GHSA state events for local swimmers, wrestlers this weekend
A big weekend of Georgia High School Association state championship events get started or continue for local swimmers and wrestlers this weekend. The GHSA Swimming and Diving Championship began Thursday at Georgia Tech and will continue through Saturday's swimming state finals.
Adairsville freshman, Rylee Moss, headlines a group of local qualifers in various events. Heading into the state meet for Class AAAAA-A, Moss has top eight qualifying times in both the 100 yard backstroke and the 100 yard butterfly. The Tigers' Dylan Smith -- a junior -- also qualified for the state meet in the backstroke and butterfly, along with Adairsville's 200 yard and 400 yard freestyle relay team of Smith, Jake Eberly, Johnathon Wilkes, and Daniel Sullivan.
The Woodland girls' 200 yard freestyle relay team comprised of seniors Ashlyn Smith, Caliope Miron, junior Kera Lawhon, and sophomore Maddi Tuplin will also be competing at Georgia Tech. Cartersville junior, Georgia Rutledge, will represent the Lady Canes in the 100 yard freestyle. The GHSA traditional format wrestling state sectionals also take place this weekend at various locations. Each classification has two sectionals. Competitors are vying for top eight individual finishes in the sectionals to advance to the 16-man, state championship bracket at Gwinnett Arena February 11-14.
Adairsville will be represented in seven different weight classes at the Class AAA sectional hosted Friday and Saturday by Calhoun High School. Daelen Harrison (160 pounds) and Henry Pabst (170) won area titles last weekend for the Tigers. Salvador Grimaldo (106), Nic Jackson (132), Kyle Cain (138), Bryce Burgess (152), and Nick Fuller (195) also earned spots at the state sectional.
Cartersville will send Robbie Earick (126) and Jonathan De La Cruz (220) to the Class AAAA sectional hosted by Gilmer High School. In Class AAAAA, Woodland was state duals runner up and area champs in both duals and traditional. They were closely trailed by Cass who was runner up to Woodland in both area tournaments and placed third at the Class AAAAA state duals. Cass advanced wrestlers in twelve of fourteen weight classes and had fifth place finishes (alternates) in the other two divisions. Woodland had wrestlers to earn sectional spots in all fourteen weight classes. Both teams will compete in the Class AAAAA sectional hosted by Lanier High School.
For the Colonels, Chance Scrutchins (182), Tripp Breeden (195), and Seven Richards (285) won area titles last week. Devin Garrett, Tyler Pilcher, Cody Mauldin, Jordan Mitchell, Hunter Quinn, Jaylen Callahan, Khalil Farmer, C.J. McKnight, and Houston Jones all qualified.
Woodland's area champs were Kyle Gollhofer (106), Jahvar Lewis (120), Dawson Woods (126), Logan Sims (132), Cody Cochran (152), and Hunter Hardin (220). The Wildcats also send Jesus Montero, Kyle Veley, Spencer Cooper, Joseph Jones, Jacob Frye, Raekwan Hicks, Brett Shedd, and Dalton May.
