2021 GHSA Traditional Wrestling State Tournament

2021 TRADITIONAL WRESTLING STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

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2021 TRADITIONAL WRESTLING STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

GHSA TRADITIONAL WRESTLING SCHEDULE FEBRUARY 9-13, 2021

W O R D FROM T HE E XE C UTIVE DIRE CTOR

WELCOME GHSA TRADITIONAL WRESTLING FANS

WEIGH-IN OR ROUND

Welcome to the 2021 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 the 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.

Dr. Robin Hines Executive Director

FOLLOW US

TUESDAY - FEBRUARY 9 TIME

CLASS

TIME

CLASS

Weigh-in 7:00 AM Round of 24 8:00 AM Round of 16 Round 1 WB Quarterfinals & Round 2 WB Semifinals & Round 3 WB

WEIGH-IN OR ROUND

Weigh-in 12:00 PM Round of 24 1:00 PM Round of 16

Round 1 WB Quarterfinals & Round 2 WB Semifinals & Round 3 WB

WEIGH-IN OR ROUND

WEDNESDAY - FEBRUARY 10

CLASS

WEIGH-IN OR ROUND

TIME

CLASS

WEIGH-IN OR ROUND

TIME

Weigh-in 12:00 PM Round of 24 1:00 PM Round of 16 Round 1 WB Quarterfinals & Round 2 WB Semifinals & Round 3 WB

AT TRACKWRESTLING.COM AND NFHSNETWORK.COM.

The 2021 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 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.

3A 3A 3A 3A 3A 3A

Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls

CLASS

Weigh-in 6:00 PM Conso Quarters 7:00 PM Conso Semis Conso Finals & FINALS

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

WEIGH-IN OR ROUND

TIME

CLASS

WEIGH-IN OR ROUND

TIME

CLASS

WEIGH-IN OR ROUND

TIME

WEIGH-IN OR ROUND

TIME

CLASS

WEIGH-IN OR ROUND

TIME

CLASS

WEIGH-IN OR ROUND

TIME

THURSDAY - FEBRUARY 11

Weigh-in 12:00 PM Round of 24 1:00 PM Round of 16 Round 1 WB Quarterfinals & Round 2 WB Semifinals & Round 3 WB Weigh-in 6:00 PM Conso Quarters 7:00 PM Conso Semis Conso Finals & FINALS

FOLLOW MAT RESULTS & VIDEO STREAM

1A 1A 1A 1A 1A 1A

TIME

Weigh-in 7:00 AM Round of 24 8:00 AM Round of 16 Round 1 WB Quarterfinals & Round 2 WB Semifinals & Round 3 WB

Weigh-in 7:00 AM Round of 24 8:00 AM Round of 16 Round 1 WB Quarterfinals & Round 2 WB Semifinals & Round 3 WB

/OFFICIALGHSA

2A 2A 2A 2A 2A 2A

FRIDAY - FEBRUARY 12

Weigh-in 7:00 AM Round of 24 8:00 AM Round of 16 Round 1 WB Quarterfinals & Round 2 WB Semifinals & Round 3 WB Weigh-in 12:00 PM Round of 24 1:00 PM Round of 16 Round 1 WB Quarterfinals & Round 2 WB Semifinals & Round 3 WB Weigh-in 6:00 PM Conso Quarters 7:00 PM Conso Semis Conso Finals & FINALS

WEIGH-IN OR ROUND

SATURDAY - FEBRUARY 13 TIME

Weigh-in 8:00 AM Conso Quarters 9:00 AM Conso Semis Conso Finals & FINALS

4A 4A 4A 4A 4A 4A

6A 6A 6A 6A 6A 6A

CLASS

3A & Girls 3A & Girls 3A & Girls 3A & Girls 5A 5A 5A 5A 5A 5A 7A 7A 7A 7A 7A 7A

CLASS

4A & 6A 4A & 6A 4A & 6A 4A & 6A

CLASS

5A & 7A 5A & 7A 5A & 7A 5A & 7A

GHSA.NET // 3

2021 TRADITIONAL WRESTLING STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

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

BY CRAIG SAGER | CSAGER@SCOREATL .COM

I

n the highest classification, Camden County will attempt to complete its seventh-consecutive title sweep. The Wildcats qualified wrestlers in all 14 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 West Forsyth 63-12 in the finals after dispatching Lowndes 69-3 and Archer 65-3.

