DULUTH, Ga. — Sidney Wheeler could hardly walk. One eye was nearly swollen shut and he walked as if one leg had just decided to quit working.
The Dalton High School sophomore, having just rallied from a six-point deficit to win the Class AAA 182-pound individual state wrestling championship, may not have been at 100 percent of his senses, but he knew enough to realize what had just happened. One of the surprises of the Georgia traditional tournament Saturday, Wheeler nearly broke down following his 16-12 win over a shocked Demetrius Green of West Laurens.
“I’ve been praying for this a long time, and I couldn’t have done it without God,” Wheeler said through a flood of tears. “I have to give all the credit to him. It took lots of heart and willpower to come back, but I have to thank all my coaches and family. I was never going to give up.”
Green appeared to be well on his way to the title after building up a 9-3 lead early in the second period, but the bulldog-like Catamount got an escape and takedown to cut the lead to three entering the final period. Wheeler tied at 11 on a takedown and took a 12-11 lead on an escape with a minute to go. The two wrestlers bumped heads at least three times, with Green needing attention twice, but Wheeler held on for the emotional win as the two wrestlers embraced following the match.
Wheeler’s win was one of seven for northwest Georgia wrestlers Saturday. Two Class AA championships also had the huge Gwinnett Arena crowd buzzing.
Calhoun junior Donnell Anthony avenged an area loss to pre-tournament favorite Clay Richardson of Jefferson in a 9-7 thriller. A late takedown put Anthony in front and managed to hold on for the win. Anthony, a defensive back on the state championship football team, had just picked up his championship ring earlier this week.
“I worked hard every day after football season,” an exhausted Anthony said. “I didn’t get a break; I went into right after football because I knew what it would take to win a state title. I think I surprised a few people. All the Jefferson guys are tough, so to beat one to win the title means a lot. Getting two rings in one week means a whole lot to me.”
One of the matches of the day came at 152 when a pair of two-time state champions met. Chattooga’s Brandon Stiffles fell behind 6-2 to Jefferson’s Cain Finch, suriving a near-fall in the first period, but dominated the final two periods to win his third title, 12-6.
“I just had to keep moving and keep moving to get points,” the senior said. “At the end of the first period I could tell he was wearing down. I wasn’t expecting his first shot, but once I got into the match I was ready for anything.”
Also winning titles were Heritage senior Landon Reed and three Gordon Lee wrestlers — Johnny Ragsdale, Corey Jewell and Ethan West, who pinned defending state champion Eljiha Ballard of Athens Christian in 1:57.
“This means a lot to me,” said West, who finished third a year ago. “I’ve been busting my tail off all year for this moment, and now that it’s happened I’m ecstatic. I had nothing to lose because he had to defend his title, so I just gave it all I had. He just got in a bad position and I caught him there and made the most of his mistake.”