After coming off a ninth place finish in last year’s Class AAA traditional state championships, the North Hall wrestling program has charged into the 2017-2018 campaign.
The Trojans opened this season's competition at the annual Spartan Slam at West Hall High School, posting four tournament championships, two runner-up finishes, and five other place winners. Capturing tournament championships for the Trojans were Jackson Whitmire (113-pound weight class), Matthew Glenn (126), John Pedraza (138), and Logan Hawthorne (220), while Cody Smith (145) and Seth Carlton (195) finished second.
The Trojans also traveled south to participate in the Buford Invite, where they finished fourth -- just 13 points shy of second-place finisher Rock Hill, South Carolina, and one point from third place finisher Chattooga. Glenn (126) captured the sole individual title, while Jacob Pedraza (113) joined him in the finals and finished runner-up. Whitmire finished a strong third at 113 and John Pedraza took fourth in a tough 138 bracket. Competing alongside the varsity, the Trojan junior varsity squad also finished third overall led by tournament champions Damon Cambell, Memfiz Dyer, Hayden Cook, and place winners CJ Whisnant, Christian Contreras, Will Adams, Logan West and Tennessee Pass.
North Hall's varsity success continued into Wednesday, as the Trojans traveled to Mountain View to participate in a quad-match against Mountain View, Rockdale, and Mill Creek. After defeating both Rockdale and Mill Creek, the Trojans squared off with AAAAAAA perennial powerhouse Mountain View, with the Trojans pulling away late for the win 39-32.
And this weekend, the Trojans traveled to Lawrenceville for the prestigious Archer Duals against a field that included multiple state championship and state duals place winners from last season. The Trojans opened competition with a victory over last year’s Class AAAA top six place winner West Laurens 45-24 before defeating last year’s Class AAAAAAA runner-up Archer, 48-23. The Trojans then defeated last year’s Class AAAAAA runner-up South Paulding, 45-26. North Hall rounded out pool competition with a 53-13 victory over Tift County, placing the Trojans in the finals against last season's Class AAAAA state champion Buford. After a hard-fought battle with Buford in the finals, the Trojans fell short 38-35 for a second place finish overall.
Second year head coach David Nichols is pleased with the progress of his team so far.
"Our kids are working extremely hard day in and day out," Nichols said. "Our parents and community support us in all that we do, and we all are just looking forward to watching these young boys grow into successful young men and competing on the wrestling mat. It’s going to be a fun season.”
Winning key matches for the Trojans throughout the opening of the dual season are:
113 - Jack Whitmire
120 - Jacob Pedraza
126 - Matthew Glenn
132 - John Pedraza
138 - Bryson Smith
145 - Cody Smith
152 - Dalton Battle
160 - Hayden Cook
170 - Jamie Hudson
182 - Cade Miller
195 - Seth Carlton
220 - Logan Hawthorne
Heavyweight - Bowie Eisenberg
