Dalton wrestlers had an impressive first day at the GHSA's Class AAAAA B sectional Friday at Lanier High School in Buford.
The Catamounts, after two rounds in the championship bracket and one on the consolation side, still have each of their 11 wrestlers who qualified competing in the traditional tournament. Dalton will be represented in the semifinals by Hunter Noland at 113 pounds, Ethan Carroll (120), Jaxon Wells (138), Kevin Diaz (182) and Joseph Reese (195).
Each of those wrestlers have already clinched at least a top-six sectional finish, meaning they have qualified for next week's state tournament in Macon. Classes AAAA and higher advance the top eight placers in each weight class.
Alive for the Catamounts in the consolation round are Manuel Trejo (126), Malik Coleman (152), Jorge Arevalo (160), Ryan Hansen (170), Tyler O'Brien (220) and Ethan Arnold (285).
In the Class AAAA A sectional at Woodward Academy in College Park, powerful Gilmer still has 11 wrestlers alive, including seven semifinalists. Ridgeland put four of its wrestlers - Jordan Hughley (138), Jacob Mariakis (145), Dylan Swanson (160) and Ryan McGill (170) - into the semifinals, with Tommy Lamb (220) in the consolation bracket.
Heritage, LaFayette, Northwest Whitfield and Southeast Whitfield each have two semifinalists. Ryan Craft (106) and Drake Parker (182) represent Heritage, which has four wrestlers in the consolations - Garrett Stephens (138), Spencer Davies (160), Alex Eacret (170) and Zach Brown (195).
Northwest has Trenton Miller (132) and Jamarey Hull (170) in the semifinals, with Griffin Hughes (113), Jason Fauscette (120), Evan Locke (145) and Jonathan Gembe (152) also alive. Southeast has Riso Webb (106) and Jose Chavarria (220) in the semis and Salvadaor Luna (132) and Diego Fraire (285) in the consolations, while LaFayette's Tyler Beard (182) and Cody Deal (220) are in the semifinals.
The Class AAA B sectional at Bremen, the Class AA B sectional at Rockmart and the Class A A sectional at Irwin County will be held today, with the top four placers in each eight-man bracket moving on to state.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.