Just call them the “Elite Eight.”
The Madison County High School wrestling team marked its most successful region tournament under coach Richie Houston by sending eight wrestlers on to the state sectionals and boasting one region champion, Isaac Ruiz (145-lb.).
“I think we’re all pretty pleased getting eight through … It’s a tough region,” Houston said.
The East Sectionals are Friday (5 p.m.) and Saturday (9 a.m.) at Loganville High School.
Madison County finished fifth over the weekend at the 8-AAAA tournament with 160.5 points, barely missing a fourth, and even a third-place, showing. Clarke Central finished just ahead of the Red Raiders with 161 points, as did Heritage with 161.5 points.
Rockdale County won the region with 177 points, edging Loganville, which finished with 171 points.
Ruiz’s title marks the second-straight year the Red Raiders have boasted a region champion. Tyler Adams won the 215-lb. title last year.
Ruiz had four pins at region, including a first-period pin in the 145-lb. finals.
“He pretty much walked through the tournament,” Houston said. “Hopefully, he stays on his game these last two weeks.”
In addition to Ruiz’s first-place finish, Madison County had two second-place finishes at region, Cody Phillips (119-lb.) and Adams (215-lb.,) and five third-place showings: Max Nash (112-lb.), Colton Phillips (125-lb.), Kyle Bates (152-lb.), Kyle Gordon (189-lb.) and Matt Dove (285-lb.).
“(The) team looked real good Saturday after a slow start Friday,” Houston said. “We lost some tough matches in semifinals, but the kids dug in and came back to place third.”
Houston added that, “you always learn more from a loss than a win.
“And the name of the game right now is to qualify and move on to the next week,” he said.
The top eight wrestlers in each weight division at sectionals move on to the Feb. 18-20 state tournament at the Gwinnett Arena, which hosts all the classification championships.
Madison County sent five wrestlers to the Gwinnett Arena last year.
Houston said the top teams at this year’s East Sectionals are South Effingham (last year’s state champs), Loganville (this year’s state duals champs), Rockdale County, Marist and Southwest DeKalb.
NOTES: Senior Ariel Bates (sister of junior wrestler Kyle Bates) has been selected as a table worker at the state tournament February 18-20. Madison County has never had a “mat maid” work the state tournament, according to Houston.
