Staff Reports — DULUTH — Seven South Georgia Athletic Club Devil Dog Greco-Roman/freestyle wrestlers won state championships at the 2009 Georgia USA Wrestling GR/FS state tournament on June 13.
Marshawn Sharp (cadet 98 pounds), Darshawn Sharp (Cadet 91 pounds), Dallas Brown (Cadet 112 pounds), Kenny Mason (Cadet 215 pounds), Travis Register (Cadet 190 pounds) and Matthew Moody (Schoolboy 120 pounds) were all both GR and FS state champions.
Hunter Kelley (Schoolboy 77 pounds) won the GR state championship and placed third in FS.
Chris King (Junior 215 pounds) placed second in both styles, while Jake Croft (Cadet 98 pounds) placed third in both.
Ben Schmitt (Cadet 145 pounds) placed fifth in FS and third in GR.
Clyde Foster (Cadet 119 pounds) placed fifth in FS and fourth in GR.
Cory Inman (Junior 285 pounds) was injured in his first match and was unable to return to competition.
Matthew Moody became the first SGAC Devil Dog to achieve the Triple Crown Award, having won state championships this year in Folkstyle, GR and FS.
Travis Register, who came to SGAC via the Moultrie Mat Hawgs, also achieved the Triple Crown, having won a Folkstyle state championship with the Mat Hawgs. He also won the Five Point Throw Award and also won GR and FS at the Southeast Region USA National Tournament in Atlanta this year. These awards will be given out at next year's USA Folkstyle state championships.
“This is the biggest year we’ve had in terms of participation and achievement during the GR/FS season,” coach Jason Griner said. “Many wrestlers sit out this part of the season for various reasons, but those who compete in GR and FS rise to a level the others have difficulty attaining. This is tough, intense wrestling and every one of these young men have earned respect and admiration across the state this season.”
In fact, eight SGAC Devil Dog Wrestlers have been selected to compete on the Team GA National Teams. Marshawn and Darshawn Sharp and Dallas Brown will be competing at the National Cadet Duals in Minnesota, and Jake Croft will join them at the Cadet Nationals in Fargo, N.D., in July.
Chris King and Cory Inman will also compete at the National Junior Duals in Oklahoma and Junior Nationals in Fargo.
Matthew Moody and Hunter Kelley will compete at the National Schoolboy Duals in Indianapolis, Ind.
“Three years ago we had our first wrestler to compete with Team GA nationally,” Griner said. “Last year we had two. This year we have eight. That’s a pretty exciting progression.”
As a result, SGAC has been slated as one of the Team GA training sites for the National teams next year.
SGAC is wrapping up its GR/FS season, but it will continue to have workouts in all styles once each week throughout the summer at the Valdosta High on Thursdays from 6-8 p.m.
SGAC is a non-profit USA Wrestling sanctioned club and is open to anyone interested in wrestling.
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Related Photos
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Contributed Photo / Pictured Front Row (L to R): Hunter Kelley, Marshawn Sharp, Darshawn Sharp, Dallas Brown; Middle (L to R): Chris King, Ben Schmitt, Jake Croft, Clyde Foster, Matthew Moody; Back (L to R): Cory Inman, Kenny Mason; Not Shown: Travis Register.
Discussion
Local wrestlers become state champs
Seven SGAC Devil Dog wrestlers win state championships
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