Georgia high school wrestling coaches will earn their keep in the coming weeks after inclement weather forced the GHSA to postpone the state duals until Feb. 25-26, the week after the traditional state championships.
At Sonoraville, coach Eric Elrod is asking his Area 7-AA champions and 2010 state duals runners-up to be ready to flip the switch in reverse.
“In the past, it’s kind of been like a light switch,” said Elrod, whose team will join area rival Calhoun, Class AAA’s Heritage and Class A’s Gordon Lee in the duals field. “At first, we flip it up as the kids concentrate on the team, and then down for what I call the ‘selfish’ mode as they prepare for the traditional.
“This year we’ve had to change it. We still want them to get selfish, but then again we have to turn right around and focus on the team. It’s really about finding that happy medium. In the end, though, it’s still about winning a wrestling match.”
Area coaches have the same concern about what will be a hectic week. Can a wrestler with individual state-title hopes be able to stay mentally sharp after the emotion of the traditional tournament? Will guys who don’t qualify for the traditional tourney work hard heading into the duals?