Cass wins back-to-back GHSA State Duals titles

January 19, 2015

The Cass High School wrestling team won its second consecutive GHSA State Duals championship Saturday and the Colonels’ third title in the last four seasons.

This year’s Class 4A State Duals Championship was held at Ola High School in McDonough.

Cass defeated county rival Woodland in the state championship match, 38-30, to avenge a loss to the Wildcats two weeks ago in the region championship.

The two local wrestling programs have been mainstays in whatever classification they have been assigned for more than a decade.

Woodland beat Cass in the Region 7-4A Duals Championship to enter the state tournament as a higher seed. The Wildcats won three-consecutive Class 5A titles between 2019 and 2021. Woodland also won the Duals Championship in Class 4A in 2011 and 2003.

Cass won the Class 5A Duals Championship in 2024 and 2022 and also won a 3A title in 2008.

In this year’s tournament, Woodland advanced to the state championship match with victories over Westminter (74-6), Ware County (60-14), and Ola (41-29). Cass defeated Cambridge (56-21), Locust Grove (63-11), and top-ranked Central-Carroll (37-29) to earn a spot in the title match.

In the finals that started with the 165-pound weight class, Woodland’s Paul Lanier, Zachary Wallace (175-pounds), and John Gill (215) gave the Wildcats an early lead by winning three of the first four bouts. The only Cass win in that string was by Kirecg Roe (190).

Cass responded by winning five of the next six bouts.

John Abernathy (285), Hayden Trimm (106), Gavin Walker (113), Hunter Barrett (120), and Luka Jensen (132) turned some of the match momentum in the Colonels’ direction. Woodland’s win in that stretch was by Adrian Zapata (126).

The Colonels and Wildcats split the final four bouts. Dylan Couey (138) and Skylar Pizzutiello (157) collected wins for Woodland. Aidan Piatt (144) and David Jewell (150) had pin fall wins for Cass with Jewell's victory sealing the team title.

“The boys wrestled great all weekend,” stated Cass coach D.L. Koontz on Saturday night. “Each boy contributed in their own way. Some did a great job even in a loss by limiting bonus points for their opponent.”

Koontz also referred to the difficult route his team navigated in the tournament based on seeding, “Maybe one day we’ll figure out how to not match up with a reigning state champion in the semifinals. That’s two years in a row!”

Koontz, in his 20th season with the Colonels, discussed the strength of the sport in Bartow County. “It was special to wrestle crosstown rival Woodland in the finals. It just goes to show how strong wrestling is in our community. It’s great to keep the state championship trophy in this county.”

Zapata (4-0), Couey (4-0), and Gill (3-0) were undefeated in their bouts for Woodland. Nathan Cates (3-1), Lanier (3-1), Wallace (3-1), Christian Cothran (3-1), Will Thomas, and Owen Jones (2-1) lost only once in the tournament.

Roe (4-0), Trimm (4-0), Walker (4-0), Barrett (4-0), Austin McArthur (2-0), and Colin Armona (1-0) had an undefeated tournament for Cass. Piatt, Ethan Harrington, Jensen, and Jewell each finish 2-1 in the event.

State Championship Match

Cass defeated Woodland 38-30

165 - Paul Lanier (Woodland) over Logan Crisp (Cass) TF 19-4
175 - Zachary Wallace (Woodland) over Mason Tompkins (Cass) Dec 10-4
190 - Kirecg Roe (Cass) over Christian Cothran (Woodland) Maj 14-6
215 - John Gill (Woodland) over Codey Dean (Cass) Fall 0:43
285 - John Abernathy (Cass) over Will Thomas (Woodland) Dec 10-8
106 - Hayden Trimm (Cass) over Nick Weathersbee (Woodland) TF 21-5
113 - Gavin Walker (Cass) over Bryton Glenn (Woodland), Fall 1:45
120 - Hunter Barrett (Cass) over Noah Cates (Woodland) TF 21-5
126 - Adrian Zapata (Woodland) over Joe Vara (Cass) Fall 3:22
132 - Luka Jensen (Cass) over Nathan Cates (Woodland) Dec 13-7
138 - Dylan Couey (Woodland) over Rowdy Duck (Cass) Maj 9-1
144 - Aidan Piatt (Cass) over Aiden Buchan (Woodland) Fall 3:21
150 - David Jewell (Cass) over Dallas Seale (Woodland) Fall 0:53
157 - Skylar Pizzutiello (Woodland) over Unree Sanders (Cass) Fall 3:04

First Round

Cass defeated Cambridge 56-21

144 - Austin McArthur (Cass) over Clay Murdock (Cambridge) TF 20-5
150 - Aidan Piatt (Cass) over Liam Smith (Cambridge) Fall 0:47
157 - Ethan Harrington (Cass) over Eric Moelter (Cambridge) Maj 13-3
165 - Ty Tosi (Cambridge) over Jachai Delgado (Cass) Fall 4:19
175 - Mason Tompkins (Cass) over Walker Thomas (Cambridge) Fall 0:53
190 - Kirecg Roe (Cass) over Justice Levitan (Cambridge) TF 15-0
215 - Codey Dean (Cass) over Harrison House (Cambridge) Fall 0:44
285 - Manny Brown (Cambridge) over John Abernathy (Cass) Fall 2:44
106 - Hayden Trimm (Cass) over Zeke Driggs (Cambridge) Fall 0:58
113 - Gavin Walker (Cass) over Chris Brown (Cambridge) Fall 2:45
120 - Hunter Barrett (Cass) over Mykyta Liutyi (Cambridge) Fall 3:25
126 - J.D. Ginn (Cambridge) over Joe Vara (Cass) Dec 10-3
132 - Collin Armona (Cass) over Jett Fusco (Cambridge) Fall 1:07
138 - Hunter Keane (Cambridge) over Logan Hicks (Cass) Fall 0:23

