A large number of area wrestlers are one step closer to the state finals after impressive performances in area meets over the weekend.
Whitewater captured individual championships in two weight classes and came in second as a team in the 4-AAAAA area tournament at McIntosh. Zach Thorne (132) and Alex Walker (160) were winners in their respective classes, while second-place finishes were had by Reid Loveless (106), Juan Harvey (113), Barrett Martin (170), Christian Winslett (182) and Gary Hogg (195). Cole Raines (285) came in third Greg Pasqaerella (120) took fourth at the tournament.
Starr’s Mill came in fourth, with seven wrestlers qualifying for sectionals. Alex Ashley won first place in the heavyweight division, and the Panthers got second-place performances from Jonathan Parrish (126) and Cory Carter (220). Jake Schaper (152) came in third, while Michael Runyan (138), Aaron Brown (170) and Chase Reinert (182) finished fourth.
For McIntosh, sectional qualifiers include Christopher Eulenfeld (third, 120); Ryan Prescott (second, 145); Dane Bulloch (fourth, 195); and Josh Espinosa (fourth, 220).
The AAAAA sectionals are this weekend at Allatoona.
In the 5-AAAA area meet in Carrollton, the Fayette County Tigers finished as the runner-up team with 12 wrestlers placing and 10 advancing to sectionals with top-four finishes.
Caleb Sellers (106) and Christian Ingalls (220) took home first place, while Trevor Rhone (113), JohnMichael Axelberg (126), Cody McMillan (138), Kershon Manciel (145), Devyn Wash (152) and Kimani Nasrullah (182) came in second. Hunter Seidel (160) and Kyle Leinberger (170) finished fourth, with RJ Stone (132) coming in fifth and Bryan Huegin (120) finishing sixth.
Fayette County will host AAAA sectionals this weekend.
In the 5-A area meet at Landmark, the War Eagles took third place with nine sectional qualifiers. Peyton Hayes, Caleb Cobb and Joshua Cobb won area titles in their respective classes. Titus Creamer, Chris Manning and Stephen Bedosky came in second, while Anthony Allgood and Hunter Wallace were third. Luke McLain finished fourth.
The A sectional meet is this weekend at Darlington.
