Thursday March 28th, 2024 4:35AM

Video: Jefferson wrestling focused on keeping 'chain' intact

The numbers speak for themselves: 12 straight duals titles and 12 straight traditional titles.

Jefferson wrestling may well be the gold standard for high school athletic excellence in the entire state, and if the latest crop of Dragons have their way, that won't be changing any time soon.

Starting today in Macon, Jefferson will gun for its 13th straight traditional crown, facing a Class AA field that will present plenty of challenges. Yet it is the type of situation on which the Dragons thrive -- and one for which many work toward year-round.

Jefferson will take 12 wrestlers to the state tournament -- out of a possible 14 weight classes -- and eight of those competitors are No. 1 seeds, meaning eight are favored to at least reach Saturday's championship matches.

After winning two individual titles en route to last year's duals crown -- seven different Dragons finished as runners-up -- Jefferson is focused on gold and improving that tally.

Earlier this week, Access North Georgia.com sports editor Morgan Lee caught up with Jefferson coach Doug Thurmond, as well as three of the program's top seeds and talked with them about this weekend, their streak of state domination and the work that goes into the Dragons' program season-in, season-out. To watch a video feature with the team, simply scroll down and click "play."

Jefferson Wrestling from WDUN TV on Vimeo.



Only Jefferson's Tyler Marinelli is looking to repeat as state champ, but plenty others placed last season and are looking to better that this weekend.

Jefferson wrestlers headed to State
Class AA tournament, Feb. 15-16, Macon
106 -- Chase Piperato*
113 -- Ben Kelly
120 -- Kyle Kashuba
126 -- Josh Harris*
132 -- Tanner Thurmond
138 -- Tyler Marinelli*
145 -- Jack Dollar*
152 -- Jake Sherman*
160 -- Zach Rhymer*
170 -- Tradd Porter
182 -- Jace McClosky*
220 -- Aaron Anderson*
* - No. 1 seeds
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