Fan's Guide - Georgia 5A
Welcome to our Fan’s Guide for the Georgia 5A StateTournament.
For those of you new to SEWrestle, or for anyone who has never read one of our Fan’s Guides, this is a brief introduction to what you’ll see this coming weekend at the Clayton County Convocation Center. If you already know (or have already read this last week or in another Fan’s Guide) - jump below to see what we think.
The Fan’s Guide is a look at the tournament as a whole—and at each individual weight class—from a fan’s perspective. It is not a prediction of who will win a title or who will stand on the podium. Instead, it highlights key storylines and pieces within each bracket that make the tournament compelling.
Each Fan’s Guide includes the following:
Favorite – The wrestler who enters the tournament as the perceived front-runner, or the athlete who appears to have the best shot at the top step based on past results and accomplishments.
Contenders – Wrestlers who should make a legitimate run at a title. We fully expect to see them on the podium.
Darkhorse – Typically a wrestler who finished 3rd or 4th at the sectional tournament, but has the tools to make a deep run and earn a spot on the podium.
Bracketbuster – A wrestler who finished 5th through 8th at the section tournament. A wrestler that has all of the tools to cause chaos and make a run for the podium.
Isn’t that kind of a prediction?
Yes - and no.
We do identify a favorite, but beyond that, predicting who will navigate the bracket and ultimately claim a championship is foolish. High school wrestling is unpredictable. Few wrestlers—if any—are unbeatable. While we can lean on past results and accomplishments to make educated observations, outcomes are never guaranteed.
At the end of the day, we’re fans just like you.
Our hope is that every athlete goes out, competes to their ability, and gives themselves the best chance to achieve their goals. The sole purpose of our Substack, Facebook, Instagram, Fan’s Guides, photos, and coverage is simple: to promote the sport of wrestling in the Southeast.
Have a great weekend, enjoy the wrestling, and best of luck to everyone competing.
Schedule
A quick note on Georgia’s bracket process:
Georgia uses an alternate solution to help ensure brackets are full. If a qualified wrestler is unable to compete due to injury, the designated alternate is inserted into the bracket and the remaining competitors are adjusted accordingly. This can significantly impact both the bracket layout and individual matchups.
Because Fan’s Guides must be written before final brackets are released, these late adjustments may not always be reflected. If we become aware of a confirmed change, we will make every effort to update both the bracket and the accompanying narrative; however, given the volume of guides produced, corrections cannot be guaranteed in every case.
Qualifiers
Teams
This is shaping up like another South Effingham vs. Creekview battle for the title. South Effingham holds a slight edge with 13 qualifiers (to 11 for Creekview), and that advantage grows when you look at the front end: seven of South Effingham’s 13 finished first or second at sectionals, compared to five of 11 for Creekview. In a race this tight, those placement points can be decisive.
Brunswick sits in a strong third position with 10 qualifiers, followed closely by Glynn Academy and Seckinger, each bringing nine. The fight for first through fifth should be outstanding—as it almost always is in 5A. These teams are separated by very little, and every point will matter.
Behind that group, Newnan and Thomas County Central each bring seven qualifiers, while eight more teams arrive with six apiece. The battle for a top-10 finish is very real. On paper, the top five look fairly solid—unless one of those teams has multiple wrestlers go 0–2—but the scramble among the next ten teams for the final five spots should be fun to watch.
Don’t overlook South Paulding and Decatur either. Each brings two section champions, and that kind of firepower gives them a legitimate shot to climb into the top 10 if things break their way.
106 lbs.
