Swimmers go for gold; wrestlers start state run; hoops reg. season ends; Signing Day comes

The area's prep basketball teams will take another step closer to the postseason; area wrestlers will begin their final playoff run; and area swimmers will bring their high school campaign to a close this week.

There is also the little matter of National Signing Day on Wednesday.

An occasion that takes on holiday-like status for major college football fans, Signing Day marks the first instance that prep football players can bind their commitment to the college program of their choice. There will be plenty of local stars set to do just that on Wednesday, and we at Jacobs Media will cover all the angles, from coverage on Access North Georgia.com to the FCA Signing Day Special on 1240 AM, beginning at 2 p.m. Wednesday. The show will highlight a number of the area's top athletes and their collegiate choices.

And that's just what's happening outside the arena this week.

The GHSA swimming and diving championships will take place on Friday and Saturday at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, and a number of northeast Georgia swimmers will take their shot at claiming a crown -- including Paul Powers, who make a run at defending his 50 freestyle gold medal.

The North Hall junior has continued to dominate this season, posting the top 50 free qualifying time for state (21.03), as well as the top 100 free qualifying mark (46.78). Powers was second in the 100 free last season. He is closely followed by his younger brother Ty Powers, who is seeded second in the 50 free. The Trojans 200 free relay team -- which includes both Powers, Bradley Brown and David Schofield -- also enters with the best time of the season (1:29.77).

They will be joined by plenty of area competitors, including Gainesville's Colin Monaghan, who owns the top boys 200 yard Individual Medley qualifying time (1:56.60). The sophomore is also fifth in the 100 butterfly.

While the pool promises plenty of excitement, the mats will be equally hot this weekend, as the GHSA sectionals begin around the state. The area’s top wrestlers will look to qualify for next weekend’s state finals in Macon with victories at various sites.

Chestatee, Flowery Branch and Banks County each made big statements with area traditional titles this past weekends, while traditional powers such as Jefferson and Commerce will look to continue their dominance and place as many wrestlers into the Macon brackets as possible.

And, of course, basketball continues this week, as local teams will complete the regular season and look to grab the best seeds possible for upcoming region tournaments.

The week features some key match-ups for all of the area’s regions, including a showdown in 7-AAA between Dawson County and North Hall in Dawsonville on Tuesday. The Flowery Branch girls will also look to complete a perfect 8-AAAAA slate, with games against Heritage, Conyers and Cedar Shoals. In Region 8-AAAA, Johnson’s boys can wrap up the No. 1 seed with a defeat of Eastside on Thursday.

Meanwhile, in Region 8-A, Lakeview Academy faces a key battle at rival Athens Christian on Thursday. And on Friday North Hall heads to Buford in a showdown that will be broadcast live on WDUN AM 550/102.9 FM.

And that’s just skimming the surface of a big week for area prep sports -- and don’t forget that spring sports are just around the corner. Look below for a complete schedule of the week.


THIS WEEK'S PREP SPORTS SCHEDULE

Monday
BASKETBALL
Banks County at West Hall


Tuesday
BASKETBALL
Buford at West Hall
Chestatee at Lanier
Commerce at Towns County
Copper Basin, Tenn. at Fannin County
East Hall at White County
Franklin County at East Jackson
Gainesville at Loganville
Hart County at Jackson County
Heritage, Conyers at Flowery Branch
Johnson at Walnut Grove
Meadowcreek at Habersham Central
North Hall at Dawson County
Pinecrest Academy at Lakeview
Rabun County at Jefferson
Stephens County at Monroe Area
Union County at Riverside
West Forsyth at North Forsyth


Wednesday
BASKETBALL
Flowery Branch at Cedar Shoals


Thursday
BASKETBALL
Eastside at Johnson
Lakeview Academy at Athens Christian


Friday
BASKETBALL
Dawson County at West Hall
East Hall at Banks County
East Jackson at Jackson County
Fannin County at White County
Habersham Central at Duluth
Jefferson at Union County
North Forsyth at Centennial
North Hall at Buford
Salem at Gainesville
Pinecrest Academy at Commerce
Riverside at Rabun County

SWIMMING
GHSA Swim Championships at Georgia Tech in Atlanta

WRESTLING
State Sectionals
Class AAAAA East -- Loganville High
Class AAAA East -- West Laurens High
Class AAA East -- Morgan County High
Class AA East -- Dublin High
Class A East -- Montgomery County High


Saturday
BASKETBALL
Cedar Shoals at Gainesville
Riverside at Social Circle

SWIMMING
GHSA Swim Championships at Georgia Tech in Atlanta

WRESTLING
State Sectionals
Class AAAAA East -- Loganville High
Class AAAA East -- West Laurens High
Class AAA East -- Morgan County High
Class AA East -- Dublin High
Class A East -- Montgomery County High