Red Raider Steven Resby is a region champion.
The Madison County senior wrestler captured the Region 8-AAAA title at 182 lbs. at Habersham Central this past weekend.
Resby was reluctant to say much about the title at practice Feb. 6, allowing that it feels pretty great to take that title back home. But his coach, Ritchie Houston, said the senior’s showing was certainly impressive.
Resby won three matches to earn the title, handily defeating a wrestler from Rockdale County in the semifinals, before pinning a Clarke Central wrestler in the finals.
“In the second period, we chose bottom (position) and he (Resby) did a switch right off the bat and put the kid right on his back and stuck him,” said Houston of Resby’s championship match. “It was good for Steven. It was his first time really being in the regional tournament. So he was excited.”
Now, Resby will get ready for the state sectionals at Loganville Friday and Saturday. He’ll face Adrian Cardona, the number four seed from Brunswick in the first round. Wrestlers need two wins in the 16-person field to advance to the state finals. The top eight wrestlers from each weight class will advance to the state finals at the Gwinnett Arena Feb. 16-18.
Resby won’t be the only Red Raider in Loganville. Teammates Max Nash and Andrew McCannon also qualified for the sectionals by placing fourth in their respective weight classes. Nash will face number one seed Anthony Kaigler from Southwest DeKalb in area six, while McCannon will face Kenneth Brinson, the number one seed from Marist in area 6.
Two Madison County wrestlers, Donnie Harper and Tanner Gordon, will make the trip as alternates after placing fifth in the region.
Houston said that earning alternate status is a pretty big deal, especially considering that Harper and Gordon compete in the 126 and 132 lb. weight classes. The state recently eliminated a lower weight class and added a heavier division, meaning the 126 and 132 lb. classes are now extremely competitive. He said Harper’s and Gordon’s finishes in those heavily contested divisions were no small feat.
