Wrestling season is nearing the State Traditional tournament, and just recently wrapped up Duals. Highlighting the action was Jefferson winning yet another title, keeping ahead of the entire state of Georgia in terms of trophies in the case for wrestling. Here’s a look of all the local programs as they stood going into duals.

All information gathered and written by Jason Lord. Special thank you to Jason for using his insider info to put this all together.

BANKS COUNTY

COACHES: Kasey Hanley (Boys) / Forrest Garner (Girls)

The Banks County Leopards are carrying a team record of 9-4 going into the area duals this weekend at the Inferno hosted by Elbert County. Coach Hanley had to navigate some early season injuries and absences that cost them a couple of W’s. The team is relatively young, only returning five starters from last season’s team. The team is led by three seniors- Davian Knox, a returning state runner up, Kase Hanley, a 3-time state medalist, and CJ Maynard, also a returning state medalist. Banks will compete in area duals against host Elbert County, Oglethorpe County, Rabun County, Fannin County, Towns County, and reigning champs Commerce.

The Banks County Lady Leopards are sporting a 2-0 dual team record going into the area duals as the #1 seed. Coach Garner told me that the girls have really bought into the process this year and made significant strides and peaking at the right time. Ruth Cote, a freshman, is leading
the team with a 21-1 record at this point of the season.

COMMERCE

COACH: Chance McClure

How has the season been going up to this point? The dual team record and accomplishments? We have had a season of growth and development. We were 15-6 on the year with only two losses within the state of Georgia to Tift County (eventual 3rd place 6A team) and to Social Circle (the eventual 1A State Champions). The program from youth-high school is growing and developing the way we have planned for it to, and the fruit is starting to show.

Another area dual championship, what # is this area championship for the program? You as the Head Coach? #13 in a row for the school and fourth as a head coach. It’s basically a state semis match in the area tournament every year. We have one of the toughest areas in the state and it is hard to make it out of.

A 3rd-place finish at the state duals with some really close matches against Bremen and Gordon Lee- who really stepped up and had a good weekend in your eyes to help bring the hardware back to Commerce? We had 10 guys in the lineup that have varsity experience prior to this year, and only nine of those were able to compete. Out of those nine guys, they won 32-39 matches at duals. Colt Redmon was asked to bump to 113 several times to get big wins and answered the call with a 4-1 record. Kam Fortson was a last minute addition to fill 113. He is a basketball player for CHS and was allowed by Coach Brantley to wrestle for us during area and state dual competition. Huge guts by him to step in fearlessly and compete each match. Caleb Croy is a second year wrestler and was taking guys down to the wire all weekend and saving team points in big ways. Emory Moss knocked off a state placer and battled with three others. Tyson Allen took out a state placer with a major decision and went 4-1 on the weekend. TJ Morgan knocked off Bremen’s state finalist and went undefeated on the weekend. Cy Wheeler stepped up and wrestled some of the best the state had to offer on a 1-hour notice due to weight problems and never backed down. Zane Chavis bumped to 150 and went 4-1 on the weekend with his only loss being to a 2-time state champ in overtime. Will Cox had a dominant win to ice the opening dual against McIntosh. Hogan Sims is our anchor and bumped from 150 to 157 so that we could put him on the best guys from 165 all weekend because that’s how much we believe in his skills and leadership, and he got a 6-point win vs Trion’s best guys at 165 to ice that dual. Jacob Fields wrestled lights out and went 4-1 with several falls that were all momentum filled moments. Caden McWilliams continues to improve and wrestle well, 4-1 on the weekend with his loss coming during the social dual when he tried to go feet to back for team points while he was up 3-1. Rivers West is a stud. He battles every single match like it’s a war, and avenged a big loss earlier in the season against Social Circle for one if the few wins anyone got against them this weekend. Terrance Burtch came out of the Hallways to help us and had a massive win against Trion with a headlock for a fall. Brayden Jolley and Matthew Williams both wrestled matches against guys that out matched them in weight and skill and went out there to fight for their teams with everything they had. It was a team effort to bring home this trophy. Not one kid rolled over all weekend, and they all stood up for one another and cheered like it was their last dual. We are proud to have these boys training together and competing as a unit the way that they do. You’ll see the same group next year.

What wrestler has the best record this season? Hogan Sims only has four losses on the year and zero in the state of Georgia at 150.

Have you had an underclassman that has stepped up and maybe produced a little more than expected back in October? Colt Redmon, Zane Chavis, and Rivers West have all been blessings. Colt is a freshman with only four losses and Zane Chavis is a sophomore with only four losses. They have been vital parts of the team and wrestled like veterans for the large majority of the season. Rivers West has been getting back in the swing of things while balancing football, but he is the guy that people fear when he walks on the mat and he wrestles to back it up. All very fun to watch.

Transitioning into the traditional part of the season, any coaching changes or strategies? Will you have a shake up in the weight classes or is everyone pretty set already? We’re gonna keep doing what we do. Everyone is pretty much where they are going to be, and they will battle to finish strong as a team just as they have this whole year.

DAWSON COUNTY

COACH: Andrew Grigsby

No reply to multiple attempts…

FRANKLIN COUNTY

COACH: Zach Marinell

The Lions from Carnesville have really relied on the younger guys in the room on their way to the Area Dual Championship held in Union County earlier this season. Freshman Sean Williams has made the largest contribution to the team with 35 wins on the season, collecting 16 pins along the way for bonus points. Junior Josh Baughcum has been the lead dog with 37 wins, 20 of those coming by pin fall. The team will transition to the traditional part of the season by continuing to work hard in the room and get everyone healthy before heading to the area
tournament hoping to push everyone thru to the sectionals.

