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Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Hoyas top first PFP poll
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wrestling writer Kurt Aschermann Jr. ranks the top wrestling teams in the state, regardless of class: Week of Dec. 2 (last season’s final ranking in parenthesis).
Pin it down and rank the rankings: Let us know who YOUR Top 10 are and how they stack up against Kurt’s picks.
A new wrestling season is underway and you know what that means — Pound for Pound’s first Top 10 poll.
1: Harrison (10) — Over the summer, the rich got richer in Cobb County. The Hoyas, 6th at Traditional, return two-time defending state champion Josh Condon (ranked 19th nationally amongst 160-pounders by Wrestling USA Magazine) and added Cass transfers Lucas and Peter Mosher, both Class AAA state placers. Ryan Medved (53-5 and third place state finish); Alex Medved (two-time placer) and K.J. Bell (4th at 119) form a fantastic top 6, while two-time kids state champion Nick Christakis and GISA state champion and Riverside Military transfer Matt Whittenburg make Harrison the team to beat in Class AAAAA.
2: Union Grove (7) — After finishing 10th in 2005, 11th in 2006 and 5th last season, the Wolverines might finally be ready to take the next step to a traditional state title. Defending state champion Justin Crozier leads a talented group that includes state runners-up Joey Lazor and Jack Roberts and NHSCA national runner-up Jacob Vinson. Carrington Banks graduated and is at Iowa Central but his brother, Bradley, returns after finishing third last season and former McEachern wrestler Tyler Floyd (2006 runner-up) will join area champions Stephen Bodiford and Wesley Mena and kids state placers Alex Lazor and Tyson Krantz to form one of the deeper lineups in Class AAAAA.
3: Collins Hill (T-2) — The Eagles finished in the top 3 at the Traditional tournament for the 8th consecutive season and 2008 has the possibility of being even better. Wesleyan transfer T.J. Mitchell, last year’s Class AA 103-pound champion, joins a lineup already packed with Class AAAAA 135-pound titlist Taylor Knapp and state placers Nick Smith (3rd at 1710; Joel Smith (4th at 1300; and David Coffey (5th at 285). Collins Hill was already a dangerous dual meet team (45-2 a year ago) but the addition of Mitchell helps the Eagles complete a short list of AAAAA favorites.
4: Stockbridge (5) — The defending duals and traditional champions in Class AAAA, Stockbridge returns every significant starter from last year’s team. 215-pound state champion Jose Paz will once again be favored in the weight class and state runner-up Nathan Allen moves to 130 pounds and will be on a short list of favorites there. Six other starters are back, including state placers Shane McGraw (3rd at 103); Ben Jones (5th at 160); and Randy Salmon (4th at 285).
5: Jefferson (8) — The Class A juggernaut lost four-time state champion Kyle Baird (now at Gardner-Webb) and 2006 champion Casey Winkle, but 10 state placers return. Leading the pack will be defending titlists Cam Thurmond, Jed Gurley and Jay Fowler, as well as runner-up Lucas Redd. The return of Andy Ledbetter is a question mark at 189 pounds following an off-season neck injury, but Patrick Allen (5th at 171) is ready to take his place if needed.
6: Gilmer (11) — Despite residing in the deepest classification in the state, AAA, the Bobcats appear to be the early front-runner with five state placers back, led by 171-pound runner-up David Snider. Throw in kids state champions Hunter Barnes, Sawyer Pettit and Wesley Nestor, and Gilmer has the goods to keep its state duals title and challenge for the traditional crown.
7: Walton (T-2) — Walton lost Andy Olsen and Dylan Temple, but state champion Phil Holloway returns along with placers Nolan Legg, Kevin D’Anna, Amdrew Lanham and Jeff Olsen. Perhaps a repeat of their 2nd place finish at Class AAAAA Traditional is a bit of a stretch, but coach Peter Murphy’s crew is always near the top of the highest classification.
8: Cass (9) — Losing Peter and Lucas Mosher to Harrison and Nick Cordell to Sonoraville won’t be easy to deal with. Still, don’t feel too bad for the Colonels. Defending Class AAA 130-pouind titlist Damon Cadle returns along with Justin Martin, whose won two state titles and finished third last season, and four other placers. Kids state champion Mason Martin and Jason Evans, a state runner-up with Woodland two years ago, should help solidify a solid group.
9: Eastside (NR) — Many thought Eastside would win the duals and traditional state titles in Class AAAA last season but the Eagles fell short in both, finishing in a tie for second at traditional and third at state duals. While 130-pound champion Joey Montgomery is gone, 103-pound champ Joel Stafford returns along with six other state qualifiers that should keep Eastside among AAAA’s favorites.
10: McEachern (1) — It’s a long fall from No. 1 to No. 10 for the defending Class AAAAA Duals and Traditional champs, but 11 senior starters have departed, including 140-pound champion Raleigh Abbott (now at Newberry College) and 215-pound titlist Brooks Pendelton. Two-time state champion Brandon Westerman will lead the way along with 112-pound runner-up Matt Smith. Tom Mcgee, who backed up 215-pounder Keith Parker last season, will get the nod at heavyweight after placing 5th at Super 32.
On the cusp — Hardaway, South Effingham, Whitewater, Lafayette, Ringgold
Pin it down and rank the rankings: Let us know who YOUR Top 10 are and how they stack up against Kurt’s picks.
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