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Monday, March 10, 2008
2007-08 AJC Georgia All-State High School Wrestling Team
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As soon as the 140-pound finalists finished at Gwinnett Arena, the staff at Pound for Pound immediately began making plans for (as far as we know) the first Atlanta Journal-Constitution All-State Wrestling Team. We commandeered the secret services of a high school wrestling coach to help us with the proceedings and here it is: the best of the best in 2007-08 for Georgia high school wrestling.
[NOTE: The only iron-clad criteria used in the selection of the teams was to have only state champions on the first and second teams.]
First Team
103 pounds: Stephen Spradlin, soph., Camden Co.
Class AAAAA champion went 39-4
112: Andrew Sartain, sr., Peachtree Ridge
Finished 59-2 and won title in Class AAAAA
119: Brandon Westerman, jr., McEachern
Two-time titleist finished second straight year unbeaten
125: Joe DeNova, soph., Columbus
Class AAA champion finished the year 41-2
130: Joey Lazor, jr., Union Grove
At 45-0, one of only three unbeaten Class AAAAA wrestlers
135: Carson Fields, sr., Parkview
One in-state loss, finished season 64-2
140: Alex Medved, sr., Harrison
54-6 season capped by Class AAAAA title
145: Peter Yates, sr., Salem
Career: 160-1 record and three state titles
152: Josh Condon, sr., Harrison
Career: 205-8 record and three state titles
160: Bradley Banks, sr., Union Grove
61-3 record and Class AAAAA title
171: Jeff Olsen, jr., Walton
Won first Class AAAAA title; finished year 45-2
189: Jordan Dukes, jr., Hiram
Completed 40-0 season to win second state title
215: Josh Boler, sr., Apalachee
Maryland state champion wins first in Georgia with 60-1 season
285: Chris Daniels, sr., Valdosta
51-4 season highlighted by Class AAAAA heavyweight crown
Second Team
103: Pawlloes Belete, jr., Tucker
Class AAAA champion finished year 64-2
112: Frankie Miller, sr., Dacula
Dominant win in Class AAAA final caps 49-3 season
119: Evan Warrington, jr., Henry Co.
70-win season and second state title in third finals appearance
125: Alex Hudson, jr., Sprayberry
Two-time champ finished jr. year 52-1
130: Damon Cadle, sr., Cass
Three-time Class AAA champion
135: Bryan Benton, jr., Toombs Co.
Dominant state tournament caps 65-0 year
140: Matt Bridges, sr., Cherokee
Two-timer finished season 58-6
145: Taylor Knapp, jr., Collins Hill
59-1 and no losses in Georgia
152: Tommy Carney, sr., Woodward Acad.
Won state-record 77 matches and second state title
160: Ryan Gregory, sr., Benedictine
Handed Hardaway’s Trevoine Hudson only loss in Class AAA 160 final
171: Terrance Gaddy, jr., Clarkston
Upset Gilmer’s David Snider in Class AAA final to finish 32-1
189: Derrick Laney, soph., Lakeview Ft.-Oglethorpe
Won wild 12-11 decision in Class AAAA final to finish 48-2
215: Kelby Smith, sr., Wesleyan
Handed Toombs’ Demery Hawkins only loss in Class AA final; finished 53-2
285: Rodriguez Cade, sr., Clarke Cent.
59-3 season capped by pin in Class AAAA heavyweight final
Honorable Mention
103: Jay Teague, fresh. Sonoraville; Kyle Salone, jr., Centennial
112: Brian St. James, soph., Centennial; T.J. Mitchell, soph., Collins Hill
119: Noah Hunt, jr., Dacula; Cam Thurmond, jr., Jefferson
125: Jed Gurley, jr., Jefferson; Ben Lesniak, sr., Jackson Co.
130: Nathan Allen, sr., Stockbridge; Ryan Medved, sr., Harrison; Ty Nielson, sr., Milton
135: Zach Hopkins, jr., Ringgold; Joel Smith, soph., Collins Hill
140: Daniel Domanico, jr., Lovett; Kendall Albert, sr., Peachtree Ridge
145: Anthony Fretwell, jr., Henry Co.
152: Jay Fowler, jr., Jefferson
160: Brian Livingston, sr., Lovett; Travis Sheehy, sr., North Gwin.
171: Nick Smith, sr., Collins Hill
189: Patrick Blankenbeker, jr., Fayette Co.
215: Chr. Flavin, sr., East Coweta; Jonathan Gregory, sr., Ringgold
285: David Coffey, sr., Collins Hill; Ryan Smith, sr., Athens Chr.; Marcus Brewster, sr., Tri-Cities
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Loss of Gwinnett, metro Atlanta basketball talent hurting UGA, Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Surely it is much more difficult than it appears, but if Georgia’s Dennis Felton and Georgia Tech’s Paul Hewitt won recruiting wars just in Gwinnett County — not to even mention all of metro Atlanta — their programs likely would be in stronger positions.
Think about it: How does so much talent seep out of state? Hewitt got Norcross’ Gani Lawal last year and Felton has Wesleyan’s Howard Thompkins coming in next season.
But Teondre Williams of Meadowcreek is headed all the way to Oregon; Norcross’ sensational Al-Farouq Aminu signed with Wake Forest; Wesleyan outstanding point guard Tanner Smith chose Clemson.
Berkmar’s versatile swingman Wesley Witherspoon visited Virginia and Texas last week. North Gwinnett’s high-scoring guard Ebuka Anyaorah has both Tech and the Bulldogs on his list, but seems to be leaning toward Auburn.
That’s a load of talent right here that’s going elsewhere. It really is no one’s fault. Folks in Washington, D.C., wonder aloud how potential NCAA player of the year Michael Beasley ended up at Kansas State and not Georgetown or Maryland. So, it happens everywhere, and increasingly so as recruiting has elevated into a full-court press all year long.
Post up: Is there any way to stop the flood of Georgia basketball talent heading out of state? What could — or should — UGA and Georgia Tech do differently in recruiting to keep the best basketballers here at home?
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