Trailing 12-6 after the first four matches, the Screven County High School Gamecock wrestling team of Griffen Greene won nine of the final ten matches to end up cruising to their third consecutive area duals championship by a 60-18 margin over Dublin’s Irish on January 8. For the second straight season the Area 3A duals tournament was held at Montgomery County High School in Mt. Vernon.
Either this Friday, January 14, or Saturday, January 15, the Harold Lee Scott Gymnasium will host first and second round state matches, the winner to advance to the state finals at Commerce High School beginning on January 22. Coming to Sylvania to face the Gamecocks will be Area 1 #4 Brookstone of Columbus while the other first round match will feature Region 5 #2 Mt. Zion Carrollton and Region 7 #3 Armuchee. The winners of those matches will face off to go to Commerce.
“This was a very satisfying championship for us,” said Greene afterwards. “We were down a few starters because of injuries and other things so all week we stressed the urgency.”
In Saturday’s title bout the matches opened at 106. Bella Maust fell 13-6 and Justin Pearce (113) fell 10-8. With the decisions Dublin led 6-0. A forfeit to Bo Doss (120) evened the score at 6-6 before Sam Robbins (126) was pinned to put the Irish up 12-6. From that point on the match was all about the Red and White. Gaining pins were Ryder Rankin (132), Timothy Frank (138), Carson Ellis (152), David McFarland (160), Vasquez Lonon (182), Ed Lee (195), and Jemiah Stewart (285). Jayson James (145) and Luke McFarland (220) recorded forfeits. SCHS allowed a forfeit at 170.
Continuing Greene stated, “We knew that Dublin was much improved and that we had to bring our A-game. The final score was a blowout but it could have been much different if we had relaxed and assumed that we would win. The team understood the challenge and rose to the occasion. I couldn’t be more proud.”
To reach the championship, the Roosters picked up wins over Metter in the opening round and Bryan County in the semifinals. Both scores were 72-12.
Metter fielded but five wrestlers, actually winning two of the spots. With 45 points of forfeits the Gamecocks were never threatened. Pins went to Ellis, Lee, and Luke McFarland. Bryan County did present wrestlers in 13 of the 14 weight classes but nevertheless trailed SCHS 30-0 before picking up a win. The match with the Redskins started at 220 with Luke McFarland gaining a pin. Others with pins were Stewart, Maust, Pearce, Rankin, Frank, Ellis, David McFarland, Kody Cochran (160), Lonon, and Lee.
Regulars who participated Saturday now feature season-long records of 31-11 by Ellis, 28-8 b Luke McFarland, 28-12 by David McFarland, 27-14 by Stewart, 24-7 by Frank, 23-16 by Rankin, 22-13 by Lonon, 21-15 by Pearce, 19-16 by Maust, 18-13 by Lee, and 13-19 by Robbins. Of note is the career record of junior Luke McFarland which stands at 95-29. If he reaches the 100 mark he will become 12th Gamecock to reach the century mark in wins.
