DTN names All-County Wrestling team

Woodland's Caleb Henson is the 2019-20 Bartow County Wrestler of the Year.

All four local high school wrestling teams finished in the top ten of their respective classifications at the state traditional meet in February, making the 2019-20 season one of the best in the local history of the sport. Topping the list was Woodland. The 2019-20 edition of the coach Adrian Tramutola’s Wildcats won both the state team duals and the state traditional championship in GHSA’s Class AAAAA. Three Wildcats — Caden McCrary, Caleb Henson, and Jaxon Smith — won their weight classes and seven more Woodland wrestlers placed in the top six. The two state titles for Woodland completed a sweep of the past four titles in the classification dating back to the 2018-19 season.

Cass placed seventh in the final Class AAAAA standings, but only one point behind sixth place Ware County with Bryce Kresho winning the 120-pound division of the classification. Five other Colonels placed in the top six.

Adairsville was eighth in Class AAA in the 2019-20 traditional championships with Angel Banda taking the state’s 113-pound division. Two other Tigers finished in the top six.

Cartersville rounded out an accomplished year for the local schools with a tenth place finish in Class AAAA. Four Hurricane grapplers placed in the top six.

The all-county team selections have one wrestler at each weight division which means some very good wrestlers were moved to honorable-mention status. A prime example is in the 160-pound division where three locals finished as state runners-up.

WRESTLER OF THE YEAR

CALEB HENSON — Woodland, sophomore, 145 — undefeated on the year including six individual titles in tournaments during the season. Ranked No. 5 in the nation. He is now 94-1 in two seasons with the Wildcats.

ALL-COUNTY TEAM

MONTGOMERY TOMPKINS — Cass, freshman, 106 — Region 7-AAAAA champion, 21-8 on the season. ANGEL BANDA — Adairsville, senior, 113 — Finished 54-2 with one of his losses coming as an injury forfeit in the Region 6-AAA duals tournament.

BRYCE KRESHO — Cass, sophomore, 120 — Went undefeated in the traditional postseason and was 44-3 on the year.

Caden McCrary is now 145-1 in his high school career. The current junior will go for a fourth-straight state title in his senior season.

COLTON BISHOP — Woodland, sophomore, 126 — Finished 37-5 on the season with a region title after moving up two weight divisions.

CALEB JONES — Woodland, senior, 132 — Placed first at region and state sectionals before losing in the state title match. He was 23-3 on the season. CADEN McCRARY — Woodland, junior, 138 — Won a third consecutive state title this season and improved his high school career record to 145-1.

ZACH McKNIGHT — Cass, freshman, 152 — Finished 43-8 and was sixth at the state finals. COLE COCHRAN — Woodland, sophomore, 160 — Finished the year 46-4 overall and was state runner-up in Class AAAAA. JAXON SMITH — Woodland, junior, 170 — Won the Class AAAAA state title in his division and is now 95-1 the past two seasons for the Wildcats.

REED DAVIS — Cass, senior, 182 — Finished the season with a broken hand but was 33-5 prior to the injury in the state consolation quarterfinals of Class AAAAA.

DEMARCUS WILLIAMS — Woodland, senior, 195 — Williams did not reach the state tournament after suffering a season-ending injury prior to the state sectionals. He was runner-up in the Region 7-AAAAA tournament and would have been a challenger to improve on his third-place finish last year.

BRYCE SHEDD — Woodland, junior, 220 — Placed fourth at the state tournament following second place finishes at both the region and state sectional tournaments.

SHADRE HURST — Cartersville, sophomore, 286 — Won the Region 5-AAAA title, upset the state’s top-seed, and reached the state semifinals before dropping his final three matches to place sixth in Class AAAA. He was 38-11 on the season.

HONORABLE MENTION

Collin Buffaloe, Cartersville senior; Larry Collum, Woodland senior; Dalton Cornett, Adairsville junior; Eli Doolittle, Cass freshman; Doss Dudley, Adairsville junior; Tyler Earick, Cartersville junior; Beau Jernigan, Woodland sophomore; Isaac Linley, Adairsville sophomore; Tyler McKnight, Cass freshman; James Standridge, Adairsville senior; Giles Turner, Cartersville sophomore; and Jabril Williams, Cartersville senior. For the complete story, please visit The Daily Tribune News article by Nicholas Sullivan.