Favorite: Christopher Hardeman - South Effingham
Contenders:
Kymani Tinsley - Seckinger
Ryland Aston - Chattahoochee
Cael Powers - Jackson County
Cam Fuller - South Paulding
Darkhorse: Ronald Kilgore - Arabia Mountain
Bracketbuster: Cooper Wilkie - Creekview
Well, things just got interesting. Returning state placer Kymani Tinsley knocked off returning state champion Rylan Aston 9–5 to win the Section B title, immediately reshaping this bracket. On the other side, returning state placer Christopher Hardeman continues to roll. His only loss this season came back in December at the Knockout, where he fell to No. 1-ranked Chris Schnobrick of Olympic Heights in 3A. With Aston’s loss, he now lands on the same side of the bracket as Hardeman, setting up what could be an outstanding semifinal—assuming both take care of business.
The opening-round matchup between Bee and Wilkie is one to watch, as the winner is likely staring at Hardeman next. That makes it a dangerous draw and an early swing point in the top half.
On the bottom side, Tinsley’s biggest obstacle is Cael Powers of Jackson County. Powers shut out Tinsley 7–0 at the State Duals and has the style to grind his way into the finals, potentially setting up a rematch opposite the Hardeman/Aston winner. That said, his path is not automatic. Powers will need to get past Holbein and likely freshman Cam Fuller, who finished second in Section A, before earning another crack at Tinsley. When the dust settles, Powers, Aston, Hardeman, and Tinsley look like the clear top four in this bracket. The real questions are the order they finish—and who emerges from the rest of the field to round out the podium.
113 lbs.
Favorite: Joe Austin - Lakeside (DeKalb)
Contenders:
Andreo Manlove - South Effingham
Treaghen Connell - Sequoyah
Ethan Fernandez - Newnan
Reggie Smith - Coffee
Darkhorse: Asa Martin - Alcovy
Bracketbuster: Jaxson Schaefer - Brunswick
Austin and Manlove clearly headline this weight, and it isn’t particularly close. Both dominated their respective sectional tournaments, and it would be a surprise not to see them opposite one another in the finals. Austin, a returning state placer, has been outstanding all season. Manlove has been just as impressive—especially down at 113 after spending part of the year up at 120, where he absorbed a few losses while testing himself against bigger competition.
Where this bracket really gets interesting is in the potential 2-vs-3 quarterfinals. Neither Smith vs. Martin nor Fernandez vs. Connell took place last weekend, adding some unpredictability. Fernandez fell to Austin in the semifinals, while Martin lost to Manlove in the semis, but both rebounded well on the backside to finish third and looked sharp doing it.
Winning those quarterfinals does more than secure a podium spot—it earns a semifinal crack at either Austin or Manlove, assuming the favorites advance. That makes these quarters ones to watch in a bracket that otherwise feels clearly tiered at the top.
120 lbs.
Favorite: Takrik Bailey - South Effingham
Contenders:
Casey McElligott - Woodstock
Mikey Castro - Jackson County
Gavin Newton - Seckinger
Brayden Stevens - Coffee
Darkhorse: Dylan Lynn - Dunwoody
Bracketbuster: Tate Sauls - Villa Rica
It’s tough to pick a favorite at 120. Returning state champion Tahrik Bailey and returning state runner-up Casey McElligott have both been excellent all season. Each carries just a single loss, and both looked composed and in control while winning their respective sectional titles last weekend.
Bailey was tested in Section A, grinding out a 7–5 decision over returning state placer Mikey Castro with a third-period takedown. That result now places Castro on the same side of the bracket as McElligott. Castro handled Brayden Stevens 10–1 last weekend, setting up what looks like a likely quarterfinal on the bottom side, with the winner earning a crack at McElligott—though Tate Sauls is lurking in that quarter and could inject some real chaos.
On the top side, Bailey could draw Ean O’Neal in the quarters. Bailey edged O’Neal 5–4 at the State Duals, and the winner there would likely face the quarterfinal winner between Lynn and Newton. Of course, that assumes a clean path, and the #5 through #8 seeds will be eager to disrupt that script.
On paper, Bailey vs. McElligott feels like the most likely finals pairing. In reality, this bracket is deep enough that nothing should be assumed. If there’s a true favorite here, they can decide that this Thursday (but don’t get caught looking ahead).
