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Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Salem medals at Beast of East
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wrestling writer Kurt Aschermann Jr. ranks the top wrestling teams in the state, regardless of class: Week of Dec. 17.
Pin it down and rank the rankings: Let us know who YOUR Top 10 are and how they stack up against Kurt’s picks.
Georgia wrestlers are starting to make winning at national tournaments a regular thing. In the Beast of the East at the University of Delaware, Salem’s Peter Yates won the 145-pound title, clinching the prestigious medal with a 4-1 decision over Walt Peppelman of Central Dauphin’s (Pa.).
“We knew he had a chance [to win] going in,” said Salem coach Tim Owens. “But we knew it’d be tough especially in a big tournament like that.”
Yates, a two-time state champion and three-time finalist, remained unbeaten at 19-0.
POUND-FOR-POUND TOP 10 (Last week’s rankings in parenthesis)
1: Union Grove (1) — Followed the South Metro title with another crown at Tiger Invitational.
2: Collins Hill (2) — Midwest Classic heavyweight champ David Coffey leads Eagles, who come into this weekend’s Gwinnett County Tournament as heavy favorites.
3: Harrison (3) — Shook off a dual loss to Kennesaw Mountain by winning McCallie Invitational. Josh Condon obliterating opponents, now 24-0.
4: Jefferson (4) — Morgan County Tournament champs stay unbeaten.
5: Eastside (5) — Short-handed Eagles drop a dual to Union Grove; place nine and finish third at Tiger Invite.
6: Lafayette (7) — Ramblers put two in McCallie finals, finish tournament tied for ninth.
7: Stockbridge (6) — Tigers placed 5th at Tiger Invitational.
8: Gilmer (9) — In a preview of Class AAA state-level battles to come, Bobcats secure title at Hardaway Invitational.
9: Pope (8) — Finished second at Bradley Central (TN) tournament.
10: Kennesaw Mountain (NR) — Solid No. 2 at Tiger Invitational; Maus brothers, Alex and Ryan, both 27-2.
McCallie Invitational
The Peach State was also well-represented at the McCallie Invitational in Chattanooga as Georgia wrestlers won 10 of the 14 individual titles and put 18 in the finals.
Pound for Pound No. 3 Harrison continued to fare well outside of Georgia, running away with the first-place trophy at McCallie. Josh Condon, wrestling in what will be his new backyard when he starts at UT Chattanooga next fall, collected two pins and a tech fall before winning an 8-4 decision over Harold Gage of Cleveland High School (Tenn.) in the 160-pound final. Condon (24-0) led 11 total placers for the Hoyas, who don’t return to the mats until the brutal Powerade Invitational in Canonsburg, Pa., on Dec. 28.
Parkview’s Carson Fields (21-0) continued his strong senior season by winning the 135-pound title and the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler award. Six other Panthers placed, led by heavyweight champ Brian Farris.
McEachern and Walton finished tied for sixth with five champions coming from the two Cobb County schools: Brandon Westerman (119 pounds) and Matt Smith (125) from the defending state champion Indians; Phil Holloway (130), Andrew Lanham (152) and Jeff Olsen (189) from Walton, which is becoming a dangerous traditional tournament team.
Midwest National Wrestling Classic
No. 2 Collins Hill took on teams from Missouri, Oklahoma and Iowa, among others, and came away with a strong third-place finish in Kansas City. The Eagles’ David Coffey won the heavyweight crown while T.J. Mitchell (119) and Joel Smith (135) each finished second. 145-pound Taylor Knapp finished third and was one of seven state champions in the weight class.
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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