DARIEN — Brantley County High School’s Herons’ wrestling squad captured the seven-team Area 3 Team Duals title here Saturday.
The Herons easily disposed of Jeff Davis in the semifinals winning 63-11. They followed with a 4827 victory over tournament host McIntosh County Academy in the finals.
Brantley County will face Mt. Pisgah in the Friday, January 16 first round of the 16-team, double-elimination Class A tournament in Franklin hosted by Heard County. The winner advances to face the survivor of the Gordon Lee-Toombs County matchup in the second round.
The losers of both matches are paired in the first round of losers’ bracket.
Semifinals Herons..................63 Jeff Davis...............11
Brantley County claimed seven wins via pin, one by decision and three by forfeit in knocking off the Yellow Jackets.
Pin wins were recorded by Keller Stringer (113 lbs.; 1:26), Rylan Benton (120; 5:30), Caden Benton (138; 1:01), Falcon Machado (144; 44 seconds), J.T. Johns (150; 2:29), Payton Perez (165; 3:03) and Ty Hughes (215; 1:21).
Conner Sumer (285) recorded a 9-3 decision. Receiving forfeits were Ryder Leveen (106), Steven Roberson (126) and Sawyer Grimsley (132).
Ethan Hartley (157) dropped a 17-12 decision with Ethan Eunice (190) falling 15-11. Wiley Ray (175) suffered a 19-2 technical fall setback.
Championship Herons..................48 MCA......................27
The Herons built their point total with four pin wins, three by technical fall, one decision and one forfeit in turning back McIntosh County Academy.
Posting pinfall victories were Stringer (113; 3:59), Benton (120; 1:36), Roberson (126; 5:43) and Johns (150; 1:50).
Notching technical fall wins were Benton (138; 18-1), Perez (165; 18-3) and Hughes (215; 17-0).
Eunice (190) survived a 5-4 decision while Leveen (106) won by forfeit.
Suffering pin losses were Grimsley (1:40), Hartley (157; 1:41) and Ray (175; 3:22). Sumner (285) was beaten by an 83 decision with Noah Smith (144) being disqualified.
