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Saturday, January 19, 2008
Nothing like the dual meets in Macon
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When it comes to the competition and intensity of high school sports, there’s no better place to be than the state wrestling duals at the Macon Coliseum. 64 teams whittled down to 10 finalists and a handful of early wake-up calls for those looking to climb back and grab a consolation trophy.
Let’s get right to it.
The first and really only big surprise of the tournament’s first day was Northwest Whitfield’s improbable, 34-33 victory over Stockbridge in the Class AAAA quarterfinals, which ended the Tigers’ bid for consecutive duals titles. Whitfield couldn’t keep the momentum going in the semi finals, falling to Eastside for the second time in two weeks. The Area 8-AAAA champion Eagles get upstart Ringgold in the state final. The Tigers, dual champs in 2002 and 2005, picked up three impressive victories over Cherokee, Woodward Academy and Tucker.
Speaking of surprises, how about those Henry County Warhawks? With 10 first-year wrestlers in the lineup, Henry started the dual season 1-8. Less than two months later, Marty Hutsell’s crew will wrestle for the Class AAA state title after mowing through Hardaway, Blessed Trinity and Benedictine.
“I’m just ecstatic,’ Hutsell said afterwards. “These kids just busted their tales; they’re warriors. We told them is we get past Hardaway, we had a shot.”
Henry County’s latest appearance in the state finals (they won the Class AAAA title in 2006) is as much a credit to Hutsell and his coaching staff as anything. Standing mat side after the quarterfinal win, former Warhawk state runner-up and lay coach Walker Daniel summed up the season:
“(Hutsell) basically went into the hallways and picked some wrestlers,” said Daniel, who was a part of the 2006 title team. “Honestly, I don’t know how he does it. It’s his best coaching job.”
Henry County will face Cass, which needed a Mason Martin decision in the final semis match with Gilmer to reach the Class AAA final for the second consecutive season. The Colonels have never won a duals title.
Class AAAAA produced the best semi final match ups on paper but Collins Hill and Harrison reached the final with relative ease after wins over Pope and Centennial, respectively. Collins Hill, No. 32 nationally in the latest Amateur Wrestling News Prep 40, plowed through Murray County and survived a barn-burner with Union Grove in the quarterfinals before the win over Pope. Harrison took care of its business with wins over Forsyth Central (46-21) and Hiram (50-18) before taking a 40-15 win over the Knights. No shock that the red-hot Peter Mosher and Josh Condon led a group of five who went 3-0 on the day.
The lower classifications produced very little suspense as Class AA favorites Wesleyan and Lafayette reached the dual final, while six-time dual champion Jefferson goes for No. 7 Saturday against Gordon Lee in the Class A title bout.
On the Record
“I told him, ‘go get me my state dual title and I’ll let you kiss my girlfriend.’”
— Cass’ Justin Martin on what he told his younger brother, Mason, before the final match against Gilmer. (Mason won an 8-5 decision)
“We’re definitely ready. Our team’s going to go in their strong; not over-confident but looking forward to it. We want it bad.”
— Eastside’s Joel Stafford on Saturday’s Class AAAA final
“We knew it was going to be close; just like last year it was close. It’s what it’s all about; it’s hard wrestling.”
— Northwest Whitfield coach Allen Tucker after the Bruins’ quarterfinal win over Stockbridge
“I believe; we believe, it doesn’t matter who else does.”
— Ringgold coach Phil Daniel on the Tigers’ somewhat quiet march to the Class AAAA state final
One more thing………
Why I love Georgia high school wrestling, Part 1:
Watched Collins Hill’s T.J. Mitchell wrestle Dexter Bushart of Pope, then turned to the adjacent mat and took in Merle Bolton of Northwest Whitfield against Eastside’s Stafford.
No sport is like it.
Saturday’s Finals
AAAAA
PFP No. 1 Collins Hill vs. No. 4 Harrison
AAAA
No. 7 Eastside vs. Ringgold
AAA
No. 6 Cass vs. Henry County
AA
No. 10 Lafayette vs. Wesleyan
A
No. 3 Jefferson vs. Gordon Lee
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