Local wrestlers to battle at Region 7-5A Traditional

PHOTO: Cass High School senior, Chandler Blum, is one of several highly seeded local wrestlers for the Region 7-AAAAA Traditional Tournament January 30-31 at Cass. Photo Credit: Dawn Teer.

The 2015 Region 7-AAAAA Traditional Wrestling tournament begins Friday, January 30 at Cass High School with two Bartow County schools as the favorites.

Woodland, the 2015 Duals State Runner-Up in Class AAAAA, will have wrestlers seeded in the top four of their respective brackets in thirteen of the fourteen weight divisions. Cass, which finished fourth at the State Duals, will enter top four seeds in nine weight classes.

Neither coach Adrian Tramutola of Woodland nor D. L. Koontz of Cass believes the high tournament seedings add any pressure for their wrestlers.

“There’s no extra pressure on us. We have very high expectations and goals that our kids place on themselves. At the end of the day, seeds are just numbers on paper. We have to go out and compete regardless of seed,” said Tramutola.

Coach Koontz agreed.

“To be honest, the higher seeded guys should just have more confidence and should be moving on to the sectionals. There’s more pressure on the guys not seeded in the top four. We wrestle an extremely tough schedule, so our guys should be ready for a difficult tournament,” added the Cass coach.

Both programs have strong traditions and have performed well in both GHSA championship formats.

The Wildcats have made the state duals finals four years in a row. They won the state duals in 2011 and won a traditional state title in 2003.

Cass won the state duals in 2008 and the traditional title in 2006.

Both programs have been among the state’s elite for several years now and the local coaches are quick to point to their programs’ continued senior leadership.

Jake Huffine and and Chance Bishop of Woodland are both veteran state placers.

“Jake is one of our leaders and a very talented kid,” said Tramutola. “He’s already been a two-time placer, so he’s really working for an opportunity to leave as a champion.”

“Chance is also a returning state veteran. He’s an intelligent and hard working kid that wants to take that next step.” continued the Woodland coach.

Matt Evans and Khalil Morris are also seeded seniors and team captains for the Wildcats.

“Matt has qualified for state twice and has really worked himself into a state placer threat, while Khalil is a three-year starter that didn’t even come out for wrestling until his sophomore year. He’s an exceptional football player as well.” Tramutola stated.

Coach Koontz of Cass also spoke of the value of his senior wrestlers.

“First, these seniors are among the most talented wrestlers in their weight classes in the state,” Koontz began. “Better than that, however, they also bring other important qualities to the program.”

“Chandler Blum genuinely cares about all his teammates. He is always taking steps to take care of his teammates. He’s one of the nicest kids I’ve ever coached,” said Koontz.

“Montavious Turner may be a quiet kid, but he leads by example in the practice room every day. He’s worked himself into being a great wrestler,” continued Koontz.

“Devin Willis is a grinder who is tough as nails. He has competed hurt, sick, or whatever. He is all business inside the circle. Then there is Tyjuan Jett who brings a little attitude to the mat, but has the agility and ability to back it up. Tyjuan is one of the funniest guys on the team, but he pushes our upper weight guys and keeps them working hard.” Koontz said.

In the duals format completed earlier this season, schools went head-to-head in all weight classes. Points for pins, major decisions, minor decisions, and even forfeits are accumulated in the team match. Entire teams advance through a tournament bracket based on the performance of all team members.

In the traditional format featured this weekend, individual wrestlers are placed into tournament brackets and advance individually in their own weight division. Team scores are accumulated as wrestlers advance through the championship and consolation brackets of their respective weight classes. Point values are secured in a similar fashion to the previously described duals format.

Injuries, aches, and pains are common at this point of every wrestling season, so both Bartow coaches expect that to be a factor in any championship event.

“I don’t think any team is 100 percent this time of year,” noted Tramutola, “but we’re confident in the fourteen guys we will send to the mat this weekend. They’ve done a great job this year dealing with adversity and injuries.”

Coach Koontz echoed those sentiments regarding team health at this juncture.

