The GHSA's two state wrestling championships will be held on back-to-back weekends for the first time.
The awkward scheduling, a result of last month's inclement weather, has many high school teams grappling with strategies and logistics.
The Traditional championships, which start Friday at Gwinnett Arena, traditionally are the season-ending event for wrestling. The championship matches will be televised from 4-7 p.m. Saturday on Georgia Public Broadcasting.
However, the wrestling schedule will be extended this season, with the Team Duals on Feb. 25-26 at five different high schools.
"For the past three weeks, the kids have been focusing more on individual-type wrestling rather than the team concept leading up to the Traditionals," said Pete Fritts, tournament director for the Team Duals.
"All of sudden, everybody will shifting gears next Monday to go with the team concept. It's not impossible to deal with, but it's going to be a little more difficult preparing than other years."
The Team Duals were postponed in early January because of school closings and weather conditions. The GHSA chose to hold them next weekend to avoid conflicts with wrestling tournaments during the regular season.
The good news for wrestling was bad news for spring athletics, especially at smaller schools that depend on athletes who play multiple sports.
Under normal circumstances, many wrestlers would've been released as early as three weeks ago to go onto the next sport. This season, the delayed Team Duals created some interesting situations.
Holy Innocents' has released many of its younger wrestlers, but retained the veterans through next weekend. Seven wrestlers are competing in the Traditionals, while all 14 will be together for the Team Duals. Coach Jeff Walrich said it was a matter of communications between head coaches at the Class A school.
"We talked with the other coaches and explained how there were circumstances beyond our control this year," Walrich said. "They realized the special situation, and they understood.
"We've really been keeping the [remaining] wrestlers in pretty good shape so they can make a smooth transition to the next sport after next weekend."
At Marist, coach Riddick Beebe said it was a "case-by-case" thing, with wrestlers hanging around for the Team Duals. "At a school of our size, I understand the value of having athletes that participate in other sports. I wouldn't have a wrestling team if I didn't have football players that wrestled."
Beebe said some of his multi-sport kids have committed exclusively to finishing the season, while others alternate between wrestling and their spring sport. "We've had at least 12 kids at practice every day. We've had enough bodies around to stay sharp."
Wesleyan coach Jeff Plunk is in the same situation: "They are sort of splitting time. They go to lacrosse or soccer one day, and then wrestle the next. All the coaches worked out a plan for alternating days. Hopefully next weekend, we’ll be in wrestling shape and ready to go."
The adjusted championship schedule made an impact on teams in Cobb County, which has schools on weeklong break between the two events. Lassiter coach Steve Day pointed out that some wrestlers had to cancel vacation plans with their families.
Collins Hill faces a lot of pressure over the next two weekends as the three-time defending Class AAAAA champion of both events. Coach Joshua Stephens has closely monitored his wrestlers, checking weights and giving pep talks on a daily basis.
"The main thing is constantly reminding them that we are fighting for another state championship, and they need to be ready to go," Stephens said. "The better teams will adjust and be ready. The ‘middle of the road' teams may not be as motivated, but it's a coach's job to get them together."
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