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DEL.ICIO.USNotes from the 5-AAAAA tourney, etc.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wrestling writer Kurt Aschermann Jr. ranks the top wrestling teams in the state, regardless of class: Week of Jan. 14.
Pin it down and rank the rankings: Let us know who YOUR Top 10 are and how they stack up against Kurt’s picks.
So many intriguing area duals, only one used Toyota Corrola. The Pound for Pound front office set up shop at Kennesaw Mountain for Area 5-AAAAA’s tournament and a three-way battle for a crown eventually won by Harrison. But we could’ve landed anywhere on the Georgia wrestling map and enjoyed some fine wrestling. Here’s a taste of what went on and little of what to expect this weekend in Macon.
Who’s overrated?
• Seems silly for Harrison to keep having to prove itself, but the Hoyas did so again last weekend at the Area 5-AAAAA Duals. Talk of a possible Murray Co. or Kennesaw Mountain area title were squashed in Harrison’s 32-22 victory against the Mustangs and 42-24 victory against the Indians in the dual final. No surprise here that 160-pound Josh Condon led the way, but 119-pound Peter Mosher, Alex Medved (140) and 215-pound Brian Floyd all looked good.
• Tucker continued to silence some critics in Class AAAA, clipping the field in Area 6. The Tigers won a 42-22 dual against Marist to claim the area’s top spot and head into the state duals as the favorite to come out of the bottom half of the bracket. Nine wrestlers have 30-plus wins and one, 103-pound Pawlloes Belete, is 40-2.
Pound for Pound Top 10 (Last week’s rankings in parenthesis)
1: Collins Hill (1) — Area 7-AAAAA champs roll into Macon.
2: Union Grove (2) — Wolverines could be without Tyler Floyd, among others, this weekend.
3: Jefferson (3) — Class A juggernaut looks for seventh duals title.
4: Harrison (4) — Hoyas silenced the critics for another weekend with impressive victories against Kennesaw Mountain and Murray Co. in 5-AAAAA.
5: Pope (5) — 6-AAAAA champs a good bet to get to the AAAAA semis and a meeting with No. 1.
6: Cass (6) — Area 6-AAA winners for the fourth consecutive season.
T7: Eastside (7) — Like last season, a front-runner in Class AAAA.
T7:Stockbridge (7) — Defending duals champs go for back-to-back this weekend.
9: Gilmer (9) — Bobcats dominated 7-AAA duals.
10: Lafayette (10) — Ramblers look to reverse last season’s runner-up finish in Class AA duals.
At least we got a pin
Jefferson reached another high in its domination of Class A at Landmark Christian. The Dragons, who will move to Class AA next season, lost one match in three dual victories against Landmark (84-0), Eagles Landing Christian (81-0) and Commerce (75-6). “I’m proud of them; they did real well,” said Jefferson coach Doug Thurmond. “But we’re going to see how [winning Area 2-A handily] fares next week. We try to keep our guys focused making sure they understand that they have a big bulls-eye on their back.”
Warhawks drop name in hat
Henry Co. is a darkhorse in the Class AAA race after an up and down last two months culminated with an Area 4-AAA title. The Warhawks, who have rebuilt around defending state champion Evan Warrington (103) and blossoming Anthony Fretwell (145), clipped local foe Ola, 42-35 in the area final. “Starting 10 first-year wrestlers, I’m real proud,” coach Marty Hutsell said afterward.
Milestones
• At the Area 2-AAAA Duals, Fayette Co. coach Jim Bailey picked up his 300th career dual victory.
• In Peachtree Ridge’s fourth-place finish at the Area 7-AAAAA duals, Kendall Albert won his 200th match, and Andrew Sartain collected career victory No. 150.
On the record
“We just have to prove ourselves. We use it as fuel to the fire.” — Harrison’s Josh Condon on the Hoyas’ being considered overrated
“If we’re the best team, we’re going to win. We wrestled Gilmer earlier this season and they really jumped on us, I think we lost by 24 points; since that weekend we’ve stepped it up. We’re definitely not looking past Oconee Co. or South Effingham.” — Cass coach Jason Faklaris on the Colonels’ path to a possible Class AAA state title
Duals cheat sheet
• Best first-round matchups: Centennial vs. Parkview; Ringgold vs. Cherokee; Woodland vs. Northwest Whitfield; Hardaway vs. Henry Co.
• Upset special: Ola over LaGrange, Class AAA first round
• Finals picks: Class AAAAA — Collins Hill over Harrison; Class AAAA — Eastside over Tucker; Class AAA — Cass over Henry Co.; Class AA — Lafayette over Wesleyan; Class A — Jefferson over Commerce
Pin it down and rank the rankings: Let us know who YOUR Top 10 are and how they stack up against Kurt’s picks.
Permalink | Comments (10) | Post your comment | Categories: Pound For Pound
Comments
By Single A Fan
January 15, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
Commerce in the Class A final? No way. Give me Jefferson and Gordon Lee for the crown.
AAAA sleeper - Woodward
By tom
January 15, 2008 4:17 PM | Link to this
Try Bremen and Jefferson in single A has been this way for years why shuld it change now
By Don Hill
January 15, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this
The reason it would change is Coach Love. Long time Jefferson assistant has Commerce wrestling very well right now. They have something like a 15-2 dual meet record. (Those 2 losses were to Jefferson)
By Mark
January 15, 2008 4:27 PM | Link to this
I realize you are probably trying to get many different classifications in the top ten. However, Centennial would destroy your 6 through 10th ranked teams. There is no way a top tier 5A team like Centennial doesn’t chop these smaller classification teams up.
By Robert
January 15, 2008 7:41 PM | Link to this
Not so fast, I’m not so sure that Centennial would beat Cass or Gilmer. Don’t count them out because they are AAA.
By mark
January 15, 2008 9:54 PM | Link to this
Centennial would pound both cass and gilmer.
By Mark
January 15, 2008 10:02 PM | Link to this
The only thing Cass and Gilmer have over Centennial is their ability to self promote themselves and AAA on the vent.
By badass
January 15, 2008 10:40 PM | Link to this
GRANGERS WILL NOT LOOSE TO OLA
By Yadi
January 16, 2008 8:04 PM | Link to this
5A Collins Hill 4A Woodward Academy 3A Hardaway 2A Wesleyan 1A Jefferson
By ugapip
January 16, 2008 9:58 PM | Link to this
badass, You can’t spell? Loose? Ha!!!!! Union Grove in 5A!!