After a successful showing at the sectional meet last weekend, the Darlington wrestling team will compete in the GHSA Traditional State wrestling tournament beginning today at the Gwinnett Center. The Tigers had six wrestlers qualify from the Area meet for Sectionals, and all six finished in the top four of their respective weight classes to qualify for State.
“We are very familiar with the teams on the west side of the state, which is the strongest area,” said Head Coach Kelly McDurmon. He added that his wrestlers will be facing many of the same athletes they have wrestled in the Area and Sectional tournaments, but the teams and athletes from the east sectional will be new.
McDurmon went on to say that his team is in great physical condition, so this week of practice has been focused on strategy. “We watch film, figure out what they do well, decide on defensive stops, and develop new offensive strategies," he said. "We are eliminating our own mistakes and looking to score points off of our opponents’ mistakes."
The team’s goal is tofinish in the Top 5 at State, but Top 4 would be even better as that would ensure a trophy. McDurmon said it will take great efforts from all six Darlington wrestlers in order to accomplish their goal; they will all need to score points. In order to do that, each of the wrestlers will need to finish in the Top 5 in their respective weight class.
While Darlington is sending six wrestlers to State, their Class A competition is also looking strong. State Duals Champion Holy Innocents’ is sending 12 athletes, Gordon Lee has 10, and defending State champion Bremen has 9.
Senior Spencer Jones (152 pounds) is attempting to win his fourth consecutive individual State Championship. This is a rare feat that has only been accomplished by 23 athletes in the history of Georgia wrestling, the most recent in 2009. According to McDurmon, Jones is prepared. “Spencer told me plans to wrestle harder this weekend than he ever has before,” he said.
Freshman Hayden Cook, Sectional runner-up, competes in the 170-pound weight class. "Hayden has a great chance to make finals," McDurmon said.
Sophomore Jule Peek, who placed third in Sectionals in the 126-pound weight class, made the finals in 2011. “Jule knows what it takes but has moved up two weight classes into a very deep field,” said McDurmon.
Jordan Beck, also a sophomore, will be competing at State for the first time. He was third at Sectionals in the 145-pound weight class.
Sophomore Chandler Duggan was fourth at Sectionals in the 132-pound weight class. McDurmon described him as the team member who has made the most progress this season. “Chandler has always been a great athlete, but he now understands the sport and has become a true wrestler,” he said.
The final Darlington wrestler to compete at State is senior Gavin Lawrence, who is looking to improve upon his 2011 State finish, in which he was fifth.
The full brackets for the tournament can be found on the GHSA website,
