The Banks County Mat Leopards have shown a lot of determination and skill this season.
In four years, the Banks program has climbed from the bottom rung into the top 10 teams in AA. This year the Banks grapplers finished tied for seventh place at the State Duals Tournament, Jan. 17.
The Duals started off with Banks at a disadvantage, missing four starters due to injuries and facing defending champion Henry County.
“There was about a three match difference between us,” said wrestling head coach Kasey Hanley. “We were ahead in three matches and lost all three of those matches.”
Those three matches were the deciding factor against the defending state champs as Banks was bumped into the consolation bracket.
In the first round of the consolation matches, Banks faced Dade County.
“It was a close match,” Hanley said. “Several wrestlers stepped up big and helped us get a win over Dade.”
Banks defeated Dade 37-33. Advancing into the second round Banks faced number four ranked Tombs County. A narrow three-point win, 36-33, ended the Tombs County bid and pushed the Banks grapplers against Blessed Trinity.
“We started off in a hole, losing several matches in a row,” Hanley said. “By the time we started winning, it was too late.”
Blessed Trinity advanced on the 48-18 win only to fall to Henry County in the next round.
Up next for the Mat Leopards was the Trojan Total War at North Hall, last weekend.
The tournament totaled both JV and Varsity scores for a complete team score.
“We were one point from being in first,” said Hanley.
Banks defeated North Hall 60-18 after North Hall defeated North Gwinnett. Banks fell to North Gwinnett on the sixth criteria after the match tied 39-39. Leading up to the second place finish, Banks beat Gainesville 70-12 and defeated Hart County 60-21.
This weekend, Banks County heads to North Forsyth to compete in the Coal Mountain Classic on Saturday. Some of the competition for the grapplers include Alpharetta, the three Forsyth schools North, South and Central, Dacula and Grayson. Approximately 16 teams will compete in the tournament.
While the Coal Mountain tournament is in front of the team, the Mat Leopards also have the Traditional Area tournament quickly approaching next weekend, Feb. 6-7.
Banks finished at the tail end of the pack four years ago at the Traditional State tournament. The next year, the team had moved up to 39th. In 2008, the Mat Leopards were just outside the Top 10 finishing in the 13th spot. The Traditional tournament is only weeks away,
Feb. 20 – 21.
