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Wrestling coaches have mixed opinions on new state dual meet
By Everett Catts / DeKalb Neighbor
Wednesday, December 5, 2001
Shannon Miller says it's about time Georgia high school wrestling caught up with the rest of the nation.
The Columbia head coach, who guided his team to a fifth-place finish in Class AAAA last season, is glad to see the Georgia High School Association add a state dual meet tournament to its individual event. "most of the other states that are pretty strong in wrestling already have it," Miller said. "It gives teams who have a good porogram an opportunity to wrestle as a team and not just as an individual sport."
Beginning this season, state team titles will be awarded in both the individual and dual meet tournaments. In the individual format, the top four wrestlers in each area advcance to state competition. The state dual meet will come Feb. 16, one week after the individual competition.
In the dual meet tounament, the top two teams from each area advance to state. The dual meet qualifiers can be determined in one of two ways: either by a round robin format or by an area dual meet which must take place prior to Feb. 1, 2002. Each area can decide how its teams will qualify for state.
Parkview head coach Dennis Stromie is one of the coaches who first suggested the idea of a state dual meet, and the GHSA has planned the event over the last few years. In the past, teams had dual meets only during the regular season.
While Miller and other DeKalb County coaches said they like the addition of the state dual meet, they have mixed opinions on some aspects of the tournament, especially on how state qualifiers are determined.
"The thing I don't like about that is there is no real guideline," Decatur head coach Tim Winterscheidt said. "Every area I talked to has a different format. It needs to get standardized. It should be the same way across the state. that's the downside of it right now as a new thing."
Area 4-AA, which includes Decatur, will have a dual meet Jan. 19 at Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville to determine state qualifiers. All other areas involving DeKalb teams will have dual meets - 7-AAAAA (at Redan in January), 5-AAAA (at Marist Jan. 26) and 3-AAA (South Forsyth Jan. 26).
But the number of teams that can participate in tose tournaments is different from one area to the next. In 3-AAA, the largest area in Class AAA with 13 teams, only the top eight squads will be invited to the dual meet. Chamblee head coach Nate Rudolph said those are qualifiers likely will be determined by their record against common opponents during the season. "I think the main problem," Rudolph said, "is determing the number of teams to put into your regional tournament, and also findiing a way that's very equitable to the lesser teams to compete in the dual meet tournament. But that hasn't bee worked out yet."
Said Miller: "I'm guessing that what the stae does is let the coaches work it out and look at what works. Right now it's vague because one year it may be a round-robin [format] and another it could be a torunament. After we look at it a couple of years, we'll see what [format] is the best."
Lakeside head coach Shawn Cavanaugh said he's had problems scheduling non-area dual meets during the regular season because Area 7-AAAAA has only seven teams. Several other areas in Atlanta have almost twice as many teams and must use those meets to schedule region opponents, he said. Cavanaugh also would like to see the state dual meet scheduled in the middle of the season.
"I don't agree with it being the last thing," he said. "Wrestling is a team sport but mainly an individual state tournament. Kids work hard all year for the individual title. Not that it's important, but I think it's secondary to the individual state tournament. I think it's hurt DeKalb a little bit because the county doesn't have middle school programs."
The dual meet state tournament will have 16 teams in Class AAAAA and AAAA and eight in the three other classifications. Some ot the best state tournament teams are the ones that have a handful of individuals who can place high enough to give their squad a team title.
The dual meet format was added so some balanced teams, which are not always as good in tournaments, will have the cahance to win a state title. "It gives [good dual meet teams] a chance to excel on a level that's more recognized," said Decatur senior captain Simon Dunham, who won the Class AA 140-pound title last season.
"It allows everybody to contribute because it's a team effort," Rudolph added. "Walkeing out there and taking a forfeit means something now."
Wrestling briefs
Decatur (3-1) was featured last Thursday on GPTV's Prop Sports+.
Redan, Decatur lead teams in search for state
By Everett Catts / DeKalb Neighbor
Wednesday, November 28, 2001
As fall fades into winter, wrestling season is back in DeKalb County. With it brings changes in how state champions will be crowned.
In past seasons, team titles were determined by how well each school's individuals fared in state competition.
While that format remains, the Georgia High School Association has added a dual meet championship one week after the individual tournament.
In Class AAAAA, Redan is the team to watch in Area 7. Defending champion Columbia is a favorite to repeat as the Area 5 winner in Class AAAA.
In Class AAA, perennial powers Lovett and Westiminster are the teams to beat in Area 5. Decatur is the one to watch in Class AA's Area 5.
Lakeside
The Vikings could have a tough time replacing seniors James Ammons, Jason Weibel, and Lambros Samouris.
