West Laurens nips powerhouse Jefferson for GHSA Class 4A dual wrestling state title
West Laurens is Central Georgia’s first duals champion since it took the 2006 title in Class AA.
The Raiders topped Columbus 45-35, Marist 49-25, and then powerhouse and perennial state favorite Jefferson 37-36 (criteria) for the championship on Saturday.
Since duals started in 2002, Jefferson has won 19 titles in four different classes, including last year in 4A.
West Laurens and Jefferson were tied at 36 after competition, with the tiebreaker going to the Raiders, with one more fall than Jefferson.
The difference? Jefferson had to forfeit at 195, and the Raiders lost another match with a disqualification.
The Raiders got falls against Columbus from Aiden Ingram, Cam Boston, Mathew Gibbs, Christian Boston, Caden Snell, Evan Guyton, and Chase Horne.
Gibbs and Snell needed less than a minute.
Against Marist, West Laurens got pins from J.T. Bowers, Jake Shepard, Snell, Guyton, Horne, Alec Brantley, and Ingram.
In the championship, Ingram, Drake Wood, Shepard, Horne, and Brantley recorded falls, Horne in 26 seconds.
In 5A, Jones County went two and out, losing 56-12 to Woodward Academy and 39-38 to Locust Grove.
Lamar County went 1-2 in AA, losing 46-30 to Vidalia, then beating Pepperell 51-20 before being eliminated by third-place Dade County 40-30.
State finals: A, Trion over Social Circle; AA, Lovett over Oglethorpe County; 3A, Rockmart over Gilmer; 5A, Cass over Woodward Academy; 6A, Buford over Valdosta; 7A, Camden County over North Forsyth.