Area 6-AAA Duals at Southeast WhitfieldFirst RoundRinggold 40, North Murray 28Lakeview-F.O. 42, Central-Carrollton 33Southeast Whitfield 78, Cedartown 0Second RoundCartersville 40, Ridgeland 39LaFayette 66, Ringgold 6Heritage 63, Lakeview-F.O. 15Carrollton 40, Southeast Whitfield 26Consolation First RoundRidgeland 57, Central-Carrollton 24Ringgold 56, Cedartown 18North Murray 57, Lakeview-F.O. 21Consolation Second RoundRidgeland 39, Ringgold 33Southeast Whitfield 50, North Murray 27Consolation SemifinalsCarrollton 38, Ridgeland 34Southeast Whitfield 40, Cartersville 39Championship SemifinalsHERITAGE 42, CARROLLTON 21(Meet started at 130 pounds)103–Christian Tompkins (C) pinned Hunter Talley, 0:28; 112–Landon Reed (H) pinned Chris Foster, 0:45; 119–Aldredo Roach (C) pinned Dakota Foster, 1:09; 125–Robert Shepard (H) dec. Levi Ward, 13-6; 130–Cody Goins (H) dec. Mason Mitcham, 8-5; 135–Dustin Ridley (H) dec. Jim Harris, 22-15; 140–Jarrod Holmes (H) dec. Robert Dortch, 11-8; 145–Dan Harris (C) dec. Aaron Randall, 3-1; 152–Cory Canada (H) pinned Jacob Senfeld, 2:33; 160–Jason Randall (H) pinned Ben Roach, 2:30; 171–Ethan Thompson (H) dec. Travis Joyce, 9-8; 189–Jacob Tripp (H) dec. Gilbert Tillman, 3-2, OT; 215–Robert Darby (C) pinned Tommy O’Dell, 1:19; 285–Dylan Lowe (H) pinned Axel Quintenar, 1:06.LaFAYETTE 52, CARTERSVILLE 18(Meet started at 130 pounds)103–Britton Gilbert (L) pinned Sagar Patel, 0:46; 112–Hannah Jackson (L) won by forfeit; 119–Justin Wallin (L) won by forfeit; 125–Brandon Wallin (L) major dec. Ty Downer, 15-4; 130–Preston McCalmon (L) pinned Ethan Alexander, 2:18; 135–Seth Talor (L) pinned Hans Navarette, 2:34; 140–Josh DiPrima (C) dec. Dalton Smith, 7-4; 145–Brady Hart (L) pinned Jerry Vassil, 1:41; 152–Justin Ownby (L) dec. Connor Layton, 11-5; 160–Jake Johnson (C) dec. Andrew Gilbert, 5-1; 171–Tate Murray (C) pinned Ky Hart, 2:41; 189–Brian McClure (C) pinned Caleb Burrage, 3:18; 215–Koran Dyer (L) dec. Brandon Mahoney, 2-0; 285–Kenneth Sartin (L) pinned Bradley Graham, 0:26.ChampionshipLaFAYETTE 58, HERITAGE 12(Meet started at 135 pounds)103–Dalton Smith (L) pinned Hunter Talley, 1:13; 112–Landon Reed (H) won by forfeit; 119–Jusitn Wallin (L) won by forfeit; 125–Brandon Wallin (L) won by forfeit; 130–Preston McCalmon (L) won by forfeit; 135–Seth Taylor (L) pinned Dustin Ridley, 1:32; 140–Dalton Smith (L) major dec. Jarrod Holmes, 12-3; 145–Brady Hart (L) pinned Logan Perkins, 5:13; 152–Justin Ownby (L) dec. Cory Canada, 12-11; 160–Ky Hart (L) pinned Jason Randall, 0:15; 171–Andrew Gilbert (L) dec. James Voorhees, 5-0; 189–Jacob Tripp (H) pinned Caleb Burrage, 3:09; 215–Koran Dyer (L) dec. Tommy O’Dell, 5-1; 285–Kenneth Sartin (L) dec. Dylan Lowe, 4-0.Records: LaFayette 20-6; Heritage 28-14.
DALTON, Ga. — After graduating the most successful class in program history, the LaFayette High School wrestling team entered the twice-delayed Area 6-AAA duals tournament Monday with more question marks than at any time in the past five years.
Monday, the Ramblers emphatically answered the questions. Sweeping through the field at Southeast Whitfield, they won by 60, 34 and 46 points, trampling Heritage 58-12 for their fifth consecutive area championship. The top-ranked Ramblers (20-6) will head Friday to Macon with much confidence for defense of their state duals championship.
“It’s tough every year in this region,” LaFayette coach Sam Forester said. “We were really looking forward to this one. After we graduated the seniors from last year, a lot of people were counting us out. Not this bunch, though. They expect to win at this point.”
The Ramblers had little trouble with semifinal foe Cartersville, winning 52-18 after the Purple Hurricanes needed the sixth tiebreaking criteria to edge Ridgeland 40-39. Heritage (28-14) had to work much harder to defeat Carrollton in the other semifinal, despite a 42-21 score.
“We had a great match with Carrollton, but we couldn’t keep the intensity level,” said Heritage coach Kenny Hill, whose team also will compete in Macon. “That’s not to take anything away from LaFayette. They brought it against us. I hope we learn from it. You have to be able to go hard each match. That’s the way the state is.”
The Ramblers made a statement early in the finals, which started at 135 pounds. Seth Taylor recorded a first-period pin and Dalton Smith followed with a major decision for a 10-0 lead. Brady Hart made it 16-0 with a third-period pin, and the next match really ended any Heritage hopes.
In what could be a preview of the 152-pound individual state final, LaFayette’s Justin Ownby overcame an early groin injury to edge Cory Canada 12-11 after Canada had built a five-point lead. LaFayette won the next two matches, including Ky Hart’s 15-second pin, before Jacob Tripp got Heritage some points with a pin at 189 pounds.
“Justin really battled,” Forester said of his defending state champion. “He overcame some discomfort and wrestled a gutty match. Overall, we had a great day. This team is focused. They came in knowing what was at stake and took care of business.”
Carrollton claimed third place, but a possible consolation finals matchup with Southeast Whitfield was not wrestled because the Raiders already had competed in five matches, the maximum allowed in one day by the GHSA.