Forty six wrestlers from the Savannah area are headed to the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Traditional Wrestling State Championships after finishing in the top eight at their Sectional tournaments. A total of 86 local wrestlers entered the traditional sectionals across classifications.
Under GHSA format, the top eight finishers in each weight class qualify for state, while ninth-place finishers advance as alternates.
South Effingham (GHSA Class 5A) finished first in its sectional, while Richmond Hill (Class 6A) placed third.
The state championships will be held Feb. 11–14 at the Clayton County Convocation Center, 1300 Southlake Circle in Morrow. Classes 1A, 3A and 5A will compete Feb. 11–12, while Classes 2A, 4A, 6A and Girls will wrestle Feb. 13–14.
South Effingham led all local programs with 15 total state qualifiers — 13 boys and two girls — the most in school history.
Below is a breakdown of Savannah-area qualifiers by school and classification.
Boys Qualifiers
South Effingham (Class 5A) — 13 Qualifiers
Sectional Champions:
Andreo Manlove (113), Brayden Bringer (138), Christopher Hardeman (106), Mayson Young (126), Tahrik Bailey (120)
Second Place:
Maddox Vasquez (144), Zachary Utnehmer (175)
Third Place:
Ian Verrett (215), Noah Knowlton (132)
Additional Top 8 Qualifiers:
Kevin Steptoe (285, 6th), Riley Atkins (165, 5th), Jeremiah Hobbs (150, 7th), Caysen Fisher (190, 7th)
Alternate (9th):
Alex Miles (157)
Richmond Hill (Class 6A) — 12 Qualifiers
Alessandro Vitello (120, 2nd)
Ethan Fitts (150, 3rd)
Noah Hampton (165, 4th)
Caiden Gaeth (190, 5th)
Carter Anderson (126, 5th)
Jaylon Deal (215, 5th)
Josh Pacheco (138, 5th)
Kingston Mosley (132, 5th)
Logan White (106, 7th)
Owen Moriarty (144, 7th)
Alternates (9th):
Blake Whittaker (285)
Maxwell Solie (175)
Benedictine (Class 4A) — 7 Qualifiers
AJ West (138, 3rd)
Aiden Simmons (126, 4th)
Peter Fallon (157, 6th)
Walker Minnich (144, 6th)
Wallace Glover (113, 7th)
Alternates (9th):
Jackson Call (120)
Michael Adams (132)
Calvary Day (Class 3A) — 3 Qualifiers
Brexton Bell (175, 1st)
Dynear Williams (285, 4th)
Uriah Smoker (132, 8th)
Jenkins (Class 3A) — 3 Qualifier
Angel De Los Santos (138, 4th)
Brendan Poole (150, 5th)
Jordan Fann (285, 7th)
Windsor Forest (Class 3A) — 1 Qualifier
Elijah Lang (190, 8th)
Savannah Christian (Class 1A/Private) — 1 Qualifier
RJ Daniels (215, 8th)
Girls Qualifiers
South Effingham (Class 5A) — 2 Qualifiers
Brooklynn Hughes (145, 2nd)
Jasmine Zimmerman (115, 4th)
Richmond Hill (Class 6A) — 3 Qualifiers
Coralys Lopez (105, 2nd)
Isla Stotts (170, 3rd)
Lilah Forster (110, 5th)
With 86 wrestlers entering sectionals, 41 advanced to state and five others earned alternate positions.
South Effingham’s 15 total qualifiers mark the largest state contingent in program history.
The road to a podium finish begins Wednesday in Morrow.
Note: Qualifier information obtained from Flowrestling.com.
Photo courtesy of Calvary Day School Athletics Department.
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