Gators post 8-0 mark in winning two-day event at Jeff Davis
HAZLEHURST — Ware County’s grappling Gators captured their first tournament title here in the two-day, 18th annual Yellow Jacket Duals at Jeff Davis High School.
The Gators (21-2) placed first in the 21-team tournament held Friday, December 6 and Saturday, December 7 posting an 80 record after knocking off Oglethorpe County 51-18 in the finals.
Finishing third through eighth were Benedictine, West Laurens, Brantley County, Vidalia, Dade County and Effingham County.
Other teams competing were Bacon County, Dodge County, East Laurens, Harlem, Irwin County, host Jeff Davis, Lamar County, Montgomery County, Savannah Christian, Screven County, Statesboro, Swainsboro, and Wayne County.
Ware County was paired up with Savannah Christian (won 78-6), Wayne County (63-15), Statesboro (58-23) and Vidalia (66-12) in Pool C. The Gators beat Benedictine (48-35) in a crossover match.
The eventual champs knocked off Brantley County (54-29) in the quarterfinals, the Cadets (66-17) in the semifinals and Oglethrope County (51-18) in the championship match.
Pool Play Gators....................58 Statesboro .............23 Ware County notched four pin wins, four victories via forfeit and two by technical fall in beating the Blue Devils.
Posting pins were Noah Paul (120 lbs.; 3:32), Rodrigo Reyes (132; 1:25), Gunter Fore (175; 1:33) and Teshaun Wilson (215; 4:27).
Receiving forfeits were Stephen Valdez (106), T.J. Bullock (113), Damarion Zanders (126) and Kaden Drury (157). Winning by technical fall were Evan Thomas (144; 21-5) and Cameron Hambrick (190; 18-2).
Losing by pinfall were Brody Wood (138; 2:38), David Muchinson (165; 4:48) and Kyler Matthews (285; 1:12). Jaden McKelvin (150) suffered a 22-6 technical fall loss.
Gators....................78 Sav. Christian ..........6
The Gators recorded six pins, five in under a minute, and seven forfeits in beating Savannah Christian.
Recording pins were T.J. Bullock (113; 59 seconds), Rodrigo Reyes (132; 10 sec.), Laith Lairsey (138; 1:28), Kaden Drury (157; 54 sec.), David Muchinson (165; 57 sec.) and Kyler Matthews (285; 2:36) Winning via forfeit were Stephen Valdez (106), Jordan Maxwell (120), Chase Briggs (126), Aaron Bennett (144), Xarion Harris (150), Gunter Fore (175) and Jalen Hampton (215).
Hambrick (190; 1:38) suffered Ware County’s lone loss via pin.
Gators....................66 Vidalia....................12 Ware County posted four pin wins, two decisions and was awarded six forfeits against the Indians.
Getting pinfalls were Stephen Valdez (106; 20 sec.), Noah Paul (120; 27 sec.), David Muchinson (165; 1:28) and Kyler Matthews (285; 3:58).
Kaden Drury (157; 6-3) and Jalen Hampton (215; 7-1) won via decision. Getting forfeits were T.J. Bullock (113), Damarion Zanders (126), Rodrigo Reyes (132), Brody Wood (138), Evan Thomas (144) and Jaden McKelvin (150).
Losing via pin were Gunter Fore (175; 5:34) and Cameron Hambrick (190; 1:17).
Gators....................63 Wayne Co. ..............15 The Gators knocked off region foe Wayne County registering six pins, a decision and four forfeits.
Posting pins were Stephen Valdez (106; 53 sec.), T.J. Bullock (113; 2:55), Rodrigo Reyes (132; 59 sec.), Aaron Bennett (144; 5:22), David Muchinson (165; 15 sec.) and Gunter Fore (175; 2:21).
Damarion Zanders has control of his opponent in a 126-lb. match during the two-day Yellow Jacket Duals. SPECIAL PHOTO
Kyler Matthews (285) recorded a 17-14 decision. Winning via forfeit were Noah Paul (120), Brody Wood (138), Jaden McKelvin (150) and Cameron Hambrick (190).
Damarion Zanders (126) lost a 14-10 decision. Kaden Drury (157; 2:54) and Teshaun Wilson (215; 39 sec.) suffered pin losses.
