GUYTON – The South Effingham wrestling team treated the Area 1-5A Duals tournament on Saturday as a dress rehearsal for the state meet on Jan. 16-17.
The Mustangs went through their routines from beginning to end, from how they walk out to warm up to cheer on their teammates as well as their performances on the mat.
“That all has to be exactly like that for us to win at state, and I want them to live that experience here,” SEHS coach Christopher Bringer said.
They even dressed for success, as Bringer unboxed robes that morning for them to wear over their singlets – adding excitement and flair to the level of importance for the annual state title contenders. Bringer’s idea was that, should the top-seeded Mustangs win at home on Saturday, the wrestlers can wear the robes a second time in the school hallways for their sendoff this Thursday for the GHSA Class 5A state meet in Douglasville.
The Mustangs weren’t accommodating hosts, dominating their matches and sending a message for seeding at the state meet that they’re a favorite to add to championships they earned in duals (Class 6A in 2023 and 2024) and traditional (2024).
SEHS crushed No. 5 seed Greenbrier 65-9 in the semifinals, winning 12 of the 14 weight classes – nine by fall.
Third-seeded Brunswick, which edged No. 2 Glynn Academy 34-33 in the other semifinal, was expected to pose a much greater challenge in the finals. The Mustangs dispatched the Pirates 73-5, claiming 13 weight classes, including nine by pinning their opponents and two by forfeit.
A fast start built momentum for SEHS that never slowed, said Adam Hardeman, an all-state performer at 106 pounds the past two seasons and one of only two seniors on the squad.
“It’s expected, really -- 106 to 144, we’re all expected to get bonus points there,” Hardeman said of wins by pins. “Especially at 106 to 144, there’s no one better than us at those at those weight classes. Starting at 113, getting that forfeit (win for Andreo Manlove), and then going on to Tahrik (Bailey at 120). Once Tahrik gets that pin, it just starts going. The ball keeps rolling. You’ve just got to keep that energy up.”
Bringer expects familiar opponents at the state duals meet, with nemesis and defending state champion Creekview, which edged SEHS 36-35 on Nov. 24, likely just ahead at the top overall seed. The coach listed Jackson County as another probable tough foe.
“I think those teams have better individuals than us,” Bringer said. “I don’t think any team has 14 weights (classes) as good as we do. We’re extremely balanced. To beat us, you’re going to have to win seven or eight matches. No one’s done that on us in three years really. We only lost at state last year, it was split 7-7” (in the semifinals to Creekview, as SEHS finished third overall.
The Mustangs displayed that balance on Saturday with excellence from lightest to heaviest wrestler. That depth developed out of necessity from the start of the season.
“Today was the first time we’ve had the starting lineup together all year,” Bringer said. “We’ve had injuries, we’ve had weight (management) issues.”
Bailey, the defending Class 5A champion at 113 pounds, was hampered by a knee injury at a national tournament in October and missed about two months of this season. The sophomore moved up to 120 pounds as Manlove, a junior, filled in at 113 and has crushed the competition.
South Effingham’s Tahrik Bailey works for a pinning combination before recording a fall against Brunswick’s Jaxon Schaefer during the Area 1-5A Duals on Jan. 10, 2025, in Guyton, Ga. (Dennis Knight/Savannahnow.com)
Zach Utnehmer (175 pounds) had elbow surgery in the summer and was limited this season before rounding into top form. Another junior, Bringer’s son Brayden “Bear” Bringer, missed a few weeks because of a concussion. The standout has dropped weight from 152 pounds as a sophomore to target 138 or lighter and open up a slot for teammates.
South Effingham’s Bear Bringer controls Brunswick’s Joel Fuel during their match at the Area 1-5A Duals on Jan. 10, 2026, in Guyton, Ga. (Dennis Knight/Savannahnow.com)
Christopher Bringer said the coaches had to figure out how to fill a lineup without some starting wrestlers available because of injuries, illnesses, and issues with making weight. He wondered how that could hamper the team’s state title aspirations.
“We found out that we have a lot of kids that can step up, fill those roles,” the coach said. “It made those (injured) kids almost want to come back more because they want to be part of it. Tahrik’s wrestling better today than he did in the state wrestling finals last year because, I think, being out for two months made him miss it too much. He comes out on fire. He’s been crazy on fire.
“If we stay healthy, I think we’re super tough to beat. That adversity tested everybody,” Bringer said. “We knew we were so good and just couldn’t get everyone together. It was always something.”
The Mustangs were something else with a full roster on Saturday. Bringer pointed out a few of the special or surprising efforts, including Ethan Webb’s win by decision at 167 pounds in the semifinals against a tough Greenbrier foe.
“That was kind of a shocker. He wrestled like a rock star,” Bringer said.
In the finals, Bringer praised sophomore 152-pounder Jeremiah Hobbs for his “best match” of the season, a win by decision over Brunswick’s “amazing wrestler” Jakobi Allen. Junior Noah Knowlton (134) was behind in points when he pinned the Pirates’ Ryan Sanders, causing the coach to jump out of his seat and Knowlton’s teammates and the SEHS fans to explode in cheers.
Bear Bringer also came through after Brunswick switched the announced 140-pound opponent when the finals opened to Joel Fuel. The two have a history, with Bringer winning “quite a bit,” his father said, but Fuel pinning him in a summer tournament. Bear Bringer didn’t let any mind games throw him off as he won by decision.
Rebels place fifth at Area 1-5A meet.
Effingham County, seeded fourth, finished fifth at the Area 1-5A meet after three matches.
The Rebels fell in the first-round match 32-28 to No. 5 Greenbrier, which advanced to the semifinals against South Effingham.
Second-seeded Glynn Academy then defeated ECHS 46-23 in the consolation bracket.
“Our first match against Greenbrier was pretty fun. It was really close,” Royal said later Saturday, after the loss to Glynn Academy. “It’d be more fun if we won those matches.
“It’s not our best performance,” the third-year coach said. “We have a lot of young guys out there. Our young guys put on a good show. They’ve been coming out and getting most of our wins. Even our older guys are stepping up, wrestling hard, whistle to whistle.”
The Rebels stayed until the very end of a long day at the tournament to edge seventh-seeded Lakeside Evans 41-37 in the consolation match for fifth place.
“I do believe we do have a good team,” Royal said after two matches. “I believe if they stay committed and keep working hard as they do, we’re going to end up having a good year, regardless. After this, obviously, getting ready for the individuals (traditional matches later this season). I think a lot of our guys individually will do really well.”
Photo Credit: Lead team picture - South Effingham Wrestling Program, Dennis Knight/Savannahnow.com
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