Over the weekend at the class AA east sectionals, the Banks County mat Leopards qualified the most grapplers for the state tournament since the sectional format was established.
Banks County pushes six wrestlers forward to the Gwinnett Arena for the state tournament this weekend, only dropping two of the eight that qualified for sectionals.
“We had a few let downs,” coach Kasey Hanley said. “We still qualified six. The guys saw some of the people they have beaten, knock off some kids who were picked to win state.”
Highest placer for the mat Leopards from the sectionals was
Mason Patton. Patton, a sophomore, placed third in the 112 lbs. class after advancing through the first two matches via fall. He lost to Zach Moore of Jackson County via major decision. In the consolation, Patton won the next two matches to earn third after defeating East Laurens’ Bryant Wilson via major decision.
Senior,
Jordan Waters qualified for state after placing fourth, only losing to one wrestler, Appling County’s Chase Johnson twice. Waters, 119 lbs., advanced from the first round via fall, to be defeated by major decision in the second match. In the consolation bracket, he won the next three matches and faced Johnson for third place, taking fourth by decision.
Hayden Dilbeck earned fifth place in the 152 lbs. class. Dilbeck, a sophomore, defeated his first opponent by fall, but was knocked to the consolation bracket by Dublin’s wrestler. Wresting through the consolation rounds, Dilbeck faced his Dublin opponent again for fifth place, defeating him by default.
Another senior,
Jeremy Greenway, qualified to make the trip to state after placing fifth at 160 lbs. Greenway won by fall and by major decision in his first two matches but fell to the eventual second place finisher. In the consolation round, Greenway defeated Jefferson’s Shaquille Maxey by fall to secure the fifth place qualifying position.
Freshman wrestler
Wes Faulkner earned his way to state in his first year of varsity wrestling at 140 lbs. after winning the first match by technical fall then advancing through the consolation bracket on decision and a forfeit.
The final state qualifier and the third senior to earn a trip to state,
Justin Fincannon, placed seventh in the 135 lbs. class after only being defeated by the eventual third place and fifth place placers.
“The guys have to believe in themselves,” Hanley said. “The proof that they can compete for a state title is there, but they are going to have to start wrestling to win and quit wrestling not to lose. That’s our biggest battle, between our ears. Everyone that qualified is good enough to be top 3 in the state, they just have to believe it.”
This week at the Gwinnet Arena, the six qualifiers will put everything on the mat in an attempt to bring home six state titles.
In the first round of the state traditional tournament, at 112 lbs., Patton takes on Zach Estes of Rockmart; at 119 lbs. Waters takes on Dalvin Pye of Spencer; at 135 lbs. Fincannon takes on Matt Woodring of Sonoraville; at 140 lbs. Faulkner takes on Layson West also of Sonoraville; at 152 lbs. Dilbeck takes on Brice Garrett of Fitzgerald; and at 160 lbs. Greenway faces Morgan White of Sonoraville.
