A large number of local wrestlers hit the mat at various sectional meets last weekend and punched their tickets for the state championships which start Thursday in Macon.
The top eight in each weight class at the AAAAA and AAAA sectionals qualify for state, while the top four in each weight class at the A sectionals move on.
In the AAAAA West Sectional at Cambridge High in Milton, the highest local finisher was Jake Schaper of Starr’s Mill (160), who came in third. Chris Eulenfeld of McIntosh (132) finished fourth.
Sixth place went to William Jewell of McIntosh (120), Jonathan Parrish of Starr’s Mill (126) and Aaron Brewer of McIntosh (138). The Panthers’ Michael Runyon (145) and Cory Carter (220) came in seventh, while Hunter Fox of McIntosh (285) placed ninth.
Other local participants at the sectional included the Panthers’ Tommy DeFrancis (106), Nick Martin (113), Donald Newman (132), Vance Windom (152) and Brandon Baynham-Smith (182), along with the Chiefs’ Brayden Salyers (182).
In the AAAA West Sectional at Whitewater, the Wildcats’ Gary Hogg came in first at 195. Kershon Manciel of Fayette County (152) finished second, as did Cole Baxter of Whitewater (170).
Jake Lee of Sandy Creek (106) was a third-place finisher, along with Bejohn Baker of Fayette County (195). Fourth place went to Whitewater’s Logan Wesolowski (138) and Josiah Webb (160).
The Wildcats’ James Teague placed fifth at 182. Sixth-place finishers included Fayette County’s Jacob Taylor (106), Trevoe Rhone (120) and Caleb Sellers (126), along with Whitewater’s Jason Higgins (113).
Nick Martin of Sandy Creek placed ninth, while Whitewater’s Daniel McCullough (145) and Michael Allen (220) came in tenth.
Other local participants at the sectional included Gregory Pasquarella, Whitewater (126), Jack Sultan, Whitewater (132), Ben Jones, Whitewater (152), Arthur Juarez, Fayette County (160), Ethan Stubbs, Sandy Creek (182) and Ruben Prinsloo of Whitewater (285).
In the A West Sectionals at George Walton Academy, Collin Greer of Landmark (132) came in first, as did teammate Titus Creamer (182). Payton Hayes of Landmark (138) finished third.
Sixth-place finishers included the War Eagles’ Joshua Cobb (160) and Steven Bedosky (285). Other local participants at the sectional included Landmark’s CJ Moeling (120), Harrison Geerlings (126) and Hunter Wallace (220), along with Our Lady of Mercy’s Tyler Hill (182), Delmario Hodges (195) and Sterling Laboo (285).
