Camden County wins at state

Alexander, Buford, Jefferson among other dual champs.

Camden County scored a convincing 50-15 win over Archer in the finals of the GHSA team dual state wrestling championships Saturday at the Macon Centreplex to capture the Class AAAAAAA title. The Wildcats jumped up in class this year after winning three consecutive Class AAAAA dual titles.

Archer’s attempt at a fifth straight team title in Georgia’s highest classification was denied in the process.

Camden County opened the state tournament with a 71-17 win over Rockdale County and followed with a 56-8 win over Brookwood and a 45-8 victory over Mountain View in the semifinals. Archer sent North Forsyth to the consolation finals with a 33-26 win in the semis and the Raiders defeated Mountain View 35-34 for third place.

Alexander won its first dual state title with a 37-28 victory over South Paulding in Class AAAAAA. The title marks Alexander’s first state wrestling title since the Cougars took the traditional crown in 2010. Alexander sent Pope to the consolation bracket with a 38-33 win. There, the Greyhounds fell short to Richmond Hill, 33-27.

Allatoona and Valdosta squared off in the semifinals of the consolation bracket before Richmond Hill clinched third place with a 33-30 decision.

In Class AAAAA, Buford topped Woodland-Cartersville to capture its first dual state title since 2014. Union Grove outscored Clarke Central 53-15 in the semifinals of the consolation bracket, then topped Cass 43-29 to clinch third place.

In Class AAAA, Jefferson defeated Gilmer 35-28 to capture its 16th straight state title. Gilmer’s streak of seven straight state titles was snapped in the Dragons’ first year in AAAA.

Bremen survived a 34-33 victory over Jackson County in the semifinals and took the Class AAA title with a 36-21 win over Lumpkin County. Jackson County faced Sonoraville in the consolation finals and fell 31-29.

Social Circle completed the three-peat in Class AA with a 35-24 win over Toombs County.

Fitzgerald fell 39-24 to Social Circle in the semifinals before taking third place with a 58-20 rout of Pepperell.

Commerce scored the most lopsided finals of the weekend win, taking the program’s fourth straight Class A crown with a 74-3 win over Wesleyan.