West Laurens stays in winners bracket, Veterans and Baldwin stay alive at GHSA team dual state wrestling championship
Updated at midnight
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
West Laurens gets a chance to all but assure a new Class AAAA state champion at the GHSA team dual state wrestling championships at the Macon Coliseum when it battles the defending champion on Friday.
The Raiders take on Jefferson at 5:30 p.m. in a winner’s bracket matchup.
A year ago at the same point, Jefferson beat Woodward – which nipped West Laurens 39-36 in the second round – 50-16.
The Raiders are the last Central Georgia team to win a state title, taking the Class 3A championship in 2007 after two straight in AA.
West Laurens moved into Friday's action with two wins Thursday, 52-25 over Central Carrollton and 47-27 over Heritage. Jefferson beat Luella 64-12 and Marist 64-10.
Veterans opened with a 69-9 win over Whitewater, but suffered a tough second-round loss in Class AAAAA, 34-31 to Locust Grove. The Warhawks now face Southwest DeKalb, which lost in the first round last year and this year, and beat Statesboro 45-36 to advance in the loser’s bracket.
Baldwin and Perry both lost first-round matches. Baldwin stayed alive with a 39-36 consolation win over Columbus, while Perry was eliminated 53-25 by North Oconee.
Lamar County in AA and Mount de Sales in A begin action Friday.
Semifinals start at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, and finals begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Admission is $7 on Thursday, $10 a day Friday and Saturday.
THURSDAY’S RESULTS
Class AAAAAA
No Central Georgia teams qualified
Class AAAAA
Veterans def. Whitewater 69-9; Locust Grove 34, Veterans 31; Next: Veterans vs. Southwest DeKalb, 12:30 p.m., Friday
Class AAAA
West Laurens def. Central-Carrollton 52-25; West Laurens def. Heritage 47-27; Next: West Laurens vs. Jefferson, 5:30 p.m., Friday
Woodward Academy def. Baldwin 69-9; Baldwin def. Columbus, 39-36; Next: Baldwin vs. Heritage, 12:30 p.m., Friday
Blessed Trinity def. Perry 54-21; North Oconee def. Perry 53-25
Class AAA
No Central Georgia teams qualified
Class AA
5:30 p.m., Friday, Lamar County vs. Toombs County
Class A
3 p.m., Friday, Mount de Sales vs. Wesleyan