126 lbs.
Favorite: Ashton Glasgow - Decatur
Contenders:
Tyler Herring - Woodstock
Mayson Young - South Effingham
Ryan Sanders- Brunswick
Eli Thoman - Lanier
Darkhorse: Mason Kutylowski - Winder-Barrow
Bracketbuster: Ahmed Daoud - Rome
Well, we got what we wanted: Glasgow vs. Herring, and it delivered. An 8–7 ultimate tiebreaker win for the freshman over the defending state champion in a match that had everything. Now the question becomes obvious—do we get to run it back this Thursday?
With that win, Glasgow now sits on the bottom side of the bracket, opposite both Mayson Young and Herring. His path isn’t simple, though. Glasgow draws the No. 2 and No. 3 out of Section A—Ryan Sanders and Mason Kutylowski. Sanders and Kutylowski didn’t meet last weekend, making that a potential quarterfinal worth circling on Wednesday night.
Up top, the projected 2-vs-3 matchup would be Herring vs. Thoman, a bout Herring controlled last weekend with a 24–9 technical fall. The winner there would likely earn a semifinal against Section A champion Mayson Young, who was steady and composed in his title run—winning 14–6 in the semifinals before edging Sanders 5–2 in the finals.
There’s no shortage of intrigue at 126 (look at the #4’s vs. #5’s with Kennedy vs. Cook and Parks vs. Daoud). The backside will be loaded with battles just to make the podium, and nothing will come easy. Still, most eyes are on one potential outcome: another Glasgow–Herring showdown—this time with a state title on the line.
132 lbs.
Favorite: Cash Prado - Pope
Contenders:
Joe Demery - Brunswick
Braden Harper - Woodstock
Matt Kennedy - Glynn Academy
Noah Knowlton - South Effingham
Darkhorse: Ty Warren - Creekview
Bracketbuster: Caden Atkinson - Alexander
If you love chaos, you have to love Region 1. In 5A Region 1, Noah Knowlton won the weight, with Joe Demery finishing third and Matt Kennedy fourth. Fast forward to last weekend, and all three were again in the mix for the top spots in Section A—but the order was completely reshuffled. Kennedy pinned Knowlton to reach the finals, while Demery earned a 13–5 win to claim the sectional title.
Over in Section B, returning state placer Cash Prado did what was expected. He pinned Hodges in the semifinals and then gutted out a 4–1 decision over Harper in the finals to take the title. The end result is a bracket loaded with dangerous No. 3 seeds.
Knowlton rebounded from his loss to Kennedy to finish third, setting up what could be a quarterfinal rematch this week. Another possible rematch comes with Ty Warren of Creekview, who dropped a tight 5–4 semifinal to Harper. Those two could collide again in the quarters on Wednesday night.
If the bracket holds to chalk, Prado would draw the winner of Kennedy vs. Knowlton, while Demery would see the winner of Harper vs. Warren. But given what Region 1 just delivered—and how unpredictable this group has been—that’s a lot of “ifs.” After last weekend’s shakeup, this weight feels more wide open than expected, and predicting order might be just as chaotic as the wrestling itself.
138 lbs.
Favorite: Logan Robinson - Woodstock
Contenders:
Bear Bringer - South Effingham
Yuto Arnold - Houston County
Waker Share - Sequoyah
Pierce Marsh - Creekview
Darkhorse: Bishop Barfield - Villa Rica
Bracketbuster: Tristan McCloskey - Johns Creek
It’s hard to imagine a final other than Logan Robinson vs. Bringer. Robinson finished second a year ago and enters at 53–2 after steamrolling Section B last weekend with two falls and two technical falls. Bringer, who placed fourth last season, was just as dominant in Section A—though his path was more demanding. He closed the tournament with a win over returning state placer Yuto Arnold, a match that stayed competitive deep into the bout before Bringer secured the fall.
