The Traditional Wrestling Tournament will feature 17 teams from Area 4-AAA, including Hall County teams Chestatee Gainesville, East Hall, Flowery Branch, Johnson, North Hall and West Hall.
The tournament will start at 5 p.m. on Friday and on Saturday it will begin at 9 a.m. The finals will start at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Admission will be $7 per session or you can get a two day pass for $15. The gym will be cleared before the finals on Saturday and the attendants will have to pay $7 to get in.
Gainesville won the Area 4-AAA Tournament last year by defeating Gilmer, 165-160.
The favorites this year are Class AAA No. 1 Gilmer and No. 5 Apalachee. The rest of the field will more than likely be fighting for third place.
However, Gainesville coach C.T. Hussion, whose Elephants are ranked 10th, said there are always surprises at the end of the wrestling season.
"At this point, going into the tournament the coaches think they have it figured out, but there will always be kids that prove everyone wrong and pull off upsets," coach Hussion said.
The tournament will determine which individuals will make it to state. The top four wrestlers from each weight division will qualify for state.
Last year in the individual wrestling, 86 kids made it to state. This year, since Area 4-AAA has grown from 10 teams to 17, only 56 kids will be able to qualify for state.
The favorite in the 103 weight division is Seth Robinson of Fannin County. Robinson has an overall record of 17-1. Other top contenders are Joseph Jeanty of Gainesville, Rashona Colbert of Flowery Branch, and Apalachee's Trey Hudson.
Gilmer's Mickey Mooney is considered to be the top contender in the 112 weight class. Mooney has an overall record of 35-9. Oconee Counties Alex Edwards, Hart Counties Coty Martin, and Apalachee's Joab Hudson all have a good shot at going on to state.
Travis Hendrix of Gainesville is considered the favorite to win the 119 weight class. Hendrix has only lost once this season with a record of 46-1. Glimer's Michael Fox, West Hall's Colby Yates, and Stephens Counties Casey Quarterman should be strong competition for Hendrix.
With a record of 44-4, Gainesville's Dustin Hicks is considered the man to beat in the 125 weight class. But it won't be easy for Hicks. He will have face some top wrestlers in Gilmer's Austin Powell, Flowery Branches Karl Kudybah, and Chestatee's Scott Degraff.
Gilmer's Joey Robinson looks to be the favorite in the 130 weight class carrying a 49-1 record with him. Flowery Branches Paul Kudybah, Elbert Counties Matt Johnson, and West Hall's Lloyd Hereford all have a good shot at winning.
In the 135 weight class, Gilmer's Josh Hensley with a 48-1 record looks to be the favorite. Hensley will be given a challenge by Hart Counties Brent Stone, Oconee Counties Michael Simonton, and Apalachee's Randy Rutledge.
The top wrestler in the 140 weight class looks to be Gilmer's Nate Mosley with a 42-2 record. But Mosley will be heavily challenged by Flowery Branches BJ Johnson who has an overall record of 46-2. Mike Hicks of Apalachee and White Counties Pat Lowendick should also be strong competition.
North Hall's Pat McGeorge and Chestatee's Bobby Anderson are two of the top contenders in the 145 weight division. Flowery Branches Austin Bennett and West Hall's Mitchell Johnson will also have a good shot at winning the tournament.
West Hall's Trent Corey is considered the favorite in the 152 weight class. He will be given a challenge by Johnson's Charles Estrada, Elbert Counties D.J. Hill, and Flowery Branches Abner Roman.
With a 45-1 record Jarrett Boswell of Apalachee is the top wrestler in the 160 weight class. Oconee's Michael Thompson, White Counties Tyler Jarrard, Gilmer's Erick Trujillo will be some of the top competition.
Gainesville's Bo Wren with a 30-1 record looks to be the top wrestler in the 171 weight class. The other top wrestlers in the 171 weight class are Picken's John Tatum, Hart's Mark Evans, and Gilmer's Kyle Trujillo.
Apalachee's Henry Johnson is 58-4 in the 189 weight class and looks to be the top wrestler, but will be challenged by Gainesville's Corey Sullivan, Oconee's Lanard, and Picken's Chris Silvers.
In the 215 weight class, Tony Newman of Gainesville is considered hands down to be the favorite. Newman has only lost once this season. Hart County's Cory Posey, Picken's Jeremy Burnett, and Gilmer's David Riddle are other top wrestlers in the 215 weight class.
Picken's Chad Wiggington has won all 36 of his matches this season and has not lost in the 275 weight class. Other top wrestlers are Apalachee's Drew Craig with a record of 59-1,Flowery Branches Paul Yu, and Monroe Area Johnny Culbreath.
Coach Hussion believes his team has a chance to send a few wrestlers to state.
"I feel we could send anywhere from four to seven kids to state," coach Hussion said.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2005/2/141908