The opening day of the GHSA Traditional Wrestling Championships took place at the Macon Centreplex on Thursday and, after the day’s matches, Camden County has control of the state’s highest classification (AAAAAAA) as it tries for its sixth straight traditional wrestling team title.
The Wildcats have a team total of 88.5 points and lead Collins Hill (61 points) and West Forsyth (61), Brookwood (49) and Rockdale County (41) in the standings. Camden County wrestlers Cody Herrin (170 pounds), Nathan Santos (152), Robert Henderson (138), Kaleb Clark (132), Caleb Picard (126), Nathan Orum (113) and Riley Dahlgren (106) have each advanced to the semifinals.
Two teams, Cambridge and Creekview, are separated by just 1.5 points at the top of the Class AAAAAA team standings and Cambridge (81.5) has a slight edge. Creekview finished with 80 points at the end of the day followed by Richmond Hill (63), Pope (53.5) and South Paulding (44.5).
Defending champion Woodland-Cartersville garnered more points as a team after the first day of action than any other program, regardless of classification, and the Wildcats lead the Class AAAAA team standings with 90 points. Buford, the 2018 champion, is chasing with 76.5 points ahead of Veterans (74), Ola (63.5) and Harris County (63).
In Class AAAA, Woodward Academy opened its title defense with a Thursday performance which left it holding a nearly 20-point lead in the standings. The War Eagles garnered 68.5 points and lead Gilmer (49.5), West Laurens (45) Madison County (44.5) and Blessed Trinity (43.5).
North Hall (40.5) is at the top of the Class AAA standings after the first day of competition and if Sonoraville wants to defend its title from last season, the Phoenix, with 34 points and second in the standings, will have to come from behind. Jackson County (29.5), Jefferson (24) and Pike County (24) are chasing the leaders.
Chattooga dominated the Class AA competition and holds at 57.5 lead entering the second day of the tournament and it looks that -- for the first time since 2015 -- Social Circle will not be the Class AA champion after just a 27-point performance in the opening rounds. Dade County (33) is second in the standings followed Oglethorpe County (32), Social Circle and Elbert County (26).
Six-time defending champion Commerce leads Class A with a 40-point team total. However, Irwin County, with 36 points, is not far behind with Mount Pisgah (33) Trion (26) and Holy Innocents’ (23) chasing.
For the girls, in the 225-pound bracket, Hiram’s Kyleigh Haney, will wrestle Osborne’s Niyonna Tyson and Southeast Whitfield’s Teonna Bonds will face Washington-Atlanta’s Lamecia Hughley for a chance to advance to the championship match. In the 197-pound bracket, Meadowcreek’s Mi’Kel Jiles and Veterans’ Emilie Rohome will face off and Hampton’s Niaomi Horton will meet Johnson-Gainesville’s Antonia Martinez in the semifinals.
To see the progress made after the first day of action with a full breakdown of each match, team totals and standings, follow the link https://www.trackwrestling.com
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