GHSA wrestling: West Laurens's Horne & Perry's Williams win championships (Class 4A roundup)
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
The third period was good for Shoshoni Williams of Perry, and the first period was big for Chase Horne of West Laurens.
Those were the spots that led to GHSA state traditional wrestling titles in Class 4A Thursday night at the Macon Coliseum.
Williams knocked off Daiman Banta of Northwest Whitfield 13-8, while Horne took down Devoris Calvin of Dougherty County in a first-period pin.
Horne won his third state title, two at 220. Williams finished sixth last year at 182.
West Laurens' Greyson Clark lost by sudden victory 7-5 in the championship at 170.
Williams battled through his draw, winning by forfeit after a bye, then winning 14-5, and 4-0, one of the rare wrestlers to get through without a pin.
And he had to battle in the final, trailing 4-1 in the first period before pulling within 6-4.
After a scoreless second period, Williams started to take control, with an escape, takedown, and a nearfall all within 30 seconds.
He then rode out the final 90 seconds for the win.
Horne, who has committed to N.C. State, marched out to a 6-2 lead before fourth straight pin of the tournament. This one took him the longest, by five seconds.
Clark and Luke Cochran of Jefferson were tied at 2 after the first period, Cochran picking up an escape point in the second.
Clark countered a takedown with two escapes and a penalty point for a 5-all tie. A takedown 27 seconds into the overtime period gave Cochran the title.
Third-place finishers from Central Georgia were Chavis Watson of Baldwin at 132, Brannen Moss of Perry at 145, Evan Guyton of West Laurens at 195. Rutland's Christian Brown at 120 finished fourth.
Jefferson rolled to the state title with 265 points. West Laurens was fourth with 117.5 and Perry seventh with 103.5 points. Baldwin was 28th and Rutland 31st, with Howard tied for 34th.
Consolations
Class 4A
113-Walker Passinault, Perry: lost by fall, 3:29
120-Christian Brown, Rutland: won by forfeit over Zion Tookes, Perry; won 14-5; lost by fall, 1:09 for third place
120-Zion Tookes, Perry: lost by forfiet to Christian Brown, Rutland
126-Aiden Ingram, West Laurens: won by fall, 3:09; lost 6-3
132-Chavis Watson, Baldwin: won by fall, 4:40; won 3-1, won 14-4 for third place
145-Brannen Moss, Perry: won by fall, 4:38; won 6-3; won 13-12 over Jake Shepard, West Laurens, for third
145-Jake Shepard, West Laurens: won by fall, 2:30, won by fall, 5:30; lost 13-12 to Brannen Moss, Perry
160-Coleman Tadish, Perry: lost 14-1
182-Carter Yawn, Perry: won by fall, 1:27; lost by fall, 1:08
195-Evan Guyton, West Laurens: won 18-13, won 6-0 for third place