Georgia Wrestling

Wrestler: Derrick Laney

This was supposed to have been Laney's crowning achievement. The Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe senior 215-pounder, already a two-time state champion, wanted to go out in style. He wanted to pin every opponent and walk away from the sport in dominant fashion before beginning a football career at West Georgia State University.

It took all of one week for those plans to disappear. After one of his first matches went the distance, Laney tore rib cartilage in a match against Walker Valley's Isaiah Simpson. Laney returned and won the area title and then pinned all but one opponent at the state tournament on the way to his third championship.

"I did think about not returning, but once I started working out, I knew I wanted to try," said Laney, who ended his prep career with 136 wins by pin and a 171-6 record. "I couldn't achieve my goals any longer of the perfect season, but I wanted that third title."

Laney received the Sean Hage Award, given each year to Georgia's most dominating wrestler.

Coach: Steve McDaniel

Ten years into his latest (and final, he says) building project, McDaniel is a satisfied coach. The veteran of 30-plus years of coaching wrestling still yearns to take his Gordon Lee team to a state title but is happy if he thinks his squad left everything on the mat - like this year's. The Trojans clearly were Georgia's secondbest Class A team this season. It just so happens the best team, Bremen, is in the same region. Gordon Lee finished second to their rivals in the area, state dual and traditional tournaments. "We did get as much out of them as we could," said McDaniel, who had three individual state champions. "Honestly, Bremen was better than we were, and it doesn't bother me to finish second when you know you are the second-best team. I have finished second when I thought we were the best team, and that does hurt."

Joshua Webb

Murray County

Junior

103 pounds

He was a AAAA state runner-up after winning the area title in a season that included 48 wins.

Christian Washington

Dalton

Senior

125 pounds

He ended with a 203-38 career record and his second area title before a second-place state finish.

Taylor Pace

Gordon Lee

Senior

140 pounds

He passed 200 wins in a 64-2 season and moved down and won the 135-pound state title.

Russell Royal

Northwest Whitfield

Senior

112 pounds

He won a state title in his fourth GHSA appearance, running his career mark to 194-37.

Seth Taylor

LaFayette

Senior

135 pounds

He went 59-6 to wind up 180-49 for his career, with his second consecutive individual state title.

Henry Torres

Dalton

Senior

119 pounds

He was a Class AAAA runner-up despite a dislocated shoulder and ended 204-31 for his career.

Justin Ownby

LaFayette

Senior

152 pounds

He went 45-5 this season for 171 career wins and earned his second state title in a row.

Preston McCalmon

LaFayette

Junior

130 pounds

His second straight state title capped a 58-8 season, running his career record to 169-20.

Dalton Lane

Murray County

Junior

145 pounds

He was 58-2 with a Class AAAA championship, his fifth tournament title of the season.

Zane Holder

Sonoraville

Junior

189 pounds

He was 44-8 with 30 pins, repeated as area champion and finished third in the Class AA state.

David Berry

Gordon Lee

Senior

215 pounds

He won a Class A state title and set a school record with 46 pins among his 56 wins.

Andrew Bingiel

Sonoraville

Junior

171 pounds

The Area 7-AA champion finished fifth in the state and was a key part of both area team titles.

Pepe Calderon

Dade County

Senior

285 pounds

He was 53-13 this year, finishing third in the state after winning the area and two other tournaments.

Austin Goodlet

Gordon Lee

Senior

160 pounds

A 63-4 record and third-place state finish this year capped a career that included a state title.

Second team

Cory Canada: Heritage, junior, 145 pounds

Mika Clark: Gordon Lee, freshman, 103 pounds

Andrew Gilbert: LaFayette, junior, 171 pounds

Cody Goins: Heritage, junior, 130 pounds

Ky Hart: LaFayette, senior, 160 pounds

Aaron Hatch: Sonoraville, senior, 215 pounds

Hunter Knight: Calhoun, sophomore, 152 pounds

Michael Knight: Dade County, junior, 140 pounds

Madison Parris: Lakeview-F.O., senior, 189 pounds

Kenny Sartin: LaFayette, junior, 285 pounds

Alex Spires: Gordon Lee, freshman, 112 pounds

Cody Stiffles: Chattooga, senior, 135 pounds

Jacob Wallace: Ridgeland, senior, 119 pounds

Brandon Wallin: LaFayette, senior, 125 pounds

Teams of the year

1. LaFayette: The Ramblers were second in both AAA state events.

2. Gordon Lee: The Trojans were second in both Class A states.

3. Northwest Whitfield: The Bruins took only five wrestlers to the Class AAAA state and finished second.

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