“I’ll be honest, if anyone is completely healthy at this point in the season, then they probably did not push themselves all year. Everyone in our varsity line up was given last weekend off to rest their bumps and bruises for the area, sectional, and state tournaments. We have had to deal with the flu and other injuries just like everyone else. Some of the guys may not have wrestled as much as others, but they are all ready to go out and give it everything they have this weekend. Their teammates have made sure of that.” said Koontz.

Koontz noted, however, his team will be without senior Tyller Larson. The 160-pounder had his season cut short due to a shoulder injury.

“Our kids will tell you Tyller’s the heartbeat of this team,” Koontz commented. “He has been a vocal leader in the wrestling room and his teammates never question him. We will miss him and his ability to get big points.”

The Cass coach continued that his team is looking forward to the opportunity to host the Area Tournament in their own facility. Koontz pointed out, however, the strength of the area’s competition.

“I think anytime that you can wrestle in your own gym, in front of your own fans, and on your own mats you have an advantage,” noted Koontz.

“We won’t rely on any advantage, however, because this area has got to be the most talented in the state. We all know there will be wrestlers from this area that will not qualify for sectionals that could very well place in the state,” Koontz concluded.

Woodland’s Tramutola said his team is ready regardless of where they now have to wrestle.

“Even though this tournament is close to home it is at our biggest rival’s place,” stated Tramutola.

“Cass is the biggest threat to us winning the title, but for us -- at this point -- it doesn’t matter where we compete. The mat is the same size and there’s an opponent standing across from you trying to take what you’ve worked for,” Tramutola concluded.

The tournament’s opening round is scheduled for Friday at 5pm with Round 2 and Round 3 to follow. Wrestling continues Saturday morning at 8:30am with Round 4. The semi-finals are scheduled for 9:30am and the consolation semi-finals will follow at 11am. The finals for places 1 through 6 begin Saturday at 12:30pm.

Tickets are $7 each day or a 2-day tournament pass is available for $12.

The top four individual finishers in each weight class bracket this weekend will advance to the Class AAAAA Traditional State Sectionals February 6-7 at Cambridge High School and remain in contention for the Class AAAAA State Championships in Macon February 12-14.

Here are the wrestlers for the Wildcats and Colonels listed in each weight class:

106 lbs
W: Dawson Woods, Sophomore, (36-3) 3-seed
C: Devin Garrett, Sophomore, (20-4) 2-seed

113 lbs
W: Jahvar Lewis, Junior, (30-4), 1-seed
C: Tyler Pilcher, Freshman, (15-6), 3-seed

120 lbs
W: Logan Sims, Junior, (19-2), 1-seed
C: Chandler Blum, Senior, (20-9), 2-seed

126 lbs
W: Jake Huffin, Senior, (27-3), 1-seed
C: Jordan Mitchell, Junior, 5-seed

132 lbs
W: Jesus Montero, Sophomore, 7-seed
C: Hunter Quinn, Junior, (27-4), 1-seed

138 lbs
W: Spenser Cooper, Junior, (28-7), 1-seed
C: Montavious Turner, Senior, (18-5), 2-seed

145 lbs
W: Cody Cochran, Fresham, (35-5), 3-seed
C: Devin Wills, Senior, (20-3), 1-seed

152 lbs
W: Matt Evans, Senior, 2-seed
C: Houston Jones, Senior

160 lbs
W: Joseph Jones, Junior, 4-seed
C: Tripp Breeden, Freshman, 3-seed

170 lbs
W: Khalil Morris, Senior, (20-13), 3-seed
C: Chance Scrutchins, Sophomore, 5-seed

182 lbs
W: Chance Bishop, Senior, (36-5), 1-seed
C: Aaron Matthews, Junior, 2-seed

195 lbs
W: Brett Shedd, Junior, (26-8), 4-seed
C: Dallas Huston, Sophomore, 7-seed

220 lbs
W: Hunter Hardin, Sophomore, 3-seed
C: Seven Richards, Freshman

285 lbs
W: Dalton May, Junior, (6-2), 4-seed
C: Tyjuan Jett, Senior, (28-2), 1-seed