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Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Georgia High School Wrestling: Pound For Pound reviews out-of-state action
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Every year around this time, the Pound for Pound staff awakens from holiday slumber and begins to sift through the out-of-state high school wrestling. Following last season’s breakout campaign nationally, Peach State wrestlers hit mats across the country and put up some impressive finishes once again.
No. 1 Collins Hill visited the Midwest Wrestling Classic in Kansas City and picked up the third-place trophy and in the process climbing to No. 26 in Amateur Wrestling News Prep 40 poll. The Eagles top three wrestlers-119 pound T.J. Mitchell; Joel Smith (140); and 152-pounder Taylor Knapp-were all runners-up, each losing to nationally-ranked wrestlers. Four others placed in the top 6.
No. 2 Union Grove placed third in the ultra-competitive Brecksville Invitational in Ohio. Joey Lazor continued his torrid senior campaign, winning a second consecutive Brecksville title, while heavyweight Wesley Mena picked up his second straight runner-up medal.
No. 3 Jefferson won the Smoky Mountain Duals in Pigeon Forge (TN), clipping tournament runner-up Lafayette on the way. The No. 4 Ramblers had a good couple of weeks otherwise, finishing 5th at the McCallie Invitational in Tennessee and handling Murray County with ease in a Tuesday dual.
“Those guys are good,” Lafayette coach Sam Forester said of Jefferson in the understatement of the decade. “They’ve got a great squad.”
Individually, it was another great out-of-state holiday season for Georgia wrestlers. McEachern’s Brandon Westerman (130) won Most Outstanding Wrestler at the McCallie Invitational (TN) and Centennial blue-chipper Brian St. James was MOW at 112 pounds at the Spencerport (NY) Teike-Bernabi Tournament, helping the No. 7 Knights finish third.
AJC Top 10 All-Class Rankings
1. Collins Hill (1)
2. Union Grove (2)
3. Jefferson (3)
4. Lafayette (5)
5. Pope (3)
6. Kennesaw Mountain (7)
7. Centennial (9)
8. Henry County (8)
9. Camden County (NR)
10. Eastside (NR)
Note: The Coaches Poll will return January 14.
Quick Takedowns
No. 9 Camden County ended Oviedo High School’s (FL) 84-match win streak, winning 41-22 over the Lions in the Camden Holiday Duals. Stephen Spradlin (Wrestling USA’s No. 22 junior at 112 pounds) was one of five Wildcats who scored six-point victories, and of the six Camden losses, five were minor decisions…..Deja vu? Loganville nipped Lowndes by a single point, 186-185 at the Fayette Christmas Classic, a year after Red Devils’ coach Don Williams’ former team, Stockbridge, split the Fayette tournament title with Wesleyan…..Welcome back: Apalachee duo Austin Sheppard and Zak Moore each made his first big splash of 2008, winning titles at 125 and 130 pounds, respectively, at the George Thompson Memorial at Winder Barrow. No. 10 Eastside ran away with the team title, getting seven individual titles out of 11 finalists.
Pin it down and rank the rankings: Let us know who YOUR Top 10 are and how they stack up against Kurt’s picks.
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