MACON — Pierce County’s wrestling team tied for 22nd in the field of 40 teams here at the Macon Centreplex in the Class AA Traditional state wrestling championships.
The Bears sent four grapplers to the two-day (Thursday, February 13 and Friday, February 14) tournament. Representing PCHS were Gregory Sallet (120), Andrew Watkins (132), Cooper Davis (138) and David Lyons (215).
Lovett followed a Class 4A state title in 2024 with the Class 2A title this year finishing with 191.5 points. Trailing the Lions in the Top 10 were two-time defending AA champion Rockmart (150.5), Franklin County (131), Columbus (126), Cook (123), Coahulla Creek (114), Union County (106), Ringgold (98), East Jackson (94) and Lakeview-Ft. Oglethorpe (90).
The second 10 consisted of Murray County (76), Holy Innocents (71), Morgan County (67.5), Sonoraville (66.5), Pike County (55), Hart County (45.5), North Murray (40), Hardaway (35.5), Jordan (25) and Burke County (19).
Placing 21 thru 30 were Shaw (16), North Cobb Christian (14), PCHS (14), Butler (11), Jackson (11), Salem (10), Appling County (9), Callaway (9), Stephens County (6.5) and Columbia (6).
The rest of the field included Redan (4), Sumter County (4), Rutland (3), Spencer (3), Westside Macon (3), Carver-Atlanta (0), Crisp County (0), Kendrick (0), Laney(0) and Miller Grove (0).
• Sallet (120; 22-34) went 1-2 in his weight division. He lost a 13-1 major decision to Lakeview-Ft. Oglethorpe’s in the opening round. Sallet posted a pin (4:20) win over Hart County’s Keylan Martin in the consolation bracket followed by a 4-0 loss to Hardaway’s Travis Davis.
• Watkins (132; 49-15) captured his first match winning via a pin (1:44) over Murray County’s Domingo Sanchez Ramos. Lovett’s scored a 15-0 technical fall in the quarterfinals over Watkins. In the consolation bracket, Watkins won by injury default over North Murray’s Brandon Locke before falling to Shaw’s Pedro Reyes by pin (3:38).
• Davis (138; 49-20) lost his first round match by pin (4:27) to Lakeview Ft. Oglethorpe’s Kadein Carter. Davis bounced back in the consolation bracket with a pin (4:55) win against Coahulla Creek’s Greg Christie ahead of dropping a tough 12-10 decision to Sonoraville’s Jack Burke.
• Lyons (215; 55-9) was clipped 8-7 by Holy Innocents’ Thomas Dougherty in his first match. He followed with a 9-4 decision in the consolation bracket over Union County’s Ayden Lee. Pike County’s Noah Cash escaped with a 4-1 sudden victory win in Lyons’ next match.