Beyond those three, it feels like there’s a clear separation. Arnold was tested by Brian Rewis of Glynn Academy in the Section A semifinals, but otherwise Robinson, Bringer, and Arnold all handled their business efficiently.
Bracket placement adds some intrigue. Arnold and third-place finisher Bishop Barfield land on the bottom side with Robinson, making that half more dangerous than it might appear at first glance. Bringer anchors the top side alongside Walker Share of Sequoyah and Pierce Marsh of Creekview. Share dominated Marsh in last weekend’s semifinals, so if that pairing holds in the quarters, a Share–Bringer semifinal could be on deck.
There are also several names worth keeping on the radar. Rewis, Gann, and returning state qualifier Wade Clark all have the ability to impact the podium race. Returning state placer Tristan McCloskey, who finished sixth, could be a factor as well—especially in the third quarter of the bracket alongside Barfield.
On paper, this still looks like a Robinson–Bringer collision course. But with this many capable wrestlers in the field, there are plenty of opportunities for someone to upset the apple cart before we get there.
144 lbs.
Favorite: Aaron Campbell - Creekview
Contenders:
Jackson Carr - South Paulding
Maddox Vasquez - South Effingham
Daniel Phillips - Sprayberry
Sam Donaldson - Jackson County
Darkhorse: Evan Diaz - Lassiter
Bracketbuster: Joel Fuel - Brunswick
We’ve talked about it before—and now we get it again: new guard vs. old guard. Aaron Campbell of Creekview and Jackson Carr of South Paulding have both been outstanding this season, and this weight increasingly feels like it runs through them.
Campbell, a senior who finished third a year ago, owns several high-end wins and has only taken losses to elite competition. Carr, meanwhile, enters as a freshman at 52–3. We haven’t pinned down all three losses, but the résumé is impressive regardless—and he backed it up last weekend while cruising to the Section A title. At the moment, this bracket looks like a two-man race with everyone else trying to close the gap.
Carr anchors the top half and was never seriously threatened last weekend, with his closest bout coming in a 10–4 finals win over Maddox Vasquez of South Effingham. Also on that side are Daniel Phillips of Sprayberry and Evan Diaz of Lassiter. Phillips pinned Diaz in the third period of a tight semifinal, and if that pairing shows up again in the quarters, the winner would earn a semifinal shot at the freshman—an intriguing test.
On the bottom half, Campbell appears positioned to await the winner of the other projected 2-vs.-3 quarterfinal between Vasquez and Sam Donaldson of Jackson County. The two didn’t meet last weekend, but they did earlier in the season at State Duals, where Vasquez edged Donaldson 6–5. If both reach the quarters, that rematch is must-see.
There are still hazards along the way. Leo Gallagher, Malachi Gaskins, and Joel Fuel are all capable of complicating the podium race. But stepping back, the script is hard to ignore. This weight feels destined for a freshman vs. senior final—the only real question is which guard takes control and walks away with the title.
150 lbs.
Favorite: Semaj Dobbins - Brunswick
Contenders:
Lucian Brock - Decatur
Beau Hoffman - Jackson County
Logan Pritchett - Creekview
John Badami - South Paulding
Darkhorse: Rian Cushenan - Pope
Bracketbuster: Jaxen Turley - Sequoyah
If you enjoy chaos, you’ve come to the right weight. 150 has all the makings of a Pandora’s box of chaos. The lone returning state placer in the field (Jaxen Turley of Sequoyah) is also our bracket-buster—after losing in the semifinals last weekend and then medically forfeiting to sixth—and his availability this week is uncertain. Beyond that, nothing here feels settled.
What we do know starts with returning state qualifiers Semaj Dobbins and Lucian Brock, both of whom won their sections last weekend. Neither had an easy road. Dobbins survived a 10–9 semifinal against John Badami before pulling away to beat Beau Hoffman 14–4 in the finals. Brock had to grind through tight matches of his own to claim the Section B title including a 2-0 final over Pritchett. In total, there are six returning state qualifiers in this bracket—plenty of experience, very little separation.
