Generals, Panthers battle at Burnt Mountain Classic
The Heritage Generals had three finalists claimed two individual champions as they finished sixth out of 27 teams at the Burnt Mountain Classic at Pickens High School over the weekend.
Ridgeland also participated in the tournament and had one individual runner-up. The Panthers ended up 14th in the team standings.
Skylar Grant won the 175-pound class for the Generals, while Evan Wingrove took the top spot at 190.
Grant, who picked up an 11-4 win over Zayden Cook of Chattooga in the semifinals, went on to defeat Carter Reed of Jasper (Ala.), 7-3, in the final. Reed, a junior, had entered the final bout with a 44-3 record on the year. Grant improved to 51-2 so far this season.
Wingrove pinned Tyler Patterson of Sequoyah in 2:18 of his semifinal bout to earn himself a match with Riley Davis (40-5) of Model in the championship. In that match, the Heritage senior got the pin in 1:57 to improve to 41-2 on the year.
Heritage's other finalist was Kaden Taylor at 106. Taylor advanced to the finals via forfeit, but lost by major decision to Mount Pisgah Christian's Tyler Prinzo in the final.
Eight other Heritage wrestlers also participated in the boys' varsity tournament. That list included Jonathan Arehart (113), Calvin Tribble (120), Austin Palmer (132), Will Smith (138), Jayden Walker (144), Logan Beasley (157), D.J. Smith (215) and Hunter Baker (285). Arehart went on to tie for fifth place.
As for Ridgeland, William Tredy also earned a forfeit in his semifinal match at 144, but fell to Mount Pisgah's Marley Washington in the final and was forced to settle for the runner-up spot.
Malachi Hutchinson (157) advanced to the semifinals on Friday, but dropped the match and eventually tied for fifth in his weight class. Also wrestling for Ridgeland was Sabastian Mantayla (106), Branson Dean (113), Hunter Barber (120), Tyler Hansard (126), Clay Hathaway (132), Devonta Saunders (138), Elijah Rhodes (165), Andrew Cordell (190) and Gary Leanard (285).
Dalton rallied on Saturday to win the team title with 159 points. Jasper and Mount Pisgah tied for second at 145.5, while Chattooga and Forsyth Central tied for fourth at 119. Heritage finished with 111 points and Ridgeland collected 70.5.