MACON — Starting today in Macon, the most elite prep wrestling teams in the state will commence battle for the GHSA duals crown -- including a number of programs based here in northeast Georgia.
Buford, Commerce, Habersham Central, Jackson County, Jefferson and North Hall each battled their way through Area duals last weekend, and each program has bigger goals in mind this weekend.
Certainly Jefferson enters the state duals with titles on its mind. The Dragons have won a state title in every duals competed since the tournament's incepetion in 2002 -- that's 16 straight. And Jefferson, competing in Class AAAA is certainly a favorite again in 2018. The Dragons begin competition on Thursday against Luella at 12:30 p.m. in a bracket that includes fellow state heavyweight Gilmer. The Dragons knocked off the Bobcats 35-28 in last year's Class AAAA championship bout.
Yet the Dragons aren't the only area team with a winning pedigree in Macon, as Commerce heads south on the back of four straight Class A crowns. The Tigers began a run of dominance in 2014 and will look to keep that up when they commence competition at 3 p.m. Friday against Strong Rock.
Buford has also won a pair of state titles (2017 and '14), and the Wolves enter this year's Class AAAAA bracket as a favorite. Buford begins tournament competition at 12:30 p.m. Thursday against Miller Grove.
Perhaps the most intriguing competition, however, comes in Class AAA, where North Hall and Jackson County hope to become state champions. The Trojans stormed into the bracket as a No. 1 seed after winning the Area 4-AAA crown in dominant fashion over Jackson County. North Hall saw eight different wrestlers go undefeated in area competition but knows that it will be tough this weekend against a bracket that includes No. 2 seed Bremen and No. 3 Jackson County, which will be looking for revenge. The Trojans open state competition at 5:30 p.m. Friday against Pierce County, while Jackson County takes on Savannah Arts at 5:30 p.m.
Habersham Central, meanwhile, will take on the Class AAAAAA bracket beginning with a bout against Creekview at 3 p.m. Thursday.
All championship matches are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Macon Centreplex.
2018 WRESTLING STATE DUALS
Jan. 11-13, Macon Centreplex
Northeast Georgia teams competing
CLASS AAAAAA
Habersham Central
CLASS AAAAA
Buford
CLASS AAAA
Jefferson
CLASS AAA
North Hall
Jackson County
CLASS A
Commerce