Dobbins sits on the top half with Creekview’s Logan Pritchett and Pope’s Rian Cushenan. Pritchett and Cushenan didn’t meet last weekend, making that a potential quarterfinal worth circling. On the bottom half, Brock is grouped with Hoffman and Badami, who could collide in a 2-vs-3 quarterfinal after their sectional runs.
And that’s just the start. Joshua Cherry of Villa Rica, David Mathieu of Greenbrier, Demaria Moorelee of Gainesville, Turley (the returning state placer referenced above), and Gabriel Perez all have the tools to make noise if the bracket breaks their way.
There’s no clear favorite, no safe path, and no shortage of ways this can flip. At 150, the wrestler who stays composed, wins the close ones, and survives the early chaos is the one most likely to tame the wild west—and walk away with the bracket.
157 lbs.
Favorite: Weston Wilkie - Creekview
Contenders:
Josiah Staggers - Coffee
Ziya Karadeniz - Riverwood
Eli Wolaver - Loganville
Cullen Applegate - Woodward Academy
Darkhorse: Justus Washington - Rome
Bracketbuster: Jakobi Allen - Brunswick
Two returning state placers and six additional state qualifiers make this a deep bracket—but there is a clear favorite. Weston Wilkie has been steady and reliable all season. While his record includes a few blemishes (and the listed one isn’t entirely accurate), Wilkie is always in the match and has consistently battled the state’s best—earning quality wins and taking tough losses along the way. He left no doubt at Section B, ripping off four straight falls to enter as the favorite.
Section A champion Josiah Staggers owns a similar résumé: solid wins, close losses, and proven toughness against quality competition. Staggers survived a tight 2–1 semifinal against Jakobi Allen before pinning Eli Wolaver in the finals to claim the title.
Staggers anchors the top half alongside the No. 2 and No. 3 finishers from Section B—returning state placer Ziya Karadeniz and Cullen Applegate. Both have the talent to take over that side and make a legitimate push to the finals.
The bottom half is intriguing as well. Wilkie sits in the lower quarter awaiting the winner of Allen vs. Beekman, a quality opening-round matchup. Also on that side are Wolaver and Justus Washington, adding more danger to an already crowded path.
Wilkie deserves favorite status, but this is a bracket full of capable spoilers. To reach the top step, he’ll need to stay sharp at every turn—there’s very little room for error here.
165 lbs.
Favorite: Daylan Maxwell - Jackson County
Contenders:
Miles Lesley - River Ridge
Brody Duffy - Roswell
Kainoa Lau - Glynn Academy
Aidan Colker - Riverwood
Darkhorse: Ethan Salser - Greenbrier
Bracketbuster: David Remigallo - Dunwoody
This is an excellent field at 165, and last weekend reshaped how this bracket should be viewed. Going into sectionals, Duffy looked like the slight favorite over Lesley based on returning placement and the lack of a head-to-head result (at least one that wasn’t posted online - they had wrestled with Lesley winning in the dual). Lesley erased any doubt. He knocked off returning state placer David Remigallo 11–4 in the semifinals and followed it with a decisive 10–2 major decision over Duffy in the finals to claim the Section B title.
On the other side, returning state runner-up Daylan Maxwell was every bit as dominant in Section A. Maxwell pinned Salser in under a minute before sticking returning state placer Lau in the second period of the finals. We don’t have a Maxwell–Lesley result to reference, but it’s worth filing that away as the bracket unfolds.
Maxwell and Lesley land on opposite halves, setting up what looks like a likely collision course—but neither has a simple road. The potential 2-vs.-3 quarterfinals loom large. Duffy vs. Aidan Colker could run back a 10–9 semifinal from last week, with the winner likely earning a shot at Maxwell. That said, Maxwell can’t afford to look past the winner of Robinson vs. Drittlhuber. Robinson, in particular, is one to watch after dropping his opening match last weekend and then ripping off four straight wins to reach the consolation finals.
