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DEL.ICIO.USPound for pound: Collins Hill wrestlers staking big claims
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Eagles making case for Georgia’s finest ever
With each strong finish at national tournaments, and as more of its wrestlers climb the individual rankings, Collins Hill stakes its claim as perhaps the finest wrestling team in the state’s history. This past weekend at the Clash National High School Duals in Minnesota, the Eagles went 4-2 against some of the nation’s finest teams. Blue-chippers Taylor Knapp (Amateur Wrestling News’ No. 8 152-pounder) and Joel Smith (Wrestling USA Magazine’s No. 22 junior at 135 pounds) both went 6-0 in Minnesota.
In mid-December, Collins Hill, No. 25 in AWN’S Prep 40 poll, finished third at the Toshiba Midwest Classic in Kansas City, one of the nation’s toughest stops. Knapp, Smith and T.J. Mitchell (25-3 and WUSA’s No. 17 junior at 119 pounds) each placed second in the individual tournament. Back home at the Kyle Maynard Duals, the Eagles closed out 2008 by winning five duals handily, including a blowout victory against Henry County and a championship match victory over Baylor, the top team from Tennessee.
AJC Top 10 all-class rankings
1. Collins Hill (1)
2. Union Grove (2)
3. Jefferson (3)
4. Lafayette (5)
5. Pope (3)
6. Centennial (7)
7. Henry County (8)
8. Kennesaw Mountain (6)
9. Camden County (NR)
10. Eastside (NR)
Lions wrestler commits
Add another to the list of Georgia wrestlers picking up Division 1 scholarships. Peachtree Ridge’s Sam Kuntz, recent Gwinnett County champion at 189 pounds, committed to Rutgers last week. Kuntz will be the fourth from Georgia to get Division 1 offers, joining Union Grove’s Joey Lazor (Northern Iowa), Alex Hudson of Sprayberry and Collins Hill’s Taylor Knapp (both with Virginia Tech).
Quick takedowns
Led by defending state champion Joe Denova (31-2), Columbus has five wrestlers who are a combined 145-15. The others: Kendall Talley (28-3); Chris Grier (28-3); Marcus Shelton (29-3) and Rock Gardner (29-4). … Central Gwinnett heavyweight Jacob-Aiken Phillips is 33-1 with 31 pins. … Looking to jump on a Class A team’s bandwagon? Try Bowdon. Led by unbeaten Kurt Yates, the Red Devils, with Gordon Lee and Bremen, look like Wesleyan’s biggest challenger in the state’s smallest classification.
Pin it down and rank the rankings: Let us know who YOUR Top 10 are and how they stack up against Kurt’s picks.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Pound For Pound
Comments
By LA-
January 9, 2009 5:54 PM | Link to this
Add Jack Roberts to your D1 signing list Brown University. The kid is smart and a Great wrestler. confirm with ugwrestling.com Lazor and Roberts have signed more to come we hope.