There are several other Class 7A programs that qualified enough wrestlers to challenge Camden County’s bid for its seventh-straight traditional title. West Forsyth qualified 11 wrestlers, Mountain View qualified 12, McEachern qualified 13 and Brookwood, Archer and Newnan each qualified 14.

Class 6A’s dual saw Buford outscore Creekview 4617 in the finals. The victory gives Buford an opportunity to sweep titles for the third time since 2017. This is Buford’s first year competing in Class 6A and there will be plenty of experienced programs stacking the field. North Atlanta qualified wrestlers in all 14 weight classes and Valdosta will have 13 wrestlers. Additionally, Alexander, Richmond Hill, Coffee, Creekview and Lee County qualified a dozen wrestlers and Pope will have wrestlers competing in 10 weight classes.

Class 5A was also significantly restructured in the latest reclassification cycle and the depth of contenders makes this classification one of the most intriguing fields to watch this weekend. Woodward Academy emerged vic-

4 // GHSA.NET

torious in the duals with its 47-24 win over Cass and will have 14 wrestlers heading to Macon where they will look to claim a third-straight traditional championship after racking up back-to-back titles in Class 4A the previous two years. Woodland-Cartersville has won the last two 5A traditional titles and will have 14 wrestlers. This could set up a battle between reigning champions as Woodland and Woodward now occupy the same classification. Also, Coffee and Southwest DeKalb qualified 13 wrestlers and Ola, Ware County, Villa Rica and St. Pius each qualified a dozen wrestlers.

Jefferson will aim for its 19th traditional state title since 2001 and headlines the Class 4A field after competing in Class 3A the previous two seasons. The Dragons used wins over North Oconee (36-30), Central-Carroll (62-13) and Flowery Branch (61-15) to capture this year’s dual state title and will have 13 wresters competing in the traditional tournament. Heritage-Catoosa and Perry qualified wrestlers in all 14 weight classes, West Laurens qualified 13 and the Class 4A field will also feature Marist—which qualified 12 wrestlers.

In Class 3A, North Hall defeated Gilmer 37-27 to win the dual title. The victory gave the Trojans their third alltime dual state title, however, the program is still searching for its first-ever traditional title. North Hall will have 12 wrestlers competing this weekend looking to deliver the Trojans’

first-ever championship sweep of titles. The Class 3A field is loaded with other contenders—including Gilmer—which qualified a full 14 wrestlers. Pike County will also have 14 wrestlers. Adairsville and Rockmart have 13 wrestlers representing them in this year’s tournament and Sonoraville has 12 wrestlers—providing the Phoenix with enough depth to challenge the field.

Oglethorpe County defeated Dade County in the Class 2A duals to win the school’s first-ever wrestling championship. Now, the Patriots will have a full 14 wrestlers heading to Macon with the goal of completing the historic championship sweep. Fannin County also qualified wrestlers in all 14 weight classes and there will be plenty of competition in Class 2A, with Banks County, Lovett and Elbert County positioned to have wrestlers in 13 weight classes. Additionally, Putnam County, Lamar County and Toombs County will each have a dozen wrestlers taking on the tournament field.

Like Oglethorpe County, Mt. Pisgah made history in the duals by capturing its first-ever wrestling state title. The Patriots scored a 48-27 win over Commerce in the dual finals and Commerce made it to the finals after a thrilling 3231 win over Trion. Commerce, Trion and Social Circle will have wrestlers in all 14 weight classes. Mt. Pisgah qualified 13 wrestlers and Screven County will have 12 wrestlers represented in the field.

2021 TRADITIONAL WRESTLING STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

GIRLS DIVISION GEARS UP FOR EXCITING YEAR THREE

BY CRAIG SAGER | CSAGER@SCOREATL .COM

L

ast year marked 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 AAAAA 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 this past February. 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 this year to 102, 112, 122, 132, 142, 152, 162, 172, 197 and 225-pound divisions. As a result, there will be a ton of intriguing storylines to keep an eye on.

Stephens County senior Athena Malik posted a second-place finish in 2019 at the 106-pound class before downing Warner Robins Caroline Chavarria in last year’s championship to take the crown.