On the bottom half, the other projected 2-vs.-3 matchup would be Lau vs. Salser, though Salser must first get through Remigallo before that becomes reality.
The battle for the podium here should be fierce. Lesley and Maxwell look like the two most likely to reach the finals, but at 165, nothing comes easy. The obstacles are real, they’re close, and one mistake could change everything.
175 lbs.
Favorite: Caleb Cross - Glynn Academy
Contenders:
Amir Mamadsaidov - McIntosh
Zachary Utnehmer - South Effingham
Finn Shawver - Pope
Jayden Garrison - Habersham Central
Darkhorse: Zach Washington - Roswell
Bracketbuster: Jacari Manning - Coffee
This is a fun bracket headlined by returning state runner-up Caleb Cross. Cross rolled through the Section A bracket before taking a forfeit against Utneheimer in the finals. He’s been steady all season—his lone loss appears to be to Florida state champion Ray Shaw back in early December—and he enters looking ready to make a deep run this weekend.
Out of Section B, Amir Mamadsaidov of McIntosh was dominant. Mamadsaidov powered his way to the title with two technical falls, a pin, and capped it with a convincing 12–2 major decision over Finn Shawver in the finals. He looked every bit like a finals contender.
The early-round intrigue centers on the potential 2-vs.-3 quarterfinals. On the top side—Cross’s half—Shawver vs. Washington is a matchup to circle. On the bottom side with Mamadsaidov, Utneheimer vs. Garrison could decide who gets a shot at the Section B champ. Neither of those matchups occurred last weekend, adding a layer of uncertainty to both halves.
One known result to keep in mind: returning state qualifier Jacari Manning, who finished fifth in Section A, dropped an 8–2 decision to Mamadsaidov at State Duals earlier this season. That said, Manning must first get through Jaydin Spragin to set up any rematch.
This bracket is loaded with unknowns and light on recent rematches, which is often a recipe for chaos. Still, if things break as expected, don’t be surprised if it culminates in a Cross vs. Mamadsaidov showdown in the finals.
190 lbs.
Favorite: Costen Wright - Creekview
Contenders:
Coen Weaver - Kennesaw Mountain
Joseph Patrie - McIntosh
Karson Cook - Lee County
Chandler Bell - Woodward Academy
Darkhorse: Noah Phillips - Loganville
Bracketbuster: Travis McCrimmon - Brunswick
This is a terrific weight from top to bottom and should produce a long list of close, grinding matches. Returning state placer Costen Wright enters as the favorite after finishing the season at 53–6. Wright has consistently sought out elite competition all year, and that experience showed last weekend as he dominated his way to the Section B title. He’s proven he can handle the moment—and the pressure—against anyone in the field.
We know a bit less about returning state qualifier Coen Weaver, largely due to limited available results, but what is on the résumé is impressive. A loss to Ethan Secoy is hardly a red flag, and wins over Ledbetter of McCallie and Middleton of Christian Heritage carry real weight. Weaver backed that up at sectionals with a major decision over Travis McCrimmon and a fall over Cook in the finals, putting himself firmly in the contender tier.
That said, neither Wright nor Weaver can afford to relax. The depth here is real, and both sides of the bracket are littered with obstacles. Weaver shares the top half with Section B runner-up Joseph Patrie and third-place finisher Chandler Bell, a returning state runner-up. Patrie defeated Bell 6–2 in the quarterfinals last weekend, and the two could easily find themselves running it back Wednesday night.
On the bottom half, Wright is joined by Section A’s No. 2 Karson Cook and No. 3 Noah Phillips, who did not meet last weekend—another matchup with no recent history to lean on.
And that uncertainty runs throughout the bracket. Cook edged Carlton Pye 3–1. Pye then pinned Phillips. Patrie won in sudden victory over Miles Grossman. Results like those underscore just how thin the margins are. The only wrestlers who truly avoided danger last weekend were Wright and Weaver.
