MACON — North Hall watched as teams slowly chipped away at its big first day lead on Thursday in the Georgia High School Association Class 3A tournament at the Macon Centreplex.
The Trojans came into the Thursday's final round action with a nearly 30-point lead and seven wrestlers in the finals. In the end, however, it wasn’t enough.
Both Sonoraville and Rockmart caught North Hall in the final two weight classes as the Trojans eventually finished third with 194 points.
Rockmart claimed its first title since 2003 (Class 2A) scoring 12 points in the final two weight classes to end Sonoraville’s three-year title run, 202.5 to 197.
North Hall, the 2021 Class 3A Duals champion, was looking to sweep both titles in the same year for the first time. The Trojans garnered four individual titles to just two each for Rockmart and Sonoraville.
Jacob Pedraza at 126 pinned Lumpkin County's Kerwin Martinez in the first period while Jackson Whitmire won the 138 title with a Technical Fall win. Damon Campbell won the 145 title beating Jack Irwin of Lumpkin County in a close 3-1 decision. Hunter Adams captured the 182 title with a first-period pin of Harlem’s Chandler Diles of Harlem.
North Hall also had five others finish in the top four as Dawson Thompson (120), Nolan Sorrow (160), and Dalton Battle (170) all finished as state runners-up. Cristian Contreras (113) was third and Eli Domingo (132) finished fourth.
But North Hall got no points in 106, where they weren’t able to field anyone, and few points in the upper weights over the two days. It would be costly down the stretch.
Rockmart started the day in fifth place and got individual title winners at 113-pounds and 160. Sonoraville had champions at 132 and 285. But it was a pair of third place finishes at 220 and 285 that propelled Rockmart to the title.
White County’s Devin Sullens claimed the 220 title with a thrilling 3-2 decision over Gilmer’s Dylan Galloway in the finals. The Warriors finished in a tie for 18th with Cherokee Bluff with 50 points.
The Bears’ Hayden Biggs took third in 132 to lead the way.
Lumpkin County finished seventh with 101 points. After the state runner-up finishes by Martinez (126) and Irwin (145), Trevor Coryell took third at 170.
Dawson County finished 17th with 55 points, East Jackson was 24th with 36 points, and West Hall finished 31st with 25 points.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2021/2/978754/wrestling-north-hall-grabs-lead-after-day-one-of-3a-traditionals