LaFayette pins its third state wrestling title

In an intense dual in the Class AAA state wrestling championships, LaFayette, appearing in its third consecutive dual final, outlasted Eastside 31-30. The teams were tied at 30-30 after the final bout, a 5-3 decision won by Eastside’s Michael Green, but the referee deducted a penalty point from Eastside earlier in the dual and it cost the Eagles, runners-up the past two seasons. “I’ve been on both sides of that; it’s heartbreaking,” said coach Sam Forester. “My guys wrestled hard. [Eastside] gave us everything we wanted and more.”

LaFayette collected its third state championship in three different classifications, a Georgia record. The Ramblers won the Class AAAA state title in 2004 and last year’s Class AA duals crown.

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Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Wrestlers fill the mats on all five rings as the GHSA state high school dual meet wrestling got under way Saturday in Macon.

• Photos: Wrestlers grapple in Macon



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“These guys have done great things,” added Forester. “It’s a blast; it’s what you work for.”

• Class AAAA: Whitewater got pins from unbeaten former state champions Chase Penland and Jacob Williamson to pace a strong effort in a 36-27 victory over Dalton.

The Wildcats, Class AAAA runners-up in 2007, had an impressive weekend, rolling through Glynn Academy (49-10); Alcovy (51-21) and Rockdale County (39-29) before going up 26-0 on Dalton and cruising from there.

• Class AA: There’s nothing like a dominant run to a state-duals championship to get acquainted with a new classification. Jefferson, in its first season in Class AA after seven consecutive Class A duals titles, handled Lovett 49-19 to extend its state-record duals-championship streak to eight. Three-time state champion Jay Fowler, Zac Crosby and four others had pins against Lovett.

“We’ve been ready for it all season,” Fowler said. “We were pumped up.”

“It never gets to be old hat because if it did, you’re in the wrong business,” said Jefferson coach Doug Thurmond. “It’s all about the kids; it ain’t me. A coach is only as good as the kids he has.”

• Class A: Bremen defeated Wesleyan 29-24 in the Class A final. The Blue Devils, runners-up five different times, including last season, got a 7-5 decision from Dylan Sheppard to clinch the school’s first state title.