Lakeside head coach Shawn Cavanaugh will rely on seniors Ryan Garcia (189), Kolin Kliossis (160), and Colin Caviness (160).
Seniors Peter Flueckiger (135) and Jeff Sauser (152) and sophomore Jesse Ammons (135 or 140) also are expected to lead the team. Ben Sims (171) also could make an impact.
Garcia just missed placing at state last year and could finish in the top four this season.
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Overcoming obstacles, Decatur becoming state title contender
By Everett Catts / DeKalb Neighbor
Wednesday, December 19, 2001
They practice in places like the school cafeteria and a local church. They face prior state champions in a grueling schedule that has only four home matches.
Because the Decatur High Bulldogs do not have a gym, the team usually practices at the Decatur Heights Baptist Church's activity center. But this month the Bulldogs have worked out at the school's cafeteria because the church is using its facility for Christmas events. Decatur will return practices to the church in January.
"We don't get as much of a workout as we'd like to," said fifth-year head coach Joe Winterscheidt. "It affects us. We don't get to wrestle live as much. That's a big thing working against them."
But the Bulldogs seem to be overcoming those obstacles. With a balanced lineup, Decatur (5-4 in dual meets) is shaping into a Class AA title contender.
The Bulldogs, who placed 13th in Class AA last season, have lost to perennial powers Lovett, Westminster and Morgan County. But the program is showing signs of improvement. In their biggest victory, on Nov. 21, the Bulldogs beat perennial powerhouse Walker for the first time in Wintersheidt's tenure.
On Dec. 7 and 8, Decatur placed sixth in the 11-team Red Devil Rumble at Loganville. Led by 140-pound champion Simon Dunham, the Bulldogs were the top finishers among Class AA and A schools.
Four other wrestlers placed. Aaron Uchitel (152, Jr.), Cody Gallo (135, Sr.), Will Gillespie (112, Jr.), each finished third, and Chad Gorbatkin (189, So.) took fourth.
Dunham, a senior, is the defending Class AA champ at 140 and had a 9-1 record through Dec. 13. He, Gallo0 (10-1) and Gillespie (9-1) have led Decatur this season.
"We've got two senior captains--Simon and Cody--who are not juest fantastic wrestlers, but they do a great job leading on the mat," Winterscheidt said. "It's really them who have gotten the team going. The get the team excited, and that makes you want to work harder."
Seniors Ed Forrester (275) and Jordan Grimes (145), juniors John Sansome (130), Graham Watson (160) and Brian Lake (171) and freshmen Raymond Almand (215) and Chico Porter (125) also start.
Sophomore Ben Cohen and junior Rachel Elkon, the team's only female member, have split time at 119. Late last week, there was no one in the 103 slot, but Winterscheidt said he expects to fill the weight class in the next few weeks.
"Our lineup is pretty solid from top to bottom," Winterscheidt said. "Last year we had more shaky spots. This year we have fewer holes and are working to fill them."
Decatur's goal is to finish no lower than fifth at state, where three-time defending champion Morgan County is the favorite. Area IV rivals Greater Atlanta Christian, Lumpkin County and Dawson County, could be the teams to beat in Class AA.
"I would say right now, the toughest competiton we'll see is in our area," Winterscheidt said. "If we can win our area, it's possible we can win state. I really think they can do it, if they keep wrestling like they have been."
The coach has put together as tough a schuedule as he could to prepare the Bulldogs for the post-season. Decatur competed in the Avado Brands Invitational at Morgan County last Saturday. The Bulldogs will take this week off for final exams before wrestling in the Wesleyan Duals, beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday.
So how will Decatur fulfill its state title goal?
"It's just going to be a matter of carrying the momentum of...improving," Winterscheidt said. "It's tough because the sport is so draining. But if the enthusiaasm is there, we'll continue to do better as a team."
Vikings look to fill holes, win area title
By Everett Catts / DeKalb Neighbor
Wednesday, December 12, 2001
As Lakeside head coach Shawn Cavanaugh sees it, the weight classes his team is forfeiting now won't affect the team in the long run.
Out of 14 weight classes, the Vikings are giving up an automatic six points in five of them. Although Lakeside (3-0 in dual meets) made up for those losses in wins over Druid Hills, McNair and Clarkston Dec. 4, the Vikings may need those points when they face tougher competition.
"We've got a ton of seniors, but we've got four seniors vying for two wight classes, which hurts us," Cavanaugh said. "We're old but...we've got some young kids who should come up and fill all the weight classes except 275. Right now, we should do well dual-wise. We should be a pretty good tournament team with [189-pounder Ryan] Garcia and some of the other guys stepping up."