Woodland defeated Westminster 74-6

144 - Aiden Buchan (Woodland) over Jackson Bailey (Westminster) Fall 1:38
150 - Webb Bogess (Westminster) over Skylar Pizzutiello (Woodland) Fall 1:06
157 - Paul Lanier (Woodland) over Louie Gump (Westminster) TF 21-5
165 - Zachary Wallace (Woodland) over Lincoln Jabren (Westminster) TF 17-2
175 - Christian Cothran (Woodland) over Clayton Clemmons (Westminster) Fall 0:55
190 - Owen Jones (Woodland) over Porter Clemmons (Westminster) Fall 0:37
215 - John Gill (Woodland) by Forfeit
285 - Will Thomas (Woodland) over Mason Ulzheimer (Westminster) Fall 2:49
106 - Nick Weathersbee (Woodland) over Eugene Oh (Westminster) Fall 0:29
113 - Bryton Glenn (Woodland) over Will Cooper (Westminster) Fall 1:28
120 - Noah Cates (Woodland) over Luca Bellman (Westminster) Maj 21-7
126 - Adrian Zapata (Woodland) over Brian Schaeffer (Westminster) Fall 1:20
132 - Nathan Cates (Woodland) over Luke Baugher (Westminster) Fall 3:22
138 - Dylan Couey (Woodland) over Aidan Cisneros (Westminster) Fall 0:51

State Quarterfinals

Cass defeated Locust Grove 63-11

150 - Karter Nolan (Locust Grove) over David Jewell (Cass) Dec 12-10
157 - Ethan Harrington (Cass) over Avery Spencer (Locust Grove) Fall 0:00
165 - William McNair (Locust Grove) over Logan Crisp (Cass) TF 25-8
175 - Mason Tompkins (Cass) over Jacob Neal (Locust Grove) Fall 0:41
190 - Kirecg Roe (Cass) over Matthew Polyn (Locust Grove) Fall 1:47
215 - Codey Dean (Cass) over Justice Smith (Locust Grove) Fall 1:18
285 - John Abernathy (Cass) over Elisha Lamar (Locust Grove) Fall 0:47
106 - Hayden Trimm (Cass) over Khani Johnson (Locust Grove) Fall 1:24
113 - Gavin Walker (Cass) over Aiden Farquharso (Locust Grove) TF 17-1
120 - Hunter Barrett (Cass) over Derek Wheeler (Locust Grove) Fall 0:30
126 - Aden Akins (Locust Grove) over Joe Vara (Cass) Dec 16-12
132 - Luka Jensen (Cass) over Jackson East (Locust Grove) Fall 1:29
138 - Rowdy Duck (Cass) over Jayden Sanders (Locust Grove) TF 19-4
144 - Austin McArthur (Cass) over Randy Upshaw (Locust Grove) TF 20-4

Woodland defeated Ware County 60-14

150 - Jaden McKelvin (Ware County) over Skylar Pizzutiello (Woodland) Fall 2:15
157 - Paul Lanier (Woodland) over Kayden Drury (Ware County) TF 20-4
165 - Zachary Wallace (Woodland) over Gunter Fore (Ware County) TF 17-2
175 - Christian Cothran (Woodland) over David Muchison (Ware County) Fall 1:07
190 - Owen Jones (Woodland) over Cameron Hambrick (Ware County) Fall 1:40
215 - John Gill (Woodland) over Jalen Hampton (Ware County) Fall 1:40
285 - Will Thomas (Woodland) over Kyler Matthews (Ware County) TF 21-6
106 - Steohen Valdez (Ware County) over Nick Weathersbee (Woodland) Dec 3-1
113 - Jordan Maxwell (Ware County) over Bryton Glenn (Woodland) TF 17-0
120 - Noah Cates (Woodland) over Noah Paul (Ware County) TF 22-6
126 - Adrian Zapata (Woodland) over DaMarion Zanders (Ware County) Fall 1:55
132 - Nathan Cates (Woodland) over Rodrigo Reyes (Ware County) Maj 12-4
138 - Dylan Couey (Woodland) over Evan Thomas (Ware County) Fall 1:06
144 - Aiden Buchan (Woodland) over Aaron Bennett (Ware County) Fall 0:46

State Semifinals

Cass defeated Central (Carroll) 37-29

157 - Kam Thornton (Central (Carroll)) over Ethan Harrington (Cass) Dec 6-5
165 - William White (Central (Carroll)) over Logan Crisp (Cass) Fall 0:55
175 - Mason Tompkins (Cass) over Elijah Toliver (Central (Carroll)) Fall 0:41
190 - Kirecg Roe (Cass) over Matt Phillips (Central (Carroll)) Maj 17-4
215 - Codey Dean (Cass) over Johnathan Watts (Central (Carroll)) Fall 3:12
285 - Jayden Thomasson (Central (Carroll)) over John Abernathy (Cass) Dec 1-0
106 - Hayden Trimm (Cass) over Jase Moore (Central (Carroll)) Fall 5:55
113 - Gavin Walker (Cass) over Landon Rossi (Central (Carroll)) Fall 1:49
120 - Hunter Barrett (Cass) over Chris Phillips (Central (Carroll)) SV-1 10-7
126 - Colt Mitchell (Central (Carroll)) over Joe Vara (Cass) Fall 1:57
132 - Ty Murray (Central (Carroll)) over Luka Jensen (Cass) TF 18-2
138 - Danny Krutules (Central (Carroll)) over Rowdy Duck (Cass) Dec 7-6
144 - Colson Hoffman (Central (Carroll)) over Aidan Piatt (Cass) Dec 13-6
150 - David Jewell (Cass) over Caden Shope (Central (Carroll)) Fall 1:40