Darlington will host the GHSA Class-A Area 3 wrestling tournament this weekend at the Huffman Center. Competition begins today at 6 p.m. and continues Saturday morning at 9 a.m. The finals are expected to take place around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Darlington has had a successful season thus far and is looking to build on their momentum this weekend. “We took third in our Area in the duals tournament, and look to do even better in the traditional format,” said head coach Kelly McDurmon.
Wrestling has two championship formats, team dual and traditional. Holy Innocents’ won the team dual State Championship two weeks ago over runner-up Gordon Lee. Both teams are in Darlington’s Area and will be in action this weekend. Area 3 of Class-A also includes Fellowship Christian, Mount Paran, Mount Pisgah, North Cobb Christian, Pace Academy, St. Francis, Towns Country, Trion, Walker, Whitefiled Academy and Yeshiva.
“It is up to individual athletes at this point, and we have a few we hope can win this weekend and make it to State,” continued McDurmon.
Jule Peek was Area and State runner-up last year as a freshman, and will seek to win an individual championship this year as he moves from the 112-pound to the 126-pound weight class.
McDurmon also mentioned Jordan Beck as another underclassman that has a great chance to finish in the top four of the Area. (The top four will move on to the Sectional tournament.)
The Sectional tournament takes place at Bremen High School on Saturday, Feb. 11. The top four individuals in each weight class at Sectionals would then move on to the State Championship, which takes place Feb. 17 and 18 at the Gwinnett Center.
Darlington has three seniors in action this weekend, the final home event of their careers: Spencer Jones, Gavin Lawrence and Joe DeLoach.
According to McDurmon, Lawrence has a great chance to win this weekend and do well at State. He was Area Champion in 2011 and placed 5th in the State in the 285-pound weight class.
Jones will be seeking his 4th consecutive State Championship in 2012, which is an extremely rare feat. He will be competing in the 152-pound weight class.
Surprisingly, the three-time State Champ has only won one Area Championship. “After his losses in the Area tournament his first two seasons we did some film study, made adjustments, and then he just went out and beat the guy at State,” McDurmon explained.
The Huffman Center will be closed Friday and Saturday for the Area Tournament. The cost is $7, and regular Darlington Athletic Booster Club and faculty passes will not be accepted. Only GHSA coach passes are valid for entry.
