Wrestling championships: Jefferson rules, Yates finishes second

DULUTH -- By now, you've got to wonder if the Georgia High School Association might just want to rename the Class A wrestling trophy the "Jefferson Cup."

It sure seems like the Dragons have a permanent claim on it.

Jefferson won its eighth-straight state wrestling title on Saturday night at the GHSA championships at Gwinnett Arena in Duluth -- the 15th career championship for coach Doug Thurmond.

The Dragons rolled to the title by winning six individual titles: Cason Thurmond (103 pounds), Cam Thurmond (119), Jed Gurley (125), Jay Fowler (152), Zac Crosby (160) and Lucas Redd (171). Meanwhile, Daniel Barber (112), Cutler Finch (130), Wayne Elliot (135), Patrick Allen (215) and Cole Hightower (285) each finished second for Jefferson.

In Class AAA, Gilmer totaled 226 points to claim the team title. Mikey Mooney (135 pounds) and Michael Fox (140) each finished first for the Bobcats, who also claimed the Area 7-AAA title this season and finished third at the state duals meet.

Meanwhile, of Hall County's representatives, Colby Yates came closest to earning an individual championship. But the West Hall grappler had to settle for second place at 130 pounds after falling to Cass's Damon Cadle. It was Yates' second straight second-place finish in the state championships.

Yates, a senior, fell behind Cadle 7-1 in the first period, and that's how the score stayed. It was Cadle's third-straight state title.

Yates finishes his career as Hall County's all-time wins leader, a four-time state placer and a three-time area champ.

Other area wrestlers, including Buford's Scottie Forrester (145-pounds), did manage to capture a state title, while many others placed at the tournament. Forrester defeated Lafayette's Joe Franks, 7-3, to claim his first championship.

Other state champs included Commerce's Doug Maloch (112) in Class A and Jackson County's Ben Lesniak (125) in Class AAAA.

Flowery Branch's Tom Pennington (215) finished fourth, while teammate Ben Yu (140) finished seventh.

Lumpkin County's Brandon Roberts (189) and Wesley Forrester (103) battled their way to third place.

Johnson's Joey Wirsing (171) and West Hall's Chan Morris (152) also managed to place at the tournament finishing seventh and sixth respectively.