Wrestling: Banks County wins 4-AAA traditionals

ELBERTON – Banks County won the Area 4-AAA traditional wrestling tournament Saturday at Elbert County High School.

The Leopards held off Oconee County posting 208 points to 196 for the Warriors. Buford finished third with 168, Jackson County was fourth at 157, and host Elbert County took fifth with 156 points. North Hall was sixth with 151 points.

White County was seventh (118), East Hall eighth (107), West Hall ninth (96), and Franklin County was 10th with 70 points. Hart County was 11th with 57 points and East Jackson finished 12th with 55 points.

For North Hall, Tyler Kratzer brought home the only individual title, winning the 145-pound weight class. Taylor Marett finished third at 106, and Michael Carew (120), Tyler Goss (126), David Lush (132), Austin Truelove (140), and Matthew Scavuzzo (152) all finished fourth for the Trojans.

Truelove was one of the better stories of the meet. The junior was called off the junior varsity team to fill on open slot and found his way the Class AAA East Sectionals next week at Morgan County.

“Tyler wrestled well and I thought overall we did a good job,” North Hall coach Jay Hargis said. “We wanted to get at least six to the sectionals and we did that. But, it wasn’t the exact six we thought it would be. And, I was hoping we would place a little higher.

“But I was excited for Austin. To move up like that at this kind of meet and advance to sectionals is pretty remarkable. Hopefully we can build on this for next week.”

West Hall also claimed an individual crown, as Elliott Raiford clinched the 152-pound crown, while Eric Camacho (182) and Jimmy Lopez (285) each finished fifth.

For East Hall it was a solid afternoon, as Corey Reece took second, while Will Davidson, Edward Vergara, and JD Holloway each took third. Felton Wood and Tyler Thomas took fifth, and Kintavious Johnson finished sixth for the Vikings.