Heritage takes down LaFayette on Senior Night
LaFayette head coach Ethan Thompson, a member of the only Heritage wrestling team to win a state title (Class AAA Traditional, 2012), brought his Ramblers to Boynton this past Thursday night looking to spoil Senior Night for the Mat Generals.
However, an inspired Heritage squad rose to the challenge and rolled to a 62-11 victory over the Ramblers in a battle of recent State Duals participants.
Heritage went ahead 12-0 on pins from Tate Thomas (106 pounds) and Kaden Taylor (113). Eli Hudson (120) got LaFayette on the board with three points by winning his match via minor decision.
The Navy-and-Red responded with pins from Will Smith (126) and Landon Albright (132), before Drew Dietz 138 rallied for a 6-4, sudden victory win to give his team a 27-3 lead. Victor Johnson (144) and Jaden Walker (150) both followed up with pins and the Generals had a commanding 39-3 lead with just six bouts remaining.
Levi Ledford tried to get something going for the Ramblers with a pin at 157, but Alex Grayson answered with a pin for Heritage at 165 and Skylar Grant was awarded a forfeit at 175 as the home team increased its lead to 51-9.
The final win for LaFayette came at 190 as Nicholas Cigalina gutted out a minor decision. Evan Wingrove (215) picked up a technical fall for Heritage and D.J. Smith (285) was awarded a forfeit to account for the final six points for the Generals. The Ramblers were also docked one team point for an unsportsmanlike penalty.
LaFayette and the rest of 6-AAA will take part in the area traditional tournament at Coahulla Creek High School this Saturday, while Heritage will battle with the rest of 7-AAAA at Sonoraville that same day.
LFO GOES 1-1 IN DALTON
Last Tuesday night at Southeast Whitfield, the Warriors dropped a narrow 41-39 loss to the host
Raiders and scored an easy 78-6 victory over Christian Heritage.
Tamorris Johnson (157), Blake Rizzo (190) and Obed Andres (285) had pins for LFO against Southeast. Nick Kapherr (150) won by minor decision, while Gavin Summey (113), Brodi Rizzo (165) and Ethan Kinsey (175) won by forfeit.
The Warriors got win from Andres, Blake Rizzo, Noah Mayberry and Stone Harris against the Lions, while the rest of the victories came by forfeit.
LFO 40, GORDON CENTRAL 34
A year after struggling to a 1-15 record in dual matches, the Warriors finished a 14-7 campaign with a win in Calhoun this past Thursday.
Starting at 113 pounds, LFO dropped the first match by decision, but earned four straight victories. Summey (120), Ryan Birt (126) and Micah Eyman (132) all won by pin before Seth Mayberry (138) was awarded a forfeit.
The two squads split the next six matches. Central got a pin at 144, a major decision at 157 and a minor decision at 175, while Johnson scored a pin for LFO at 150, Brodi Rizzo picked up a major decision at 165 and Blake Rizzo was awarded a forfeit at 190 as LFO clinched the match with a 40-16 lead.
Central scored pins at 215, 285 and 106, but it would not be enough points to complete the comeback.
RINGGOLD 45, NORTH MURRAY 25
With a handful of starters sitting out for a well-deserved rest following their recent third-place finish at the Class AAA State Duals, the Tigers were still able to pull out a 20-point victory over the Mountaineers in Chatsworth on Thursday night.
Brayden Raby (150) led things off with a technical fall before Jaxon Delgado’s pin at 157. There was a double forfeit at 165 and North Murray was awarded a forfeit at 175.
Ringgold scored 18 straight points on forfeit victories for Brent Lee Raby (190), Cameron Talley (215) and Travis Talley (285) before North Murray was awarded a forfeit at 106.
Head-to-head matches resumed at 113 with the Mountaineers picking up a major decision. However, the Tigers countered with pins from Nolan Rohrer (120) and Pierce Pennington (126).
The final three matches saw North Murray earn a technical fall at 132 and a major at 144 sandwiched around a pin by Ringgold’s Lathan Spencer at 138.
LFO and Ringgold will be among those in the field for the Area 6-AAA traditional tournament this Saturday at Coahulla Creek High School.
The top four wrestlers in each individual weight class will qualify for the state sectionals next weekend at Stephens County High School in Toccoa.