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DEL.ICIO.USGeorgia High School Wrestling: Pound for Pound recaps Week 1 action
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It was an interesting first weekend in Georgia high school wrestling. No. 3 Pope defeated No. 1 Collins Hill, 33-29, though the Eagles were missing their top two wrestlers and two others that have a good chance of medaling in February. T.J. Mitchell, Allen Willard and Taylor Knapp were suspended for violating team rules, according to Eagles coach Cliff Ramos. Those absences, along with missing Gary Tiller (still returning from football injury) and two other starters, helped tip the scales in Pope’s favor. Starters missing or not, it was still a nice win on opening day for the Greyhounds.
PFP on location
Pound for Pound will once again be spending nearly every weekend in gymnasiums all over Georgia and we spent the opening weekend at Centennial for the Turkey Trot Duals. Here’s a quick breakdown:
Dual of the day
Kennesaw Mountain had a strong day that almost turned into a perfect day, but a 34-33 loss to Vestavia Hills, the two-time Class AAAAAA Alabama state champions, left the No. 9 Mustangs a little short.
Match we would’ve liked to see
Henry County and McEachern never got as chance to dual, so a 125-pound tussle between McEachern’s Brandon Westerman and the Warhawks’ Evan Warrington never came to fruition. Westerman’s been an absolute machine having not lost to a Georgia wrestler since the 2006 State Duals, but something tells us Warrington might have the edge if the two ever hook up.
A couple questions answered:
1: Henry County will be a major factor in Class AA. With Warrington, Anthony Fretwell and an underrated pack of light weights, the Warhawks appear to be the Jefferson’s biggest obstacle to its first Class AA state title.
2: Sam Kuntz is a beast. The Peachtree Ridge 189-pounder, who finished second last season, won’t finish second again. Kuntz is quick, strong and is a big reason why the Lions have a good shot at finishing in the top-10 again in Class AAAAA.
AJC Top 10 All-Class Wrestling Rankings - Week 2 (Last week’s rank in parenthesis)
- Collins Hill (1) Four potential state champions sit out close dual loss to Pope
- Union Grove (2) Wolverines pick up dual wins over Cass and Forsyth Central
- Pope (4) Greyhounds follow win over Collins Hill with blowout wins over Kennesaw Mountain and Whitewater
- Jefferson (3) Dragons open season December 5 at Panther Invitational
- Lafayette (5) Staph infection scare cancels Ramblers opening duals; now scheduled to open December 2
- Centennial (6) Knights go 4-1 at Turkey Trot Duals; only loss to Vestavia Hills (AL)
- Harrison (7) Hoyas open season by hosting dual tournament today, then head to Kennesaw Mountain this weekend.
- Eastside (8) Defending Class AAAA dual runners-up start their first year in Class AAA with five consecutive dual wins.
- Kennesaw Mountain (NR) Mustangs have strong showing at Centennial, split with Walton and Pope, Tuesday.
- Cass (NR) Colonels lose a tight dual to No. 2 Union Grove, looking like a contender in Class AAAA.
AJC Coaches Poll - Week 2
(1st place votes)
- Collins Hill (7), 88 points. Last week: 1
- Union Grove, 74. Last week: 2
- Pope (1), 66. Last week: 3
- Jefferson (1), 64. Last week: 4
- Centennial, 33. Last week: 5
- Lafayette, 32. Last week: 9
- Eastside, 24. Last week: 6
- Walton, 20. Last week: 8
T9. Gilmer, 17. Last week: 7
Cass, 17. Last week: NR
Others receiving votes:
Harrison, 14; Whitewater, 10; Kennesaw Mountain, 8; Kell, 6; Henry County, 4; Peachtree Ridge, 4; Parkview, 4; Fayette County, 5; Grayson, 3; Wesleyan, 2
They said it
“He’s got to be the best I’ve ever coached as far as the work ethic and the way he handles himself. It’s great to have a kid like that, that you can point to for the younger kids.”
- Union Grove coach Joey Dinino on 135-pounder Joey Lazor
Where we’ll be
Pound for Pound heads to Wesleyan today for a dual tournament involving No. 2 Union Grove, No. 6 Centennial and the No. 10 Wolves, among others.
Pin it down and rank the rankings: Let us know who YOUR Top 10 are and how they stack up against Kurt’s — and the coaches’ — picks.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Pound For Pound
Comments
By ECAAAShank
November 28, 2008 7:31 PM | Link to this
Great read! Thanks!!
By ROSSHAB
November 28, 2008 9:21 PM | Link to this
Kurt, Make sure you have Jan 23 and 24 on your schedule to come up to Habersham for the HCHS Sham Slam 3. This year’s tourney features Collins Hill, Gilmer, Lafayette, Jefferson, Woodland, Northwest Whitfield, and 12 more teams from all classifications. It should be an amazing weekend of wrestling.
By Roper165
November 28, 2008 9:49 PM | Link to this
Another great week. Don’t know if I agree with Collins Hill being number 1 after a dual loss, but a great read none the less.
By Rocky
November 29, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this
Another outstanding job by Kurt. It’s great to see wrestling results in the scoreboard section of the AJC. We need to support this blog.
Pope is my #1 for this week. I’m sure if they (CH and P) meet at the Walton Duals, it will be another great dual.
By AAAAA
November 29, 2008 5:30 PM | Link to this
Hope to see you guys at Walton next weekend for the rematch between Pope and CH
By Kephart31
December 12, 2008 10:12 PM | Link to this
Hey everyone, i’d like to get my lil bro recognized any way i can, he’s a sophemore at Gilmer High in north georgia! This is his first yr. ever wrestling and his record is already 10-1, 7 w’s by pins, 6 of which came in the first round! He’s currently at a meet as we speak with one win already tonight! I just want him to get recognization in any way possible, if u have any ideas let me know! It would be greatly appreciated, thanx, “J”