WRESTLING: Trinity’s Simmons, Shirley place sixth at GIAAs; 17 local qualifiers at GHSA sectionals

Two Trinity Crusaders reached the podium at the GIAA state finals, and 17 local representatives earned state berths at GHSA sectional tournaments during this past Saturday’s postseason wrestling action. 

Both Tommy Simmons (120) and Hudson Shirley (138) finished sixth in their respective weights at the GIAA state tournament in Gainesville. 

Simmons, after a first-round bye, took down Brookstone’s Aiden Uweh with a pin only 51 seconds into his opening match. But he was knocked from the winner’s bracket in the semifinals, by fall, against eventual state champ Nathan Manos, of Athens Christian.

Shirley came from behind for a pin of Pinewood’s Rhett Nobles in his first-round match, before avenging his loss to Bulloch’s Harold Park from the previous week’s region title match with a 13-10 sudden victory, courtesy of a takedown with 34 seconds left in the first overtime. But he’d be defeated by pin in his semifinal match against Strong Rock Christian’s David Longino, and denied a chance to wrestle back for third by Mill Springs’ Andrew Christian.

The Crusaders’ Cooper Miller (126) and Gade Santiago (144) also competed, but were eliminated in earlier rounds.

Meanwhile, the following region qualifiers out of Dublin, East Laurens and West Laurens punched their tickets to state at sectional events in Lyons and Flowery Branch.

The GHSA state tournament is set to begin later this week at the Clayton County Convocation Center in Morrow, with Class A and AAA prelims set for Wednesday, and the finals Thursday.

Dublin

Alan Myers – eighth, 106

Quinton Lovett – first, 120

Keymontae Sanders – fifth, 126

Kye Young – third, 132

Major Morton – eighth, 175

Domimarkeyo – first, 285

East Laurens 

Bradly White – sixth, 144

Cayson Wadley – second, 138

Jeremiah Wright – fifth, 190

For full results from the tournament, click here.

West Laurens 

Damien Cummings – eighth, 138

Jarek Giles – second, 106

Jayden Starley – sixth, 132

Jayden Watkins – sixth, 190

John Howell – fourth, 144

Keith Walker – fourth, 285

Maxx Chafin – fourth, 215

Sebastian Rodriguez – third, 120

Find full results from the tournament here.