Trojans eyeing bigger, better things in Class A
After a moderately successful two-year run in Class 2A, the Gordon Lee Trojans are fired up to be back in Class A.
Gordon Lee qualified for the Class 2A State Duals two years ago, finishing fourth, but missed out a year ago as they finished third in the area behind Lovett and Armuchee.
At last year’s area tradition tournament, they also placed third. Eight wrestlers advanced to the championship semifinals, but only four made into in the finals with sophomore Braden Jarvis emerging as the Trojans’ lone area champion.
Jarvis would go on to win a sectional title and finish as the state runner-up at 152 pounds, losing a close 3-1 decision. A final takedown that would have tied the match was ruled to have come after the final buzzer had sounded.
Jarvis, who finished the year with a 50-6 record, is back for his junior season at 170 pounds, as is senior Zach Murdock, who will likely go at 160. Murdock was second at area and third at sectionals and state with his lone loss at state coming to the eventual state champion.
Gordon Lee’s third state qualifier a year ago, Hunter Freeman, graduated this past spring. But head coach Jason Mull is hoping some newer faces will step up this year and take his place.
“We’ve got 20 kids out right now,” he said. “We were young last year and it was kind of a rebuilding year. Our two state placers are back. We’ve got quite a bit of young kids, including a good group of freshmen, and some good experience back so it’s a good mix.”
Along with Murdock, Chase Weber and
Carson Akins are the team’s other seniors. Weber, a mat veteran, will wrestle around 120 or 126 pounds, while Akins will go at 220. This is his first year on the mats.
“We’re glad to have (Carson) out because we needed some bigger kids,” Mull said. “He’ll help us fill out a lineup.”
Other returners from last year include sophomore Jasper Wilson (120) and sophomore Avery Geer (132). Geer advanced to state sectional a year ago, as did Caiden Scroggins, who will wrestle at 138 in his sophomore season.
Gordon Lee also has some experienced
juniors in Jarrett Lassetter (152), Caleb Vines (195) and Jared Spradlin (285). Lassetter moved on to sectionals last year, while Vines was a sectional alternate.
Sophomore Beau Barrett and Owen Frost will wrestle at 145 and 182, respectively, while the rest of the roster will consist of freshmen, including some who will start at the lower weights.
This year’s rookie class includes Hunter Burnette (106), Shaun Chapman (113), Tucker Miller (120), Garrett Tumblin (120), Joshua Carroll (120), Hunter Hartman (132), Gavin Graham (145) and Lane Hughes (152).
The invaluable Rickey Murdock will be back as the team’s main assistant coach.
“Rickey does a ton,”
Mull added. “If I have to turn things over to him for a little bit to do something else, I know hes got it. He’s just a huge help.”
Mull said the Trojans’ move back down to Class A prompted him to work the schedule so he could see some of his competition before the area and sectional tournaments.
And the early returns look promising as Gordon Lee thumped both Bowdon (55-9) and Mt. Zion-Carroll (58-18) at a season-opening dual tournament this past Saturday, in which the Trojans placed third overall. Their lone loss came by one point to Class 4A LaGrange.
Bowdon and Mt. Zion, along with Gordon Lee, are part of 15-team Area 3-A, which also includes Darlington,
ELCA, Mt. Paran, Trion, Walker and Whitefield, among others.
“We’re back in an area with Trion and Darlington and I know both of those two teams are tough,” Mull said. “We would like build on last year and improve on what we did. We want to take more than three to state, obviously, and we’d like to put ourselves in a position to be in the top two when area duals comes around.
“Goal number one is filling every single weight class and hopefully, we can do that. If we do everything we need to do, like everyone making weight, staying healthy, that sort of stuff, I think we have a shot at a really good year, but everything has to fall into place.”