HAZLEHURST — Brantley County’s grappling Herons placed eighth here Saturday in Gold Division at the two-day, 28-team 19th annual Yellow Jacket Duals hosted by Jeff Davis.
The Herons went 5-1 in Pool A play with wins over Benedictine 41-36, Vidalia 54-24, Irwin County 58-23, Dublin 58-24 and Statesboro 71-11. The lone loss was to eventual Gold Division champion and three-time defending traditional state champion and two-time defending dual state champion Social Circle 78-6.
Brantley County lost all three matches in the eightteam finals falling 69-6 to Ware County, 52-15 to Effingham County and 48-36 in the seventh-place match to Lexington (S.C.).
Ryder Leveen (106 lbs.) went 3-3 during the tournament winning his three matches by forfeit and suffering three losses via pinfall (1:07, 2:45; 56 seconds).
Keller Stringer (113) posted a 5-1 record recording two pins (48 sec., 1:00), a technical fall (17-2) and two forfeits. He lost a 13-11 decision.
Dante Holbrook (120) finished 1-3 the victory coming via forfeit. He suffered three pin (49 sec., 3:33, 3:04) defeats.
Rylan Benton (126) posted a 3-1 mark winning by pin (1:11), decision (7-0) and forfeit. He lost by pin (2:57).
Noah Smith (126) went 1-1 capturing a forfeit win and losing by pin (26 sec.).
Both Steven Roberson (132) and Sawyer Grimsley (132) recorded 1-2 records. Roberson’s win was by pinfall (1:09) as was his two losses (2:55, 2:54). Grimsley won by forfeit and was pinned (3:52, 2:10) twice.
Caden Benton (138) finished 4-0 with a pin (5:13), major decision (17-4), decision (10-8) and a forfeit.
Tyler Thrift (138) posted a 1-1 mark winning via pin (2:00) and falling via pin (22 sec.).
J.T. Johns (144) recorded a 2-4 record recording a pin (5:08) and forfeit. He dropped all four matches via pin (2:35, 4:00, 3:43 and 30 sec.).
Falcon Machado (150) finished with a 3-1 mark winning by pin (1:26), technical fall (18-1) and forfeit. His loss was via pin (4:29).
Nate Hartley (150) lost both matches via pins (29 sec., 1:05).
Conner Edwards (157) finished 1-2 with the victory a forfeit. He lost by pin (1:04) and via technical fall (150).
Peyton Perez (175) bounced back from an opening pin (2:37) to finish 5-1. Perez recorded three pins (1:37), 2:58, 3:22), a technical fall (19-3) and a decision (15-9).
Wiley Ray (190) notched a 3-2 mark posting three pin wins (2:25, 3:44, 5:22). He lost via pin (32 sec.) and decision (9-5).
Ethan Eunice (190) won his only match by pin (1:53). Ty Hughes (215) posted a 5-1 record with all five victories by pin (1:04, 1:46, 1:09, 1:46, 1:09). The loss was by pin (5:35).
Steven Cook (215) finished 1-2 with the victory a forfeit. Cook lost twice via pin (both at 54 sec.).
Aubrey Carter (285) and Connor Sumner (285) each went 1-2. Carter’s win was by pin (35 sec.) with the losses via pin (3:44, 28 sec.). Sumner won by pin (1:27). His losses were by pin (3:51) and major decision (10-1).
