BUFORD, Ga. — The Chestatee girls bid to win their second GHSA Duals Championship on Friday came to a gut-wrenching end at The Buford Arena.
No. 3 seed Carrollton stormed back in the semifinals after falling 12 points behind early to beat the Lady War Eagles, 41-40, in the first-ever all-girls, stand-alone Duals Championship Tournament.
Top-seeded Chestatee rolled into the semifinals with a 66-18 win over Campbell while third-seeded Carrollton beat Woodward Academy, 54-21, in the opening round. That set up a classic semifinal showdown.
In the semifinals, Chestatee jumped out to a quick 12-0 lead with a Jaden Lee pin of Hailey Lussier at 190-pounds and a Isabella Redlinger win by forfeit at 235. Carrollton got a pin from Gabby Carnes at 100 but the Lady War Eagles’ Courtney Hawkins turned a slim 4-2 advantage into a 13-4 decision at 105 to push the lead to 16-6.
But the Lady Trojans answered with pins at 110 by Cadence Wilson and at 115 from Katlyn Thomas to take an 18-16 lead. Chestatee reclaimed the lead, 22-18, at 120 on a Destiny Wooley pin in the third period leading just 8-7. But Carrollton answered back with a pin by Isabella Moore at 125 for a 24-22 advantage. The 125 match was considered one of the key spots for both teams.
Another Carrollton pin at 130 by Bailey Moore gave the Lady Trojans a big 30-22 lead. But Abby Plemons nearly turned the match around for Chestatee. The sophomore trailed the entire match against Maggie Dudley and was down 15-6 late in the third period. But a beautiful reverse allowed her to pull out an improbable pin in the final minute to pull the Lady War Eagles within 30-28.
Charlotte Wheeler followed that with a quick pin at 140 to reclaim the lead for Chestatee at 34-30. But the Lady Trojans got a Major Fall win at 145 from Madison Cooley and a pin by Amazing Ackey at 155 to clinch the match. Chestatee got a forfeit win at 170 for the final score.
The loss dropped Chestatee into the consolation bracket.
In the consolation bracket, the tough day continued for the Lady War Eagles. They fell 53-27 to No. 2-seed Greenbrier as they dropped the first matches by pin and never recovered.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2023/1/1162323/state-wrestling-chestatee-girls-lose-heartbreaker-to-carrollton-in-semis