For several local wrestlers, the reward for doing well at this past week’s traditional area duals is to compete at state sectionals where the stakes, and competition, are even tougher.
Apalachee High School’s Austin Sheppard and Aaron Segars along with Winder-Barrow High School’s Zach Guiterrez, Jake Bergen, Will Whisenant and Tristen Yaptengo will each compete at state sectionals this Friday and Saturday at Loganville High School.
Sheppard emerged as area champion this past weekend as AHS hosted this year’s event. Teammate Segars was fourth at area.
“We had a couple who could have gone as alternates,” said Mat Wildcat coach Jim Stoudenmire. “With us being as young as we are, I think we had a good showing.”
Freshman Josh Doman was close to the top five battling several strong opponents, Stoudenmre said. Ninth grader Trey Dobbs missed being an alternate for sectionals by one match. Uriel Cartet also finished sixth for AHS.
“With a little luck, we might had a few more going,” Stoudnemire said.
For the Mat Bulldoggs, Guiterrez was runner-up while Whisenant and Bergen were third and Yaptengo was fourth.
“Overall, I think we did well as a team,” said Mat Bulldogg coach Chad Horne, who saw his wrestlers combined for a seventh-place finish out of 13 schools. “We didn’t do bad considering how young we are. All of the guys worked hard. Last year we only had two go to sectionals and no alternates. This year we had seven kids place and four going to sectionals with two alternates and one sixth place. This is a vast improvement over last year.”
Horne said he believes the four who are going to sectionals have a strong chance of moving on to the finals at the Gwinnett Arena.
“They have been our top performers all year,” the WBHS coach said.
AREA
CHAMPION
Many adjectives have been used to descripe Sheppard and his actions on the mat for Apalachee High School. However, his performance at this past weekend’s traditional area tournament may have been one of his finest performances in a career packed with highlights.
“It was the most guts he’s shown all year,” Stoudenmire said.
Sheppard pinned Rockdale County’s Jose Robledo in the finals of the 130-pound competition. The two battled back and forth until the third period in a match Stoudenmire said he would have preferred viewing as a fan rather than a coach.
“They were both used up by the end,” the AHS coach said. “It was a constant scramble for two and half periods. Each one would take a chance and the other would defend. It was a thing of beauty to watch because they were so evently matched. He gave Sheppard one chance and Austin caught him.”
Stoudenmire was also pleased with Segars' showing.
“Aaron wrestled well,” the coach said. “Our area is just so brutal. Every one is so good."
TEAM
WINNER
Rockdale County held on in the team standings for a 246-228.5 win against second-place finisher Loganville.
The LHS Red Devils were the state champion in the previous tournament this season where teams advance as a unit.
“It just shows how tough this area is,” Stoudenmire said.
RUNNING
AREA
Stoudenmire thanked those who helped conduct the area tournament this past weekend.
“Without the help of people like Dick Sheppard there is no way I could have survived it, let along coached it,” he said. “I am truly grateful for the assistance.”
