Mat Leopards place three at state BCHS set for State Duals on Fri.

As the Region 8 runner-up, the mat Leopards will make the trip to Toombs County Friday for the opening round as Banks County takes on Dublin. The winner advances to face the best of Lovett versus Carver. Jefferson, the Region 8 champion, takes on Greater Atlanta Christan in the first round with the winner taking on the better of East Laurens versus Cook.

The highest state placer at the traditional tournament for Banks County was senior Justin Fincannon earning fourth place at 135 lbs. Fincannon defeated his first round Sonoraville opponent by decision, 3-1, and his second round opponent also by decision, 15-9. The 135 lbs state champion Dyllan Green of North Oconee bumped Fincannon to the consolation bracket by technical fall. In the consolation round, Fincannon added another victory over his Sonoraville opponent by a 7-3 decision. In the battle for third place, Fincannon was defeated by decision , 6-3, by Jefferson’s Jack Dollar.

Earning one of two sixth place state finishes for Banks County, Mason Patton at 112 lbs. put two wins under his belt. Defating his first round Rockmart opponent by fall, Patton advanced to defeat Jackson County’s Zack Moore by decision, 12-5. Eventual state runner-up James Evans of Dawson County pushed Patton into the consolation round were Patton took sixth place.

Senior Jeremy Greenway also earned a sixth place state finish at 160 lbs. Greenway advanced through the first two rounds, defeating Sonoraville’s grappler 11-9 by decision and then earning the win over Blessed Trinity by fall. Toombs County’s Kalin White pushed Greenway into the consolation bracket by decision before going on to take the state title at 160 lbs. Greenway took sixth place in the consolation bracket.