Wrestling state duals preview
Score Atlanta
The 2016 State Dual Wrestling Championships return to the Macon Centreplex for three days of action as 80 schools get set to battle for Georgia’s six state crowns. All six defending champs return and four of the reigning champions will look to continue title runs dating as far back as Jefferson’s unprecedented 14 straight titles, which began all the way back in the inaugural year of the dual championships in 2002.
Despite a field of proven programs, the headliner of championship weekend resides in Class AAAAAA with Archer. With its 59-21 victory over Brookwood in the Area 8-AAAAAA duals championship last weekend, Archer extended its dual winning streak to 92 matches, which dates back to January 2012.
Now, the Tigers’ run to a fourth straight duals championship begins with Alcovy in the first round and will likely await the winner of Kennesaw Mountain and seven-time dual state champion Collins Hill in the second round. Brookwood, which earned runner-up in the Area 8 duals to Archer, awaits a first round match with North Forsyth.
Gilmer won Class AAAA’s race for the state title and used a 52-13 victory over Northwest Whitefield to claim a sixth straight dual state title (eighth since 2005) a year ago. With North Hall, Carrollton, Buford, Marist and West Laurens, however, Class AAAA’s 16-team bracket is load- ed with contenders. Gilmer earned a first round matchup with Upson Lee after clinching Area 7. Buford, which made its Class AAAA debut last season after winning the Class AAA Dual state title the previous year, will face Heritage-Catoosa in the opening round.
In Class A, two-time state champion Commerce successfully defended its first and only wrestling state title with a 54-24 win over Mt. Zion-Carroll last year. Commerce outscored Treut- len (59-15) and Trion (66-4) by a combined 106 points before the finals. Turner County fell 41-36 to runner-up Mt. Zion before topping Trion 34-27 for a third-place finish. Turner County now faces Commerce in the first round and Trion and Eagle’s Landing Christian await the winner. Trion, which last won a traditional state title in 1994, is the only other team in Class A’s bracket with a championship on its resume.
