Three of our six defending Dual state champions (Pope, Buford, Jefferson) find themselves in different classifications this year and that is sure to shake up this weekend’s Area Duals. In Class AAAAAA, Pope will look to win the Area 5-AAAAAA title for the first time with a field highlighted by Etowah, Roswell and Woodstock. Pope handled Etowah 53-19 on Dec. 3 and topped Roswell the previous weekend at Hillgrove 51-27. Pope hosts the Area 5 dual and Valdosta (Area 1), Rockdale County (Area 2), Newnan (Area 3), Hillgrove (Area 4), Chattahoochee (Area 6), Norcross (Area 7) and Archer (Area 8) will also host in Georgia’s highest classification.
Archer continues to pace Class AAAAAA and dominated the Takedown Sportswear Invitational last week. Archer grabbed first place out of a field of 38 teams with 317.5 points. Six wrestlers placed first and 11 total wrestlers placed. Alabama’s Thomson finished second and Baylor (TN) took third in the tournament ahead of Gilmer, which finished with 131.5 points.
Archer’s success this year has not come as much a surprise, but across the county, Mountain View is in the midst of a historic run. The Bears finished second of 55 teams in the Coastal Clash in Charleston last month, the Southeast’s largest sanctioned high school tournament. Mountain View continued its historic season with a first-place finish at the Gwinnett County Tournament. Adam Flatt (138 pounds) and Justin George (126) have been the key to the Bears’ success this season.
In Class AAAAA, Pope’s move up to Class AAAAAA opens up a competitive field heading into this weekend’s Area Duals. In Area 7, a stacked field with Creekview, Woodland-Cartersville and Cambridge will battle it out and in Region 4, Union Grove and Ola will highlight the field. Woodland-Cartersville scored a 244.5 victory at the Shane’s Rib Shack: Hook ‘Em Holiday Clash on Dec. 30-31. North Forsyth grabbed second in the 26-team field with 198.5 points.
In Class AAAA, Alexander looked strong in its first place finish at Gorilla Warfare this past weekend and cruised past North Forsyth, Cass and North Hall. Buford and Gilmer also highlight this year’s Class AAAA field. Buford won the Class AAA Duals state title last year and Gilmer grabbed the AAAA title. Gilmer has reached the dual podium five straight years.
Jefferson is set to shake up the Class AAA hierarchy. The Dragons debut in Class AAA for the first time after 13 consecutive dual state titles in Class AA and A.
Social Circle has emerged as a favorite in Class AA with the departure of Jefferson and sits in a deep field with Gordon Lee, Greater Atlanta Christian, Bremen and Lovett.
Class AAAAAA
1. Archer
2. Pope
3. Mountain View
4. Collins Hill
5. Parkview
6. Etowah
7. Roswell
8. South Forsyth
9. Rockdale County
10. Chattahoochee
Class AAAAA
1. Camden County
2. Woodland-Cartersville
3. Cambridge
4. Allatoona
5. Alexander
6. Sequoyah
7. Clarke Central
8. Ware County
9. Creekview
10. Rome
Class AAAA
1. Gilmer
2. Buford
3. Cass
4. Woodward Academy
5. Lumpkin County
6. Chestatee
7. Marist
8. Lithonia
9. West Laurens
10. Glenn Hill
Class AAA
1. Jefferson
2. Banks County
3. Toombs County
4. Morgan County
5. Elbert County
6. Blessed Trinity
7. Sonoraville
8. Adairsville
9. Oconee County
10. Rockmart
Class AA
1. Social Circle
2. Gordon Lee
3. Greater Atlanta Christian
4. Bremen
5. Lovett
6. East Laurens
7. Armuchee
8. Vidalia
9. Jeff Davis
10. Holy Innocents'
Class A
1. Commerce
2. Turner County
3. Eagle's Landing Christian
4. Mt. Zion-Carroll
5. Athens Christian
6. Trion
7. Strong Rock Christian
8. Mt. Vernon
9. St. Francis
10. Treutlen
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