BC sets sights on state tourney

True to form, and predictions, Jefferson’s mat Dragons (309.5) carried Area and are sending through a grappler in each weight class.

Finishing second, Jackson County (194) will send through nine to the sectionals. Banks County (169) at third, finished ahead of Elbert County (142.5) and Dawson County (137).

North Oconee, Hart County, East Jackson, Oglethorpe County and East Hall rounded out the rest of the field from area.

Top placers from area for the Leopards include Hayden Dilbeck (second, 152 lbs.) and Jeremy Greenway (second, 160 lbs.)

Coming in next for Banks County were Mason Patton (third, 112 lbs.); Jordan Waters (third, 119 lbs.); Justin Fincannon (third, 135 lbs.); Wes Faulkner (third, 140 lbs.); Taylor Wood (fourth, 103 lbs.) and Phillip Dean (fourth, 215 lbs.)

Other placers from area, but not qualifying to sectionals were Viet Pham (fifth, 125 lbs.); Francisco Hurtado (fifth, 130 lbs.) and Eli Smallwood (fifth, 171 lbs.)
This weekend in Dublin, the mat Leopards get started Friday night in the first round of the sectionals.

Wood will face Tyler Hadden of Toombs County at 103; Patton faces Dylan Roland of Dodge County at 112; Waters faces Will Morgan of Dodge County at 119; Fincannon faces Victor Tirado of Greene County at 135; Faulkner faces Jared Thompson of Screven County at 140; Dilbeck faces Jamario Clark of Southwest Macon at 152; Greenway faces Tevin Childes of Lamar at 160; and Dean faces Tony Corona of East Laurens at 215.

The Leopards now look to send through the eight from sectionals onto state.

Those wrestlers placing in the top eight from sectionals will advance to the state tournament Feb. 17-19. The goal is to get all eight Banks County wrestlers to the final tournament.