This bracket is loaded with potential pitfalls at every turn. Wright and Weaver sit at the top for a reason—but in a field this deep, they’ll have to earn every step forward.
215 lbs.
Favorite: Jackson Waters - Newnan
Contenders:
Brayden Park - South Paulding
Cooper Reiss - Glynn Academy
Enrique Perez - River Ridge
Eitan Villalba - Woodward Academy
Darkhorse: Ian Verrett - South Effingham
Bracketbuster: Eli Hawkes - Lanier
Few wrestlers have looked better this season than returning state champion Jackson Waters. Waters enters the weekend at 32–0 after another dominant sectional performance, rolling through with two falls, a forfeit, and a controlled 7–1 decision. He’s been consistent, composed, and nearly untouchable all year.
South Paulding’s Brayden Park was just as impressive in Section A. Park posted a fall, two technical falls, and then capped his run with a 10–5 decision over Cooper Reiss in the finals. This is a weight rich in experience. Reiss is the only other wrestler besides Waters to stand on the podium in 2025, but eight additional competitors in the field wrestled on the final weekend a year ago.
As usual, the potential 2-vs.-3 quarterfinals are where the early drama lives. On the top side with Park, Villalba vs. Perez is a matchup to watch, especially since the two didn’t meet last weekend. On the bottom side with Waters, Reiss vs. Verrett could decide who gets the favorite in the semis. While they didn’t meet last weekend, South Effingham and Glynn Academy know each other well, adding a layer of familiarity to that potential bout.
Also worth monitoring are Verrett and Crosby Alderman. Both dropped their opening-round matches last weekend and responded with impressive backside runs—Verrett won five straight to finish third, while Alderman won four in a row to meet him in the consolation finals. Momentum like that can matter this week.
Still, let’s be clear: Waters is the favorite to claim another title. The bracket is deep, experienced, and dangerous—but the central question remains simple. Can anyone find a way to trip him up?
285 lbs.
Favorite: Jackson Locke - Creekview
Contenders:
David Robinson - Apalachee
Jose Urdaneta Silva - Seckinger
Kawaski Brand - Coffee
Javonte Bowen - Habersham Central
Darkhorse: Tripp Rowell - Brunswick
Bracketbuster: Kevin Steptoe - South Effingham
This is an excellent weight headlined by returning state champion Jackson Locke. Locke looked every bit the part last weekend, dominating his way to the Section B title with two quick falls, a forfeit, and then an 8–0 decision over returning state placer Jose Urdaneta Silva in the finals. He enters the state tournament firmly in control of his side of the bracket.
Section A, meanwhile, delivered plenty of drama, with Apalachee’s David Robinson emerging on top. Robinson, who had finished as a region runner-up the week prior, caught fire—edging Tripp Rowell 6–4, pinning Donovan Arnold, and then closing with a fall over Kawaski Brand in the finals.
The bracket setup places Locke on the bottom half alongside Section A’s No. 2 finisher Brand and No. 3 Javonte Bowen, a returning state placer. Brand and Bowen could meet in the quarterfinals, with the winner earning a semifinal crack at the defending champion. On paper it looks straightforward, but as this weight has already shown, nothing is guaranteed.
The top half is where things get murkier. A projected 2-vs.-3 quarterfinal between Urdaneta Silva and Victor Esclusa is intriguing, but don’t overlook Kevin Steptoe of South Effingham, who already owns a win over Esclusa this season—opening the door for a Silva–Steptoe quarter instead. Add in the possibility of a Robinson–Rowell rematch (their 6–4 quarterfinal from last weekend), and the top side becomes anything but predictable.
Locke looks every bit like a defending state champion, and it would be a surprise not to see him wrestling on Saturday night. What happens on the other half of the bracket, however, feels wide open. Robinson has earned favorite status after his Section A run—but chaos is very much on the table.