Jefferson has run the state for years in wrestling in both modes of the sport – duals and traditional.
But the mat Dragons will have to wait until the weekend of Feb. 25-26 to defend that duals title after this weekend’s state duals tournament was put on hold due to lingering ice from Sunday’s snowstorm.
When that weekend comes however, Jefferson -- which won the area duals title this past weekend -- will have designs on winning its 10th-straight duals title (It shoots for its 11th-consecutive traditional title later this year). But there are plenty of challengers to the champs, namely Sonoraville, which Jefferson beat in the dual finals last year.
Jefferson has nine dual state championships in its trophy case, but Dragon coach Doug Thurmond has no problem pegging the Phoenix as the tournament favorites.
“Sonoraville is the team to beat,” Thurmond said Saturday, four days before the state duals were postponed.
Sonoraville will certainly look daunting to the rest of the 16-team field next month, especially with what the Phoenix have returning this year. Twelve of Sonoraville’s 14 starters are seniors, one of which was key a move-in in the offseason.
Meanwhile, Jefferson graduated five starters from last year’s team.
But there’s still a streak to keep alive.
Jefferson has won a state duals championship every year since the duals tournament was introduced in 2002. This title defense, however, could be one of the toughest yet.
“We know there are some really good teams out there,” Thurmond said.
Jefferson continued its dominance over the area in duals action, winning three times by comfortable margins to claim the area crown.
The host Dragons beat North Oconee 66-7, blanked Dawson County 78-0 and downed Banks 57-15 in the finals. Kyle Kashuba (103-lb.), Josh Harris (112-lb.), Cason Thurmond (125-lb.), Jack Dollar (130-lb.), Caleb King (140-lb.), Cain Finch (145-lb.), Jake Sherman (152-lb.), Forrest Przybsyz (171-lb.), Jace McColskey (189-lb.), Zach Allen (215-lb.) and Kevin Selleck (heavyweight) all went unbeaten. Cody Carlson also picked up some victories in spot duty.
“I wanted to get through it and not get anybody hurt and do well,” Thurmond said. “I’m proud of how the guys did. Everybody did well … We know we’ve got a tough road ahead of us.”
