AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2008 > February > 27 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USFinal tourney thoughts; final rankings
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wrestling writer Kurt Aschermann Jr. ranks the top wrestling teams in the state, regardless of class: Week of Feb. 27.
Pin it down and rank the final rankings: Let us know who YOUR final Top 10 are and how they stack up against Kurt’s end-of-season picks.
Even though I have covered each of the three state wrestling tournaments at the Arena at Gwinnett Center, there was something about this particular tournament that trumped the other two. Maybe it was the upsets, with Centennial 112-pounder Brian St. James knocking off T.J. Mitchell of Collins Hill in the Class AAAAA quarterfinals standing as the biggest shocker.
Maybe it was the Collins Hill machine not only taking the Class AAAAA title by a comfortable margin but seemingly grabbing every Eagle backer they could find and filling an arena seat with green-clad wackos.
Georgia High School wrestling needs teams like Collins Hill because what’s a sport without its villain?
Perhaps it was the chance to see Josh Condon and Peter Yates wrestle for the last time in a Harrison and Salem singlet, respectively, and each win their third state titles. Maybe it was seeing Parkview’s Carson Fields finally nab that elusive ring. Or watching wrestlers like Bryan Benton (Toombs County), Jordan Dukes (Hiram), Brandon Westerman (McEachern), Joey Lazor (Union Grove) and Jonathan Gregory (Ringgold) complete unbeaten seasons, though several grapplers went without a loss against Georgia competition.
Or it could’ve been the Class AAAAA mat, in the far corner of the arena, dubbed “the mat of death” among other things by yours truly and North Forsyth coach Travis Jarrard.
Maybe it was Tri-Cities heavyweight Marcus Brewster, the most entertaining wrestler I’ve ever seen.
But I’m willing to believe it was something else: no event comes close to the Traditional State Wrestling Tournament. Nothing matches the emotion from the wrestlers; the coaches; the fans. And if you can show me a high school athletic event like the wrestling finals, I’ll show you an event in another state.
I’m already looking forward to next February.
Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestlers
Class AAAAA: Carson Fields, Parkview — Fields finally got his state title and in dominating fashion: a tech fall and four pins, including a fall in 1:05 of Collins Hill’s Joel Smith in the 135-pound final.
Class AAAA: Peter Yates, Salem — Poor J.C. Hall of Dacula, a fine wrestler, but one who had the unfortunate task of facing the Virginia Tech-bound Yates in the 145-pound final. Total domination by Yates in five tourney matches: pin in 1:06; 17-0 tech fall; pin in :38; pin in 1:31 and another 17-0 tech fall of Hall in the final.
Class AAA: Josh Boler, Apalachee — The Maryland transfer was a monster all weekend and capped his first season in Georgia with a pin in 1:51 of Spencer’s Brian Davis in the 215 final. Boler finished the year 59-1.
Class AA: Bryan Benton, Toombs County — Benton got better as the tournament went on: 1st round, 11-4 decision; quarterfinals, 18-8 major; semifinals, 12-2 major; 135-pound final, 22-7 tech fall.
Class A: Jed Gurley, Jefferson — Tough to pass up Gurley’s teammate Lucas Redd (two quick pins and 15-0 tech fall at 171), but Gurley won his third state title at 125 pounds with three first-period pins.
Final Pound for Pound Top 10 (last week’s rankings in parenthesis)
- Collins Hill (1): The Eagles completed one of the greatest seasons in Georgia’s long wrestling history.
2. Harrison (6): After a runner-up finish in Class AAAAA, the Hoyas are clearly Georgia’s second-best team.
3. Union Grove (2): The Wolverines finished third in AAAAA without Alex Lazor and Justin Crozier.
4. Jefferson (4): The Dragons leave Class A with eight consecutive traditional titles; all seven duals crowns.
5. Pope (5): Tough first-round draws doomed the Greyhounds; Mallard (130) was the only finalist.
6. Eastside (9): The Eagles get over the hump with a Class AAAA title.
T7. Lafayette (7): Ramblers sweep Duals/Traditional in AA.
T7. Gilmer (10): Two champs help Bobcats win their second Class AAA Traditional title.
9. Cass (5): Co-champs in dual format; solid No. 2 in Class AAA Traditional.
10. Ringgold (8): Class AAAA Duals champs collect two individual champions and finish seventh at Traditional.
LOOK OUT FOR AJC.COM’S ALL-STATE WRESTLING TEAM, COMING SOON!
Pin it down and rank the final rankings: Let us know who YOUR final Top 10 are and how they stack up against Kurt’s end-of-season picks.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Pound For Pound
Comments
By Toby
February 27, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this
my top 10
By jason
February 27, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this
how come no one talked about centennial this year, they had five kids place at state, and they had a very good team dual record.
By the #70 Dragon
February 28, 2008 7:45 PM | Link to this
Thank You Kurt A. For Great GHSA Prep Coverage…
A “Right-Hand Man” (REPORTER) to Cover the Rest Of the State & Single A thru AAA Might Make AJC Rankings More Realistic…
THE REAL FACTS
Finest Coaching Staff In the Peach State === Jefferson High School “Fightin’ Dragons”….
Jefferson Head Coach Doug Thurmond & the Best Assistants (Any Sport) Led By Former Dragon Head Football Coach Bob Gurley (Yes, Ladies & Gents, the Father Of Class A Co-Wreslter of the Year Jake Gurley === Shared With Cam Thurmond, the Eldest Son of HC Doug Thurmond…
Way To Go “Brother(s) Douglas T.& Robert G.”…
YOU KNOW WHO WROTE THIS LONG OVERDUE PRAISE FOR the Finest Wrestling Program In Georgia ==== This Entire Decade…
the #70 Coach
By BackNBlack85
February 29, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this
Long overdue praise? For Jefferson? They are certainly the finest team in the state for blowing their own horn. What happened to humble humility?
By Jake Gurley?
February 29, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this
i thought the young man’s name was JED Gurley.
By bigin
March 3, 2008 10:24 PM | Link to this
his name is jed. his older brother..also an amazing wrestler is jake