Area 2 AAAAA Traditional Tournament Champions

The Gator wrestling team repeated as Area 2 AAAAA team champions boasting 8 individual champions in the tournament Saturday held in the Gator den.  Individual champions included Brandon Foster (sr.) at 113 lbs., Reese Poole (jr.) at 120 lbs., Banner Thomas (fr.) at 132 lbs., Jahiem Howard (fr.) at 138 lbs., Demarion Dennis (sr.) at 145 lbs., Nawin Hyers (sr.) at 182 lbs., Zay Taylor (jr.) at 220 lbs., and James Lucas (sr.) at 285 lbs.  The top four placers at the area tournament advance to the sectional tournament to be held at Union Grove high school next Friday and Saturday.  The sectional tournament exists at a state qualifying tournament in which the top eight places from each section in each weight class advance to the traditional state championship in Macon February 8 – 10.  Wrestlers at the sectional tournament must win two matches before they lose two matches to advance to the state championship.  Wrestling will begin next Friday at 4:00 pm.  Individual and team results are listed below:

Ware place winners:

Champions:

1.       Brandon Foster (113 lbs.)

2.       Reese Poole (120 lbs.)

3.       Banner Thomas (132 lbs.)

4.       Jahiem Howard (138 lbs.)

5.       Demarion Dennis (145 lbs.)

6.       Nawin Hyers (182 lbs.)

7.       Zay Taylor (220 lbs.)

8.       James Lucas (285 lbs.)

Runner-up:

1.       Conner White (132 lbs.)

2.       Blaine Aldridge (152 lbs.)

3.       Qway McKinney (160 lbs.)

3^rd place winners:

1.       Ethan Frye (106 lbs.)

2.       Nick Felton (170 lbs.)

3.       Jesus Hernandez (195 lbs.)

Team Totals

1^st place:  Ware – 66 points

2^nd place: Statesboro – 39 points

3^rd place: New Hampstead – 38 points

4^th place: South Effingham – 31 points

106 – Ethan Frye (fr.): Record 0-1 (3rd place)  Round 1 – loss vs. New Hampstead (Pin), Round 2 – Bye

113 – Brandon Foster (sr.): Record 2-0 (1^st place)  Round 1 – win vs S. Effingham(Pin), Round 2 – Win vs. New Hampstead (Pin)

120 – Reese Poole (jr.): Record 1-0 (1^st place) Round 1 – (Bye), Round 2 – win vs. New Hampstead (Tech Fall 15-0)

126 – Conner White (so.): Record 1-1 (2^nd place) Round 1 – win vs S. Effingham (Dec 8-2), Round 2 - loss vs Statesboro (Dec 4-2)

132 – Banner Thomas (fr.): Record 2-0 (1^st place) Round 1 - win vs S. Effingham (Pin), Round 2 - win vs Statesboro (Maj Dec 8-0)

138 – Jahiem Howard (fr.): Record 2-0 (1^st place) Round 1 - win vs New Hampstead (Pin), Round 2 - win vs Statesboro (Pin)

145 – Demarion Dennis (sr.): Record 2-0 (1^st place) Round 1 - win vs S. Effingham (Pin), Round 2 - win vs New Hampstead (Inj Def)

152 – Blaine Aldridge (sr.): Record 1-1 (2^nd place) Round 1 - win vs S. Effingham (Pin), Round 2 - loss vs New Hampstead (Pin)

160 – Qway McKinney (jr.): Record 1-1 (2^nd place) Round 1-  win vs Statesboro (Dec 9-1), Round 2 - loss vs S. Effingham (Maj Dec 12-4)

170 – Nick Felton (jr.): Record 0-1 (3^rd place) Round 1 - loss vs New Hampstead (Pin)

182 – Nawin Hyers (sr.): Record 1-0 (1^st place) Round 1- (Bye), Round 2 – win vs Statesboro (Pin)

195 – Jesus Hernandez (so.): Record 1-1 (3^rd place) Round 1 – loss vs New Hampstead (Pin), Round 2 – win vs Statesboro (Pin)

220 – Zay Taylor (jr.): Record 2-0 (1^st place) Round 1 – (Bye), Round 2 – win vs Statesboro (Maj Dec 12-3)

HW – James Lucas (sr.): Record 2-0 (1^st place) Round 1 – win vs S. Effingham (Pin), Round 2 – win vs Statesboro (Pin)