Wrestling: Teams begin title quest with Area Duals

By Jeff Hart Sports Reporter

Posted 2:48PM on Thursday, January 8, 2015

Northeast Georgia's prep wrestlers know that one more top performance could pin down a spot in the state duals. And grapplers from throughout the region will look to get to grips with a state spot in various area duals tourneys this weekend. Locally, West Hall plays host to the Area 7-AAA Duals and Buford will play host to the Area 8-AAAA Duals on Saturday. The Area 8-AAAAA duals will be held at Clarke Central in Athens; the Area 4-AA Duals will be in Monticello; the Area 4-A Duals will be at Athens Christian; and the Area 8-AAA Duals will be at Oconee County. The top two teams in each area will advance to next week's State Duals in Macon. Northeast Georgia dominated the Duals last season with Buford (Class AAA), Jefferson (Class AA), and Commerce (Class A) all bringing home Duals state titles in 2014. All three of those teams are once again expected to challenge for state titles, but there will be plenty of competition in the Area Duals. Banks County won the Class AAA Duals state title in 2013, was state runner-up in 2014 and is among those in Area 7-AAA expected to to challenge for one of the top spots this year. However, Jefferson has moved up to Class AAA this year and has yet to finish as anything but a state duals champ since the format was added to GHSA competition in 2001. Buford, meanwhile, has moved to Class AAAA this season but is among the top teams in Area 8-AAAA heading into the Area Duals this weekend. Here is a look at each Area Duals Tournament: Area 8-AAAA Buford is the No. 1 seed with North Hall and Chestatee right behind heading into their one-day tournament. Buford finished second in the 2014 Area 7-AAA Duals to Banks County but stormed back for the Class AAA Duals state title. Buford --- which features four wrestlers that also won individual state crowns last season (Rudy Guillen, Eli Hartley, Darius Bunch and Jack Barber) -- is ranked second in Class AAAA behind Gilmer. Chestatee is ranked sixth. Chestatee coach Kyle Barr said it's anyone's tournament. "I think the top three are all very close,"said Barr, whose War Eagles finished second in the Area Duals last year and used that for a top six finish at the Class AAAA Duals. "I really feel it's wide-open. It may come down to the final match." Chestatee is led by Austin Donaldson (132), junior Marvin Cunnigham (138), and sophomore Matthew McLellen (145). "Our middle weight guys will have to have a strong day. But we've been wrestling pretty well so I expect us to be right in the mix," Barr said. Johnson coach John Petty, who brings in his Knights as the sixth seed, said he expects a tough tournament, top to bottom. "You have to show up and wrestle every time out so really anybody can win this thing depending on who shows up and who doesn't," Petty said. "We've lost to Chestatee twice and North Hall and White County once each so we have our work cut out for us. But we're going in looking for the highest finish we can get." The Knights are led by senior Pedro Estrada (285), who 34-2 this season, and senior Freddis Velasquez (160), who is 35-3 so far. Area 7-AAA Area 7-AAA is loaded and wide-open all at the same time. Perennial powers Banks County, Lumpkin County and Dawson County will provide plenty of outstanding head-to-head matchups. West Hall, which finished third in the Hall County Championships three-weeks ago, and East Hall have wrestled tough all season. West Hall coach Eric Radich said the opportunity is there for anyone to grab. His Spartans are seeded fourth. "Banks, Lumpkin, Dawson are all about even and it will be tough to climb up (to one of the top two spots)," Radich said. "But we're going in looking for an opportunity to do something big. We have not wrestled (any of the top three teams) but we'll see where we can find some matchups that are favorable for us. But it's going to be a tough tournament, no matter who you are." The Spartans are led senior Elliott Raiford (160) who has just one loss on the season. Senior Julio Gallegos (126) and sophomore Eugenio Manilla (120) have come on strong of late, Radich said. West Hall will open the tournament against county foe East Hall, the fifth seed. Vikings' coach Ken Stoudenmire said it should be a great tournament. "It's up for grabs really but you can bet that Banks, Lumpkin, Dawson, West Hall will all be right in the mix," Stoudenmire said. "We'll have a tough road and will have to wrestle our best to have a shot. But I also believe you can't count on anything until you get out on the mat." East Hall is led by juniors Will Davidson (126) and Kevin Thompson (195). Sophomore Noah Dyer (132) and freshman James Stoudenmire (113) have stepped up for the Vikings this season. Banks County won the Area 4-AAA Duals last year but was beaten by Buford in Class AAA Duals finals. Jefferson, from Area 8-AAA, is ranked No. 1 in Class AAA with Banks County ranked second this year. Area 8-AAA Jefferson, the defending Class AA Duals and traditional champions, should be an overwhelming favorite in 8-AAA in the one-day tournament at Oconee High School. Jackson County should challenge for one of the top spots as will host Oconee County. Area 4-AA Riverside Military Academy coach Gary Papka is hoping for a top four finish in a rugged Area 4-AA, even with Jefferson moving up in classification this season. "It's still a tough area," Papka said. "We would love to get one of those two spots but realistically we may be looking at a top four finish." The Eagles finished fourth last year in the Area Duals behind eventual state champion Jefferson, Social Circle, and Greater Atlanta Christian. Riverside is led senior Josh Sheek (152), junior Nick Fernandez (160), senior Carl Williams (195), and senior Taylor Hardin (220). Rabun County and Union County also are in 4-AA but are not expected to challenge for one of the top spots. Social Circle is ranked No. 1 in Class AA with GAC ranked third. Area 8-A Commerce, the defending Class A state Duals champion, has wrestled a tough schedule but is 4-1 in duals this season, with the Tigers only loss coming to Jefferson in a tight match. Coach Kendall Love said they are just now starting to hit their stride. With 11 of 14 starters returning from last year's title team, Commerce is a heavy favorite to win the Area 8-A Duals at Athens Christian. "We got all our guys from football and the lineup is starting to peak for us at the right time," Love said. "We've had a target on our backs all season but I think the kids have responded well to that challenge. We were young last year and now we're a year older. If we wrestle to our ability I feel we have a good shot to repeat." Love said St. Francis, Mount Vernon, Towns County, and host Athens Christian, along with the Tigers, should all be in the mix for the top two spots. Commerce is led by sophomore and defending traditional state champ Dalton Flint at 120. Sophomore Owen Brown (138) has just one loss this season and sophomore Cole Chancey (170) returns and took fourth in the state last season. Freshman Knox Allen has been a solid new addition for the Tigers. The Tigers are ranked No. 1 in Class A with Athens Christian fifth, Mt. Vernon eighth, and St. Francis ninth. Area 8-AAAAA Clarke Central is ranked sixth in Class AAAAA and is the favorite and will play host to the Area Duals. Flowery Branch and Gainesville are among a crowded field looking to make the top two teams.

Jeff Hart Sports Reporter