Gators ........................................48 Benedictine ................................35 Ware County won seven of their eight matches via pin in getting past region foe Benedictine.
Recording pins were Stephen Valdez (106; 33 sec.), Jordan Maxwell (113; 2:34), Damarion Zanders (126; 1:45), Kaden Drury (157; 1:38), Gunter Fore (175; 3:15). Jalen Hampton (215; 1:25) and Kyler Matthews (285; 13 sec.).
Cameron Hambrick (190) won via forfeit.
Losing pin decisions were Noah Paul (120; 2:54), Rodrigo Reyes (132; 4:30), Laith Lairsey (138; 3:23), Jaden McKelvin (150; 2:58) and David Muchinson (165; 3:11).
Aaron Bennett (144) suffered a 17-0 technical fall loss.
Quarterfinals Gators.........................................54 Herons .......................................29 Ware County posted victories in 10 matches with six coming via pin.
Recording fall decisions were Damarion Zanders (126; 1:10), Aaron Bennett (144; 1:21), Jaden McKelvin (150; 1:56), David Muchinson (165; 17 sec.), Gunter Fore (175; 52 sec.).
Picking up forfeits were Stephen Valdez (106), Jordan Maxwell (113), Kaden Drury (157) and Kyler Matthews (285).
Losing by pin were Noah Paul (120; 34 sec.), Rodrigo Reyes (132; 1:50), Brody Wood (138; 39 sec.), Teshaun Wilson (215; 57 sec.). Cameron Hambrick (190) fell via technical fall 19-3.
Semfinals Gators ........................................66 Benedictine.................................17 The Gators dominated BC in the quarterfinal matchup recording nine pins and two forfeits.
Notching pins were Stephen Valdez (106; eight sec.), T.J. Bullock (113; 1:42), Damarion Zanders (126; 16 sec.), Rodrigo Reyes (132; 2:37), Evan Thomas (144; 4:22), Kaden Drury (157; 35 sec.), David Muchinson (165; 1:06), Jalen Hampton (215; 52 sec.) and Kyler Matthews (285; nine sec).
Jaden McKelvin (150) and Gunter Fore (175) were awarded forfeits.
Brody Wood (138; 3:13) and Cameron Hambrick (190; 1:57) lost by pin. Noah Paul (120) suffered a 16-1 technical fall decision.
Championship Gators .........................................51 Oglethorpe Co.............................18 Ware County took advantage of six pins to outdistance Oglethrope County in the finals.
Posting pin victories were Jordan Maxwell (113; 1:27), Noah Paul (120; 2:56), Damarion Zanders (126; 1:03), David Muchinson (165; 49 sec.) and Cameron Hambrick (190; 53 sec.).
Kaden Drury (157) recorded an 11-1 major decision with Gunter Fore (175) getting an 18-3 technical fall decision. Rodrigo Reyes (132) and Kyler Matthews (285) won via forfeit.
Evan Thomas (144; 1:40) suffered a pin defeat. Losing decisions were Stephen Valdez (106; 6-4), Laith Lairsey (138; 106), Jaden McKelvin (150; 12-6) and Jalen Hampton (215; 11-4).
JV Stinger Slam
The Gators had 14 junior varsity wrestlers competing.
Alex Byrd (113) finished 2-3, Ryan Tarver (126) went 4-1, Wesley Frye (132) posted a 4-0 mark, Charles Thrift (144) finished 0-3, Xarion Harris (150) logged a 4-1 mark, Charles Sams (150) also went 4-1, Zen Toupes (150) finished 1-3, Bennett Thorderson (150) posted a 2-2 mark, Andy Ignacio (157) posted a 5-0 mark with five pins, Maleek Mackey (157) went 3-2, Leland Nettles (165) also went 3-2, Alex Velasco (165) notched a 14 mark, Tyler Boyd (175) finished 1-1, and Willie Van (175) went 5-0 with four pins.
Queen of the Nest
Kira Brown (170) bounced back from an opening loss to finish 2-1.
Emmelee Haddock (130) and Cambria McLaughlin (145) each posted 1-2 records.
