JOHNS CREEK —
Lowndes and Valdosta will each send six wrestlers to the State Wrestling Tournament next weekend in Macon. The wrestlers all qualified following performances at the Sectional Meet at Chattahooche High School in Johns Creek on Friday and Saturday.
From Lowndes, Matt Moody, Brandon Bell, Davis Ison, Carl Jackson, Austin Ogburn and Sam Washington all qualified. From Valdosta, Reggie Denis, Markus Norman, Eric Brown, Clarence Williams, Jarvese Gilliard and Darius Brown all qualified.
Moody, who won the 2012 Class 5A state championship in the 145 weight class, will be a top contender in the state tournament, competing out of the 152 weight class.
Moody will enter the state tournament with a perfect 41-0 record this season, including wins at the sectional meet. Moody claimed first place at sectionals, beating Zach Wright of Archer High School, the Class 6A state dual wrestling champion.
Brandon Bell, a state runner-up a year ago, will compete in the 182 weight class next weekend after finishing first at sectionals. Bell beat Alex Binezer of Camden County in the finals. Bell is now 26-6 on the year.
Davis Ison (39-12) finished fifth at sectionals, competing out of the 132 weight class. Carl Jackson(19-10) will compete in the 145 weight class at state, after finishing seventh at sectionals. Austin Ogburn (37-6) finished fifth at sectionals, by forfeit, and will compete in the 195 weight class. Sam Washington (17-17) will compete in the 220 weight class after finishing seventh at sectionals, by forfeit.
Denis (13-3) will compete at the 120-pound weight class, finishing second at sectionals. Norman (43-13) will compete in the 132 class, after securing the final spot in sectionals.
In the 138-pound weight class, Brown (30-14) qualified with an eighth place finish in sectionals, while Williams (53-5) qualified for the 145-pound weight class after finishing second in sectionals.
In the 160-pound class, Gilliard finished sixth in sectionals and will take a 27-8 record into state. Brown (37-18) will compete in the 195 class, after finishing eighth at sectionals.
The State Wrestling Tournament will be held Thursday through Saturday the Macon Centreplex. Tickets for the event $7 for Thursday and $10 for Friday and Saturday. Weekend passes are $24. Comcast Sports Southeast (CSS) will air a state championship wrestling highlight show Sunday, Feb. 17, from 3-5 p.m.
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Lowndes, Valdosta have six wrestlers qualify for state
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