Wrestlers from all the over the state of Georgia are converging on the Macon Centreplex this weekend vying for individual and team state championships with DeKalb County sending 28 to the competition.
Five of the DCSD wrestlers finished in the top three at their respective sectionals to advance to the state competition as higher seeds.
Dunwoody’s Constantine Gavalas added a Sectional title to his 2017 resume winning the 195 pound weight class in his Class 6A Sectional last weekend. Gavalas has also won DeKalb County and Area titles this season.
Gavalas has reached the semifinals with wins on Thursday over Jesse Booker of Forest Park (fall, 0:56) and Matthew Maruszak of John’s Creek (3-2). Gavalas faces Connor Perry of Alexander in the semifinals.
Gavalas’ Dunwoody teammate Thomas Jackson finished second in the 182 class at sectionals and is 1-1 in the state tournament after defeating first round opponent Lucius Chitty of Tucker (Fall, 0:20) and dropping a tough 9-6 decision to Dalton’s Joseph Reese in the quarterfinals. He and Chitty, a winner by fall (1:28) against Jonesboro’s Reginald Potts, are both in the second round of wrestle-backs.
Druid Hills’ Demarco Mosley was second in the 195 class at sectionals and is 1-1 at the state tournament and in the second round of wrestle-backs. He won his first match by major decision (12-3) over Zekiel Lilly of Baldwin before dropping his quarterfinal match in a 9-6 battle against Ryan Crump of Gilmore who has won 60 matches this season.
McNair’s Torrance Dumas (145) and Towers’ Maurice Hayes (220) both finished third in their Class 3A Sectional and will wrestle today.
Lithonia’s John Webb was fifth in the 126 class of the Class 5A Sectional, but has picked up two big wins to reach the semifinals at the state meet. Webb defeated Kendall Holmes of Fayette County (fall, 5:03) in his opening match and moved into the semifinals with a 16-14 decision over Luchiano Jenkins of Stockbridge. Next up is Vinnie Rosati of Woodland-Cartersville.
Sixteen other DeKalb wrestlers are still in contention for medals after going 1-1 in the first day of action.