In a resounding display of prowess and skill, wrestlers from Savannah's Five Star Wrestling Club have clinched their spots to represent Team Georgia at the upcoming national stage in Fargo, North Dakota. Headed by the illustrious Coach Harry West, who also mentors at Benedictine Military School, these athletes have punched their tickets to compete against the nation's best in the 2024 US Marine Corps USA Wrestling Junior and 16U National Championships.
Coach West, a stalwart in the wrestling community, proudly declared that six of his proteges from Five Star Wrestling secured their spots in Team Georgia during the intense Freestyle/Greco State Tournament at Life University on May 11, 2024. Among them, Zachary Krauss '25, Aiden Simmons '27, AJ West '28, Chase Mort '28, Malachi Williams, and Izzy West '25 stand ready to carve their names into wrestling history on the grandest stage.
Their journey to the prestigious FargoDome, set amidst the rugged plains of North Dakota, promises to be a thrilling test of their mettle. This grand spectacle, scheduled from July 12 to July 20, will witness fierce competition across multiple categories, including men's freestyle, Greco-Roman, and women's freestyle. Among the elite grapplers representing Team Georgia, a notable contingent hails from Benedictine Military School under the tutelage of Coach Joe Tvrdy.
Reflecting on Benedictine's rich wrestling legacy, Coach Tvrdy reminisced about Shane Summerlin, a three-time GHSA Runner-up who last qualified for Fargo in 2007. Fast forward to the present, and the proud coach reveals that four of this year's Fargo-bound qualifiers proudly don the BC Cadet colors. Zachary Krauss '25, Aiden Simmons '27, AJ West '28, and Chase Mort '28, all poised for glory, will carry the Benedictine banner alongside their Five Star counterparts.
Not to be outdone, Malachi Williams, a recent graduate from Jenkins High School and a committed athlete to Brewton Parker College, will showcase his skills in the 144-pound category. Meanwhile, Izzy West '25, representing Richmond Hill High School, emerges as a formidable force in the girls' division, armed with the accolades of being the Georgia State Runner-Up and this year's Freestyle State Champion.
As these local athletes gear up for the ultimate showdown in Fargo, the entire community stands behind them, ready to witness their journey from the mats of Savannah to the hallowed grounds of national competition.
School and Club Details:
Benedictine Military School Wrestling
Coach Joe Tvrdy
6502 Seawright Drive
Savannah, GA 31406
Phone: 912-644-7000
Devine Jiu Jitsu Savannah & Five Star Wrestling
Coach Harry West
4307 Ogeechee Rd Suite 101
Savannah, GA 31405
Email: fivestarbjj@gmail.com
Website: https://www.fivestarsavannah.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devinesav_fivestarwrestling
PHOTO CREDIT: Just Shoot Sports
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