Mat Panthers go 1-2 in first trip to State Duals
The Ridgeland Panthers’ dreams of winning a State Duals title in their first-ever appearance at the tournament came to a heartbreaking end this past Thursday afternoon, but the Panthers were able to pick up a consolation bracket victory before another tough defeat ended their run on Friday. Panthers, while Preston Perrault (106), Ross (113) and Josh Jenkins (220) won by forfeit.
Troup County 30, Ridgeland 25
The Panthers tournament came to a close on Friday afternoon, but not before the Blackand-White put up a tremendous fight in the consolation bracket.
Starting the match at 285 pounds, Troup won the first four matches, all by decision, before Prescott got Ridgeland on the board with a decision at 126 pounds. However, Troup scored another three-point decision at 132 and led the match, 15-3.
But it would take the Panthers just three wins to knot things up. Mariakis (138) scored a pin, Mosgrove (145) won a decision and Swanson (152) followed with a decision to tie it up at 15.
Troup retook the lead with a pin at 160, but McGill earned four points for a major decision, cutting the Tigers’ lead to 21-19 with three bouts left.
However, Troup got six crucial points with a pin at 182 before sealing the win with a decision at 195. With the outcome already decided, the Tigers forfeited to Henderson, the defending 220-pound state champion, accounting for Ridgeland’s final six points.
Jefferson, making their first State Duals appearance as a Class AAAA program, knocked off state power and Area 6 champion Gilmer, 35-28, in the finals. It was the 16th consecutive Duals title for the Dragons, who have won state every year since the State
Duals began in 2002.
Commerce thrashed Wesleyan, 74-3, to win the Class A state title for a fourth year in a row, while Social Circle knocked off Toombs County, 35-24, to win a third straight in Class AA.
The Class AAA crown went to Bremen after a 36-21 win over Lumpkin County. It was the fourth overall State Duals title for the Blue Devils and their first in Class AAA. Buford beat Woodland-Cartersville, 34-30, in Class AAAAA to give the Wolves their second title in the last four years.
In Class AAAAAA, Alexander won its first State Duals championship with a 3728 win over surprising finalist South Paulding and in Class AAAAAA, Camden County won its third straight title with a 50-15 win over Archer, denying the Tigers a fifth consecutive crown.
The area traditional touramenst are scheduled to be held next weekend. Gordon Lee will wrestle at Mt. Zion and the 6-AAAA tournament will be held at Gilmer.