Malik and Chavarria were not the only underclassmen that performed well a year ago. Class of 2023 Lisa Glymph of Marietta defeated Class of 2021 Lia Grace of Alexander for third-place.

North Gwinnett junior Dianna Holmes will look for her third individual state title this year. Holmes topped Malik for the 2019 state

title in 2019 and then won last year’s 112-pound division with a victory over Berkmar’s Ally Graham. Peachtree Ridge’s Alitza Dennard placed third last year as a freshman.

Ola’s Amani Jones earned the 122-pound title last year as a junior with her victory over Baldwin’s Catherine Mullis. Berrien’s Cecily Livingston earned third-place, resulting in all three of last year’s top finishers in the 122-pound division belonging to the Class of 2021.

Duluth’s Aki Choates won last year’s 132-pound title over Alexander’s Jatiana Forde. Both finalists have since graduated, but Raven Cook of Jackson County will be a name to watch out for after earning a third-place finish last year as a freshman with her victory over Stone Mountain junior Daisey Gilleylen.

More youth dominated in last year’s 142-pound division, with then-freshman Heidi Raines (Dade County) earning the title over Class of 2023 White County wrestler Sidney Sullens. Also Class of 2021 Tristan Music (Hiram) placed third, while then-sophomore Samantha Hauff and then-freshman Ashley Godinez represented more youth in the fifth-place match.

Tiyahna Askew won the inaugural 156-pound title and then closed out her senior season by capturing last year’s 152-pound championship with a win over Carrollton’s Class of 2023 standout Drina Griggs.

The 162-pound division will also open up after the graduation of Hiram’s Heaven Byrd. Byrd won the 166-pound title in 2019 before making her run to last year’s 162-pound championship.

Byrd took down Gilmer’s Francisca Lopez in the finals—who was a junior at the time. Hillgrove’s Sarai Sanders earned a third-place finish in the 162-pound division last year as a junior and finished the year with an 8-1 overall record.

Alexander’s Dream Santiago finished runner-up in the 176-pound division in 2019 before earning the ultimate prize in the 172-pound division last year as a junior. In last year’s third-place match, Northside-Warner Robins Class of 2024 standout Beyonce McColumn defeated Jackson County senior Bre Lumley to make the podium.

The 197-pound division saw Meadowcreek’s Mi’Kel Jiles earn the title with her victory over Antonia Martinez of Johnson-Gainesville. Jiles placed fourth as a sophomore before last year’s championship run. Hampton junior Niaomi Horton will look to improve upon last year’s fourth-place finish.

Finally, in the 225-pound class, Southeast Whitfield senior Teonna Bonds will be looking to take the final step to championship glory after a third-place finish in 2019 and last year’s runnerup finish to two-time state champion Kyleigh Haney of Hiram.

GHSA.NET // 5

2021 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

AAAAAAA Camden County Camden County Camden County Camden County Camden County

AAAAAA Alexander Richmond Hill Valdosta Pope Buford

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

AAAA Jefferson Jefferson Woodward Woodward Jefferson

AAA Bremen North Hall Jefferson North Hall North Hall

AA Social Circle Social Circle Social Circle Chattooga Oglethorpe County

A Commerce Commerce Commerce Trion

Mount Pisgah

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 AAAA AAA Collins Hill Ringgold Dublin McEachern Woodland Lovett Parkview Ringgold Dublin Collins Hill Ringgold Gilmer Parkview Ringgold Cass McEachern Stockbridge Gilmer Collins Hill Eastside Gilmer Collins Hill Effingham County Eastside Collins Hill Alexander Gilmer Collins Hill Pope Gilmer Collins Hill Pope Heritage-Catoosa Pope Gilmer Woodward Academy Cambridge Gilmer Buford Camden County Gilmer Jefferson Camden County Gilmer 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

AAAAA Buford Buford Woodland-Bartow Woodland-Bartow

AA Social Circle Social Circle Social Circle Chattooga

A Commerce Commerce Commerce Commerce

6 // GHSA.NET

AAAAAAA Camden County Camden County Camden County Camden County

AAAAAA Alexander Richmond Hill Valdosta Creekview

AAAA Jefferson Jefferson Woodward Woodward

AAA Bremen Sonoraville Sonoraville Sonoraville

2021 TRADITIONAL WRESTLING STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

GHSA.NET // 7

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