Chad Starnes of Alexander and Spencer Jones of Darlington gave fans their money’s worth at the state wrestling championships Saturday night at Gwinnett Arena.
While Collins Hill, Pope, Jefferson and Bremen extended their streaks of team championships, Starnes and Jones became the 24th and 25th wrestlers in state history to win four individual championships. Starnes beat Whitewater’s Austin Penland 4-2 at 138 pounds, and Jones pinned Commerce’s Trent Reddish in 4:19 at 152.
“He’s always tough,” Starnes said of leading Penland by no more than 4-1 early in the second two-minute period. “If it were more than a four-point match against him, I’d be surprised.”
Jones’ previous three title wins were by decision, and last year he needed overtime. This year, however, he pinned all three opponents he faced at state — Social Circle’s Jeremy Tyson in 3:24, First Presbyterian’s Joseph Brittain in 30 seconds and Reddish.
In other classifications:
Class AAAAA: Collins Hill clinched a fifth consecutive championship, thanks to four of six wrestlers winning finals. Sean Russell started the Eagles' march with his 14-4 win over Archer's Sam Ballard at 106, before Ryan Millhof and Drew Ferguson added momentum with wins at 113 and 120, respectively.
Millhof’s bout clinched the team title, but Russell and Ferguson’s wins were their second.
“I have to always get a win for our team, but so does everybody else,” Russell said. “I wanted to stay after him and stay on my feet.”
Class AAAA: Pope repeated as champion in dramatic fashion. Jake Henson won at 152, and Cameron Munsey repeated at 113, while Billy Meek lost in triple overtime. All three matches were decided by just one point.
“It was very intense and nearly drove me out of my mind,” Greyhounds coach Jim Haskin said. “Our kids were really resilient and took care of business.”
Class AAA: After taking second to Gilmer last year, Heritage-Catoosa won its first championship. The 4-year-old school clinched when Landon Reed emerged the only champion among its five finalists.
“To battle back and win was sweet,” Heritage coach Kenny Hill said. “We posted articles on the wall [about finishing second last year], and that really motivated our guys all season.”
Class AA: Jefferson had its 12th straight state title (fourth consecutive in AA) secured before the finals. Of its nine finalists, however, only 126-pound Tyler Marinelli and 182-pound Forrest Przbysz won individually. The championship was a third for Przbysz, who plans to wrestle next year at Navy.
“To have nine finalists was great,” Dragons coach Doug Thurmond said, “but to win only two was bitter sweet.”
Class A: Bremen atoned for its third-place finish in state duals with its fourth consecutive traditional tournament championship. Cory Morgan clinched it by winning his final at 132, after Zac Young won for a third time at 120 and before Joe Bexley did a second time at heavyweight.
“After the duals, a lot of folks might have written us off,” Blue Devils coach Tony Armas said. “Our kids went out and got it done.”
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