Eric Elrod’s Sonoraville Phoenix wrestling team fell short of a GHSA Class AA duals title last month, but the fiery coach believes his team has a better shot to unseat Jefferson as the traditional postseason begins today with three area tournaments involving local teams.
Sonoraville will be the favorite in the Area 7-AA event at Dade County, but the main goal is to qualify as many wrestlers as possible for next week’s sectional round and the state tournament the week after.
“I think this year we’re a better traditional team than dual team, which is different from the last two years,” Elrod said. “The key is getting through these next two weeks.”
LaFayette, the Class AAA duals third-place team, will be well motivated at the Area 6-AAA tournament at Heritage. The Ramblers will be tested by the hosts and an improving Carrollton team.
The most wide-open tournament involving northwest Georgia teams will be at Allatoona High, where Region 7-AAAA teams will battle it out.
“Honestly, this region is so balanced that it will be hard for any team to come out of this weekend with enough wrestlers to win a state title,” said Charles Mitchell, coach of defending area champ Dalton. “There’s just so much talent spread around.”
Other area teams with title aspirations are Murray County and Northwest Whitfield.
Carlisle surpasses 2,000
Hamilton Heights senior Riley Carlisle has 2,111 points for her basketball career at the school on Hickory Valley Road. A starter since eighth grade, she surpassed 2,000 on Jan. 19 at home against East Hamilton.
“She’s really matured and improved,” said Lady Hawks coach Keisha Hunt, the assistant before this season. “She’s become a leader in addition to someone we look to when we need a score. She’s probably only about 5-foot-7, but she’s quick as lightning and a very good ball-handler.
“She has (NCAA) Division I speed, but she’s going to Bryan College. She’s been pretty much set on going there for over a year, and I think she can make an impact pretty soon there.”
The Lady Hawks are 21-3 this season.
While emphasizing that Carlisle hasn’t yet signed with his team, Bryan coach Jamy Bechler said, “We like her skills and think she could develop into a college point guard. She will have an adjustment period with the move up in level of play, but she has played with our girls a number of times and it is evident she has an upside. What is more, she seems to raise the level of her game when they play the better opponents.”
Fritts leaves Rome
Sid Fritts has announced his resignation as head football coach at Rome High School after five seasons with the program. Fritts, who also coached at Sequatchie County High School previously, has accepted an offer to become the head coach and athletic director at Elbert County High in Elberton, Ga.
Fritts had a record of 46-15-1 at Rome, where he led the Wolves to the Class AAAA semifinals in 2008 and won region championships in 2005 and ’06. His teams won at least 10 games in each of his first four seasons but finished 4-6 last season.
Fritts, whose career record is 99-23-2, will replace Brent Miller, who went 12-19 in three seasons at Elbert County.