In its first three matches, Lakeside was especially weak in light weights, forfeiting the 103, 112 and 119 divisions. The Vikings also did not have wrestlers at 140 or 275. But what Lakeside does have is a solid lineup and some lightweight junior-varsity grapplers waiting in the wings.
Seniors Garcia, Peter Flueckiger (135), Jeff Sauser (152), junior Earl Ford (215), sophomores John Coleman (125) and Jesse Ammons (145) and freshman Steve Feldman (130) start at their respective weight classes. Seniors Kolin Kliossis and Colin Caviness (160) and Ben Sims and Chris Jaggers (171) are battling for their divisions.
Cavanaugh said he will insert some freshmen, currently wrestling on the JV squad, at the 103-119 weight classes when the Area 7-AAAAA tournament comes in February.
"We've got some holes to fill," he said. "After seeing what we saw [Dec. 4], we looked [good] overall. Two of our kids, the 125- and 130-pounders placed second in a JV tournament. I bumped them up and they went 2-0 [on varsity]. I think things are only going to get better."
Garcia, the only DeKalb wrestler to advance to the second round in Class AAAAA last year, leads the varsity squad.
"I project him to go pretty far in state this year," Cavanaugh said. "He's a real workhorse."
Ammons, who joined Garcia at the Cornell University camp this summer, and Kliossis also could contend for an area title.
Lakeside, which competed in the Derwin Brown Invitational at Columbia last weekend, will battle in the Brookwood INvitational Friday and Saturday. Last year the Vikings had three finalists, including Kliossis and Garcia, who each placed second.
"It's a pretty tough tournament," Cavanaugh said. "In the past it has been real competitive. We get to see a lot of teams we won't get to see all year. I'll see our area teams four or five times this year, and it gets monotonous. So it's good to compete in this tournament."
Lakeside also will compete in the Southeastern Holiday Classic Dec. 28 and 29, an event that has teams from Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama and Florida.
The Vikings do not want to repeat the collapse of last season, when the team finished fourth in the area. Out of the nine wrestlers the team sent to the semifinals, only two reached the finals. The Vikings had beaten all five area opponents in the regular season.
This winter, Redan is the area favorite.
"They really didn't lose anybody last year," Cavanaugh said. "We've lost three, so I see us a dark horse. I think [Lakeside is] motivated. Again, it only takes four or five guys to win a tournament, especailly a small one like that. I don't think they're looking toward that now, but it's in the back of their heads. Hopefully, we'll be able to peak at the right time." |
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Newcomers help make Redan a county power
By Everett Catts / DeKalb Neighbor
Wednesday, January 23, 2002
A new head coach and two transfers have helped Redan become one of the DeKalb County's top wrestling teams and a contender for the area dual meet title this weekend.
Marco Jackson, a Raiders assistant the past two seasons, has replaced Rodney Winston as head coach. Jackson brought in Ben Johnson as the junior varsity coach and Jerome Tillery Sr. as lay coach.
Tillery's sons, Jerome Jr. and Jerun, transferred from McNair and have made an immediate impact. The brothers, who start at 130 and 103 pounds respectively, each finished second at the DeKalb County Championships Jan. 12. Those two grapplers, combined with the team's returning starters, helped Redan jump from fourth in last year's county meet to second this season.
"A lot of it is it's my program to run," Jackson said of the team's success. "One of the biggest things that's changed is I've got more people involved. I've got two coaches who are competent and good teachers. I've got kids more interested in wrestling."
The Raiders, who had about 20 wrestlers last seaso, are up to about 35 this winter.
Redan is led by seniors Iniobong Isan (24-3 at 215 pounds) and Jerome Tillery Jr. (16-4).
Senior Jamel Willis (135), junior Ulysses LaGarde (171), sophomores Stephen Reid (125), Ben Varner (140), Lamar Miller (145, area champ last year), Jamel Dorton (160, area champ last year) and Tiijon Dacosta (112), and freshman Diijon Dacosta (119), Tiijon's twin brother, also start.
Kevin Douglass, a state qualifier last year, is out this season with a dislocated left knee. Redan does not have wrestlers at 152, 189 and 275, forfeiting each weight class in matches. Jackson said Isang, the Tillerys, Miller, LaGarde, Varner and the DaCostas have stepped up.
"This team is a good blend of good leadership with the four seniors I have and the young talent," Jackson said. "They're doing very well. this is a very talented group. This group is a good one to build on. I'm losing four seniors on this bunch. I've got three or gour JV kids ready to step up in those positions."
Redan will play host to the Area 7-AAAAA dual meet, beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday. The Raiders, who finished second last year, are favored to win the title, with Southwest DeKalb and Lakeside as possible contenders.
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