Prep Zone

By Jason Bryant

March 10, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this

Knapp and Yates at the same weight was surely a tough decision, although Yates is an absolute machine. Knapp’s real tough too. Josh Condon had a great season, so in all, a great group of kids represented. Gives us in the national-ranking game something to draw from as well.

Keep up the good work.

By knarkill

March 10, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this

Awesome job Kurt! You definitely are brining wrestling to the forefront in the media. I really appreciate your dedication to our sport.

Thats 3 solid teams there sir.

By knarkill

March 10, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this

Jason Bryant and his Bison Turf Mug is my hero, or is it are my heroes?

By ROY MERCER

March 10, 2008 5:20 PM | Link to this

Great job AJC & Kurt. It’s great to see the greatest sport in the world getting some coverage.

By Ridge Wrestling Fan

March 10, 2008 5:34 PM | Link to this

Good job, Kurt! There were some really tough weight classes this year. 160 was challenging and 145 had two of the elite for sure. Thanks for your hard work.

By Bud Hennebaul

March 10, 2008 5:37 PM | Link to this

Thanks to the AJC and Kurt for the coverage this year. The thousands of kids that wrestle in Georgia have finally started to get the coverage they deserve. Kurt you are truly a pleasure to have covering the gretest and oldest sport in the world. We are looking forward to more of the great coverage again next season!

Thanks, Bud Hennebaul “A new fan of the AJC”

By bob berg

March 10, 2008 5:48 PM | Link to this

thanks, kurt, for taking on the heavy lifting work this year; it’s nice to see someone else in the crosshairs!!! that being said, i think you and your mystery coach did an outstanding job, among some very difficult choices. bottom line, though, is that most coaches would love to go to war with any of the wrestlers honored on the AJC lists. great stuff! bob

By marty hutsell

March 10, 2008 5:48 PM | Link to this

great job kurt iv.e been coaching 30 years now in georgia this is great for georgia high school wrestling…

By Josh Stephen

March 10, 2008 5:58 PM | Link to this

Good job Kurt. Ryan Medved should be #2, however. He dominated Cadle when they wrestled.

By Tracey Reidy

March 10, 2008 6:00 PM | Link to this

Thanks, Kurt, for the wrestling coverage. Please keep it up!

By Coach Walrich

March 10, 2008 6:15 PM | Link to this

Great job - Thanks for everything you did this year

By wrestling fan

March 10, 2008 7:02 PM | Link to this

Way off on 125 Hudson and Gurley both multiple State Champs with better records Way off!!!

By Eric W. Johnson

March 10, 2008 7:08 PM | Link to this

It’s great seeing more coverage in the news on the best sport there is. Keep up the great work Kurt. I hope to continue to see more in the AJC next season!

By 5A Fan

March 10, 2008 7:18 PM | Link to this

The requirement that the first and second teams be state champions severely limits the quality of the second team as there are a lot of 5a wrestlers who would easily beat the “state champions” on the second team.

Coach Stephens: I know you are biased but you are way off with your statement. I agree that Medved is better than Cadle. No doubt. He dominated him. But Medved got dominated by Nieslon from Milton in the consol finals. Why would he get the nod over Nielson?

By Jim Fox

March 10, 2008 7:21 PM | Link to this

You’ve tapped in to a loyal following of high school wrestling fans.

Thanks for the coverage. Keep it up. We are watching and reading your articles!!!

By Joe Lanier

March 10, 2008 7:29 PM | Link to this

Great job keep up the good work. Maybe next year you could follow one of the these top sophomores or juniors through the entire season. It may help some of AJC’s casual readers understand our sport better if they were able to see how hard these kids work to get to this level. Maybe you could get your editors to allow a small section each week to update the progress of the wrestler. Just a thought.

By Brandon Veasey

March 10, 2008 8:06 PM | Link to this

Awesome job Kurt. Thank you for all your time and hardwork. I look forward to seeing your future coverage of Georgia wrestling!

By Sam Snider

March 10, 2008 8:30 PM | Link to this

Kurt, You attended and covered Georgia wrestling consistently and fairly. We all appreciatte the coverage we have received this year. Kids love to see their names and parents love know their families are recognized. Georgia wrestling is on the rise and I want to thank the AJC for all the time Kurt has spent supporting our kids. Gilmer wrestling 2008 state champs

By Mark Moore

March 10, 2008 10:13 PM | Link to this

The wrestling community appreciates the time and support. Thanx

By Susan Knox

March 10, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this

Kurt,

Thanks for the great coverage, hopefully it will help our high school wrestlers garner the attention they deserve in order to move to the next level. Hope you will run some coverage of the upcoming NCAA tournament, several of Georgia’s coaches will be there and could provide a feed to you on our Georgia wrestler!

By Ollie

March 10, 2008 11:57 PM | Link to this

thought Alex Hudson should’ve been 1st team but Denova’s a solid wrestler and I like the looks of the rest of it.

nice work

By cnsmuck

March 11, 2008 7:39 AM | Link to this

Great Job listing the all state team, hopefully it is something that will be around for a long time. Thanks for all that you have done in promoting wrestling this year.

By just a fan

March 11, 2008 7:51 AM | Link to this

5A Fan,

Nielson dominated Medved? I must have watched a different match. He got nearfall that was a fluke and got on a knee and stalled. He won but didn’t dominate. I would say Medved dominated Nielson in the qtrs AND at Super 32. I would put Medved ahead of Nielson simply because of his track record (1 match from placing at Ironman and 4th at PowerAde). He was also 3rd the year before.

By LionDad08

March 11, 2008 7:51 AM | Link to this

Outstanding and way over due. It is thrilling to see the AJC catching the wrestling fever. From those of us in the trenches of the wrestling community, we extend a hearty welcome and look forward to seeing you at the events. Great list and a tribute to the boys hard work and your recognition.

