Georgia’s second wrestling postseason begins today, and the challenges facing the area’s best possibilities for team championships are eerily similar.
Both Heritage and Gordon Lee will be among the handful of traditional team favorites in their respective classes, but before the Generals and Trojans reach the state tournament in two weeks, they first have to compete in the same area tournaments as the teams that defeated them at the state duals last month.
Heritage and state duals champion Gilmer County will be the favorites at the 7-AAA area tournament at Allatoona, while Gordon Lee will have among its competition new rival Holy Innocents’ at the Area 1-A tournament at Darlington. Also in action today and Saturday will be the Area 7-AA tournament at Rockmart, with Calhoun among the favorites, and the 7-AAAA event at Cass, where Northwest Whitfield will be trying to make some noise.
The top four qualifiers in each weight class will advance to next week’s sectionals, where the state field will be cut in half. For Heritage, Gilmer and other strong 7-AAA teams such as LaFayette, Southeast Whitfield, Dalton and Ringgold, the overall quality can damage a team’s state title hopes.
“I think we’re ready,” senior defending state champion Landon Reed said. “We weren’t mentally prepared against Gilmer last time, but this is a different tournament. We’ve had to switch from duals to traditional mode, and that means just worrying about winning our match instead of getting pins. As long as we advance to next week we’ll be all right.”