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DEL.ICIO.USGeorgia High School Wrestling: Pound For Pound — Destination … State Championship
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here we go — 72 teams will make their way to Macon for the 2009 State Duals wrestling state championship tournament and take part in two of the greatest days of the wrestling season. Here are a few things to look for:
— No. 1 Collins Hill will arrive in Macon as the overwhelming favorite in the state’s highest classification, despite the depth at the top of Class AAAAA. The Eagles have looked every bit the part of the No. 27 team in the nation (Amateur Wrestling News), finishing just outside the top 10 at the Clash National Duals and rolling over in-state opponents since losing a short-handed dual to Pope on the season’s opening night.
— Count No. 2 Union Grove and No. 5 Pope as Collins Hill’s biggest challengers, although No. 6 Centennial could give the Eagles problems if the two teams meet in the semifinals. First things first for the Knights: Get past Kennesaw Mountain and the Camden County/Grayson winner. Not an easy assignment.
— Anyone want to predict, with 100 percent certainty, who will win Class AAAA? The classification is as wide open as it has ever been (parity or just a weak classification?), and realistically six teams — Dalton, Loganville, Effingham County, Rockdale County, Rome and Whitewater — could make a case for favorite status.
Pound for Pound’s upset picks:
Class AAAA - Fayette County over Effingham County in the quarterfinals. Class A - Bowdon over Wesleyan in the semifinals.
Individual matchups we’re hoping to see:
— If everything works out and Collins Hill and Union Grove (AJC’s top 2 teams) meet in the Class AAAAA championship, it would be nice to see the Eagles’ Joel Smith go against Union Grove’s Joey Lazor. Unbeaten coming into state duals, Lazor would have to bump up to 140 pounds to make the dream match happen.
— If No. 9 Camden County gets through a difficult first two rounds and meets Collins Hill in the semifinals, what a match it will be when T.J. Mitchell faces Camden’s Stephen Spradlin.
— Area 8-AAAA mates Rockdale County and Loganville could meet in the Class AAAA championship, which would give us Will Hale-Jake Morris, Part 2, at 103 pounds. Rockdale’s Morris won the first battle in the area final.
— A Class AA final between No. 3 Jefferson and No. 8 Henry County would be the undercard to a 160-pound tussle between Henry’s Anthony Fretwell and three-time state champion Jay Fowler of Jefferson. The two have never met.
AJC Top 10 All-Class Rankings (Last week’s rank in parenthesis)
- Collins Hill (1)
- Union Grove (2)
- Jefferson (3)
- Lafayette (4)
- Pope (5)
- Centennial (6)
- Kennesaw Mountain (7)
- Henry County (8)
- Camden County (9)
- Eastside (10)
* The AJC Coaches Poll will return after state duals *
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Pound For Pound
Comments
By FAN
January 16, 2009 10:49 AM | Link to this
KURT, YOU OR ANOTHER SPORTS WRITER SHOULD TRAVEL TO MACON SATURDAY TO GIVE LIVE UPDATES FROM THE DUALS CHAMPIONSIHP FOR THE VIEWS OF AJC.COM
By Scott Williamson
January 18, 2009 12:29 PM | Link to this
Kurt,
Is there any chance of getting an article in the AJC southside edition about Whitewater winning State Duals? If you need info or coaches contacts, please let me know.
Thanks