MACON, Ga. - Only two wrestling teams in each classification get to leave the Macon Centreplex as winners on championship Saturday at the GHSA state duals.
Sonoraville and Trion were two of those teams, and though neither managed to capture the big prize, each left on a bright note and with a sense of accomplishment after frustrating results Friday night.
Sonoraville, after losing to eventual champion North Hall on Friday, regrouped to win against Savannah Arts Academy in the consolation semifinals, 57-18, before blowing past Jackson County in the third-place match, 46-21.
The match, which started at 170 pounds, was tied at 12 after the heavyweight bout before 106-pound freshman Eli Knight grabbed momentum for the Phoenix with a first-period pin. Sonoraville won three of the next four bouts, including a pin from Tyler Hunt at 132, to seize control.
"I talked to him about how we needed to get something started, and Eli - he's an ornery guy to begin with - went out there and whipped their kid," Sonoraville coach Randy Steward said. "Last night we were down as we could be because our goal was to come down here and be in contention to win it.
"But, again, these kids came back just like they did last week (at area duals) when they were beaten. We just beat a pretty good team, badly, so my hat's off to the guys."
The Phoenix also received pins from Hunter Wilson and John Knight, and Davin O'Neal earned six points after winning by disqualification.
Trion had an even tougher hurdle to overcome after losing Friday night to Wesleyan by a point in the championship semifinals. Coach Eric Brock's team, which defeated Strong Rock Christian 51-26 in the consolation semifinals earlier Saturday, came out on fire in the third-place match against Mount de Sales.
The Bulldogs, after losing the first bout at 170, soared to a 30-4 lead with consecutive pins from Hunter Stallings, Cody Luallen, Aidan Brock, Logan Blevins and Alonzo Francisco. Mount de Sales, making its state duals debut, rallied with three consecutive pins to cut the lead to eight.
However, Trion's Noah Deparlier squelched the momentum with a pin at 132, and Lincoln Maddux and Chris Pace followed suit to seal the win.
"Last night things did not go our way," Coach Brock said. "We really wanted to be in the finals, but sometimes it says more about your kids after they lose and how they respond. They could have easily laid down today, but they came out and wrestled hard.
"I have nine seniors, so we have a lot of leadership. Cole Luallen, Logan Blevins, Bolen Stricklin we've just got a bunch of competitors. I've got to see these guys come up from the fourth grade and up, so it's kind of neat to see them grow up and become men. We've still got four weeks (with the traditional postseason ahead), and I'm expecting great things."
Also Saturday, Dalton's run through the Class AAAAA consolation bracket ended in the quarterfinals with a 46-33 loss to Lee County, while Gordon Lee lost a 39-36 match to Strong Rock Christian in the Class A consolation bracket.
Gilmer lost for the second consecutive year in the Class AAAA championship round to Jefferson, with the Dragons capturing their 17th consecutive duals title by winning 32-19. Other champions were Camden County in Class AAAAAAA, Richmond Hill (AAAAAA), Buford (AAAAA), Social Circle (AA) and Commerce (A).
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.