) Rockmart

AA Social Circle Social Circle Social Circle Chattooga Oglethorpe County Lovett

A Commerce Commerce Commerce Trion Mt. Pisgah Trion

TRADITIONAL WRESTLING TOURNAMENT HISTORY YEAR AAAAAA 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Archer 2014 Archer 2015 Archer 2016 Archer

AAAAA Collins Hill McEachern Parkview Collins Hill Parkview McEachern Collins Hill Collins Hill Collins Hill Collins Hill Collins Hill Pope Cambridge Camden County Camden County

AAAA Ringgold Woodland Ringgold Ringgold Ringgold Stockbridge Eastside Effingham County Alexander Pope Pope Gilmer Gilmer Gilmer Gilmer

AAA Dublin Lovett Dublin Gilmer Cass Gilmer Gilmer Eastside Gilmer Gilmer Heritage-Catoosa Woodward Academy Buford Jefferson Jefferson

AA Rockmart Rockmart Dawson County West Laurens West Laurens Wesleyan LaFayette Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Social Circle Social Circle

A Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Bremen Bremen Bremen Bremen Gordon Lee Commerce Commerce Commerce

YEAR 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

AAAAA Buford Buford Woodland-Bartow Woodland-Bartow Woodland-Bartow

AAAA Jefferson Jefferson Woodward Woodward Jefferson

AAA Bremen Sonoraville Sonoraville Sonoraville Rockmart

AA Social Circle Social Circle Social Circle Chattooga Fannin County

A Commerce Commerce Commerce Commerce Mt. Pisgah

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AAAAAAA Camden County Camden County Camden County Camden County Camden County

AAAAAA Alexander Richmond Hill Valdosta Creekview Buford

2022 TRADITIONAL WRESTLING STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

GHSA.NET // 7

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