By sGinn

March 11, 2008 8:14 AM | Link to this

Nice to see wrestling in the AJC!! Congrats to all

By SpiralRide20

March 11, 2008 8:48 AM | Link to this

Thanks again for the wrestling coverage Kurt! I can only see good things coming from this! How about an AJC Wrestler of the Year? Maybe next year you could start with an AJC Super 14. Good job

By Jose Helena

March 11, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this

Daniel Helena beat Matt Bridges, sr., Cherokee during the summer.

By Jose Helena

March 11, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this

Just because Daniel Helena was robbed from his final match he did not make the top team. You all know that he won that match. Go back and look the the video again.

By Jeff Plunk

March 11, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

I could argua a few of those, but overall three really good teams. It is difficult to pick teams like this…thanks for the coverage…

By E.Smith Wesleyan Wolf Parent

March 11, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this

The articles that you have written are great for wrestling and the kids. Thank you

By Wrestlingfan

March 11, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this

Thanks. Great to have informed reporting of the sport. Overall incredible job. Solid group of kids. Didn’t Hines AA 112 State Champ beat Miller @ Blessed Trinity?

By Don Williams

March 11, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this

I agree with Jeff Plunk, I could also argue a few of these, but I am glad that I did not have to decide. Very tough choices. The Georgia wrestling community, no the Georgia wrestling family is very happy to have the coverage. Thank you Kurt for making an incredible effort on our behalf.

By Dotty

March 11, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this

That’s some honorable mention team - Mitchell, St. James, Gurley, Thurmond, Medved, Domanico, Albert, Flavin, Coffey…wow

By coach Keith Johnson

March 11, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this

I really think that you over looked Southwest Dekalb’s ( 119)Dequan Warner, he is still a 2x state champion that also got his match taken from him in the semi- finals

By 5a fan

March 11, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this

by just a fan:

Fluke? I don’t think so. I watched him use that knee scoup move many times during the year. It was a move Kemp taught him. I don’t have a dog in this fight other than to say it is presumptuous to assume that Medved should get the nod over the guy that beat him when it counted. On what basis would Medved be the choice? Because he happens to go to one of the “chosen” schools, perhaps? You can call the match using whatever verb you choose. I call it dominating because, at that level of competition, to shut out your opponent and also turn him on his back…well you pick a verb.

By wrestlingboys

March 11, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this

That’s a great list. I am proud of how far GA wrestling has come in a short time! Remember, they have to be state champions this year to make the teams and that put some in weird places, like the 112. Definitely would put Hines in the Honorable Mention -he only lost one this year and beat Miller from Dacula. Glad all classifications were represented!

By wrestlingboys

March 11, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this

Thanks Kurt for all you do for wrestling! Don’t forget we send teams out to National tournaments this summer!!

By Mike Mason

March 11, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this

Awesome job Kurt! You have done your homework. You definitely are brining wrestling to the forefront in the media. I really appreciate your dedication to our sport.

I would liketo know who beat the 215 from Apalachee, Josh Boler, sr., That young man is a beast.

By Rod Galvan

March 11, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this

Thanks Kurt, it was a pleasure talking to you this past season. Great job on the all state team!!! I know it must have been hard picking them because there were so many deserving wrestlers. I can’t wait to read your off-season coverage for this great sport!!!!!!

By cnsmuck

March 11, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this

I believe the 215 from Apalachee was beaten by a kid from N. Myrtle Beach, and it was after 1 day of practice.

By craig Bridges

March 11, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this

Great coverage by the AJC, THANKS!

Jose, Daniel did beat Matt in the summer and placed at super 32. So what. I have always had a lot of respect for you and Daniel. But your continued crying about state says a lot about you. From what I could tell Daniel had the same chance to win in OT as Alex did. Great job Alex Medved on a great year and a very well deserved state chamionship!

By E.Smith Wesleyan Wolf Parent

March 11, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this

Aquan Hester AKA Chip Hester North Myrtle Beach 215 That gave Josh his only Loss

By Jerry Barnes

March 11, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the coverage, the kids deserve it. Congratulations to all wrestlers who competed this year, you are all champions.

By Terry Hallman

March 11, 2008 6:03 PM | Link to this

[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.]

So they had to be current state champions? There were some 07 state champions who could easily be on this list.

Thanks AJC for giving high school wrestling this coverage.

By Coach

March 12, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this

Great list. Kurt does an exceptional job covering wrestling. This is what this sport needs if it’s going to grow. The more people see it in the paper the more curious they will get.

By Restling Rules

March 13, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this

Great Job, Kurt! That’s two great teams there. Thanks to you and the AJC for this season’s coverage and here’s to additional stories and features in the future! Wrestling fans are hungry for more.

By bumps3229

March 15, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this

thanks for finally doing more stories on the wrestling in Georgia,I am from Texas and am interested in wrestling as we don’t have it where I live. I enjoy watching the college wrestling, but I really enjoy reading the wrestling articles in your paper.

Thanks Again, Bumps3229

By bumps 3229

March 15, 2008 5:17 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the coverage on the high school level. Thanks for the coverage this year. I made the trip to Atlanta to the state Tournament and enjoyed it and appreciated your coverage this year of the high school wrestling.

Thanks Bumps 3229

By bobby

March 17, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this

way to go

By bobby

March 17, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this

way to go

By Da BOB

March 17, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this

Great Job on the awesome coverage of the Wrestling teams in your area. Being from Texas we do not get to hear much on how they are doing but we have definite interest in the many of the kids from the Atlanta area high schools. Thanks for all you do.