Eight headed to state: Leopards to compete in state wrestling tournament

Eight Banks County High School wrestlers will be competing in the state tournament this weekend in Macon. The team participated in the AAA East sectional qualifier this past week-end with 8 of the 10 competing advancing to the state tournament.

"As far as I know, we had the most wrestlers advance out of our sectionals to the State Wrestling Tournament than any other team participating this weekend,” head coach Kasey Hanley said. “On the other side of the state, Woodward Academy qualified the most of their sectional with 11 qualifiers."

The matches in the Macon Centreplex on Friday will start at 9 a.m. and will continue through round #7. On Saturday, consolation Semis will begin at 9:30 a.m. and the finals will start at 3 p.m. with a championship opening ceremony at 2:30 p.m.

In addition to the eight competing, BCHS also will have one wrestler that has qualified as an alternate, so nine total wrestlers will be going to Macon.

The results from last weekend are:

•Chris McCrackin (freshman) finished second in his weight class at 106 pounds.

•Mason Patton (senior) finished first in his weight class of 126 pounds.

•Francisco Hurtado (senior) finished third in his weight class of 132 pounds.

•Tony Fultz (junior) finished third in his weight class of 138 pounds.

•Wesley Faulkner (junior) finished first in his weight class of 160 pounds.

•Eli Smallwood (senior) finished second in his weight class of 170 pounds.

•Hayden Dilbeck (senior) finished 4th in his weight class of 182 pounds.

•Matthew Dilbeck (sophomore) finished third in his weight class of 195 pounds.

•Taylor Wood (senior) finished fifth and will go as an alternate at 120 pounds.