HABERSHAM CENTRAL

COACH: Morris Brooks

The Raiders have had a strong season with a 1st-place finish at the Raider Invitational and added runner up finishes at the Arrowhead Classic and the Grayson Duals earlier in the season. Add in a runner up finish in the Class 5A Area 8 duals and Coach Brooks has his team headed in the right direction moving into the traditional part of the season ending in Morrow at the new Clayton County Covocational Center, new home of the GHSA State Tournament. The team is led by returning senior and area champion Jayden Garrison along with Javonte Bowen who has amassed an impressive 30-2 record this season.

The lady grapplers’ bright spot this season has been Alayna Palmer, a sophomore, who has a very impressive record of 30-4. Coach Brooks is looking for this young lady to compete at the girls area tournament and punch her ticket to the the sectionals and then to Morrow on
Valentines Day weekend.

JEFFERSON

COACHES: Kyle Baird (Boys) / Nick White (Girls)

The Jefferson Dragons are the gold standard in Northeast Georgia and the state of Georgia but now making noise across the nation. The team has earned an HM and #26 place in all teams nation-wide. The Dragons were 7-0 going into the area duals which they won along with the state duals last weekend in a very convincing way in both tournaments. Jefferson topped Troup County for the 3A State Title in a rematch of the 2025 state championship which Jefferson was victorious then as well. The lineup is covered with top-notch wrestlers consisting of Anthony Aquayo, Gavin Austin, Ty Murray, Roman Belardo, Tanner Hunt, Cruz Hezel, Danny Krutules, Dallas Russell, Kam Dotson, Reid Gober, Clifford Williford, and Zachary White while none of
these wrestlers have double-digit losses. Coach Baird is confident that his team will keep answering the bell and prepare themselves for the upcoming traditional area, sectionals, and state with one of the deepest rooms of talent in the state thru all the classes.

This is the first year of the Nick White coached Lady Dragons. Coach White came over to J Town from Carrollton for the 2025-26 season. The Jefferson girls have worked to get a 2-0 dual record and finished 2nd at the Jefferson Kickoff and a 2nd-place finish at the South Walton Florida
border wars. The team has close to 20 girls suiting up this year and filling all the weight classes. Ella Hughes and Ava Catledge are returning starters and continuing to rack up the wins and pins
this season. Coach White has also gotten some great results from the underclassmen in Semaj Glenn and Megan Coile solidify the middle of the lineup while Freshman Ella White has been on a tear this season.

LUMPKIN COUNTY

COACHES: Josh Ghobadphoor (Boys) / Scott Degraff II (Girls)

The Lumpkin County Lady Indians have had an outstanding season up to the point going into the State Dual Championship which they will be hosting on January 24-25 (They won their second straight state title!). The team is carrying a 19-0 team record before the area duals. The team is led by 10 ladies that all have less than four losses a piece with the Garbuzovas sisters (Greta & Nora) along with Caroline Cunningham, Cadence Grulla, Monica McClendon, Mattie Mendoza, and Mia Flores. The team isn’t just senior-led and dominant either, Freshman Natalie Mendoza has a 23-2 record before the area duals while sophomore Faith Jones has compiled a 24-1 record. Coach
DeGraff II is super excited with the potential of his young ladies and the opportunity to host the state duals and having the home crowd in their corner.

RABUN COUNTY

COACH: Brent Hinkel

The Rabun County Wildcats are taking a 7-7 record into the area duals being held at the Inferno in Elberton. The team hasn’t had a full lineup at any point this season but will be at their full strength Saturday with only surrendering the 106 and 113 weight classes. The team has been
led by Bryson Hunt, Cannon Ramey, JK Fruster, while JP Lopez has done a really good job coming in at the 285 weight class and Andrew Wall has made his presence known as a freshman. Coach Hinkel believes that all of the wrestlers have a chance to repeat as state
qualifiers.

Rabun County also has three females that are competing in their own part of the GHSA with their sectionals tournament will be held on February 6 at East Jackson. Layla Garber is a freshman that turned a few heads early in her high school career.

STEPHENS COUNTY

COACH: Brandon Rowland

No reply to multiple attempts…

TOWNS COUNTY

COACH: Jeff Stowers

The Indians from Hiawassee have two returning seniors leading the team this year, River Chauncey and Jack Stowers. The team has been hit by the injury bug this season with two season ending knee injuries to starters. The team will compete in the area tournament held at
Commerce and hope to push as many as possible thru to the sectionals.

WHITE COUNTY

COACH: Pat Lowendick

The team has had a solid year up to this point in the season. With a dual win over Lumpkin County and a loss to Dawson County, going into the area duals makes the top 4/5 teams very close and the making of some really close matches. Clay Christopher at 132 has had the
breakout year for the team with only 1 loss on his individual record. The area duals for White County will be held in Cleveland and hosted by White County. Only two teams punch their tickets to the state duals and with competition like Chestatee, Dawson County, GAC, Johnson of
Gainesville, Lumpkin County, North Hall, and Pickens look for some really close duals that will come down to choice in the 2nd period and what teams can make the most of the breaks that come their way and show up to wrestle this weekend.

Coach Lowendick has 10 girls competing this year and has mostly a new crew after graduating the group that help start the program. He is hoping to use the mat time all the way up to traditional area and push a few thru to sectionals.

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