Emily Gregory, Akira Owens and Alyson Woods each went 2-0 to lead the Oglethorpe County girls wrestling team to second place at the Area 3 Division II duals.
The Patriots advanced to the state duals preliminary at Lumpkin County on Wednesday, after The Echo’s deadline this week.
OCHS defeated Harlem 48-36 in the first round, but lost to Putnam County 42-36 when it had to forfeit one more weight class, which wasn’t filled by an OCHS wrestler.
Gregory, Owens, Woods and Liz Campbell won their matches against Putnam County.
Emily Wisham also went 1-0 for the Patriots.
“The girls wrestled very well. It came down to having to forfeit four weight classes to Putnam County because we couldn’t fill all 14 weight classes,” coach Josh Austin said. “The girls that showed up for us put on a show. It’s so rewarding to watch these girls go out there and wrestle with an identity.”
OCHS boys wrestlers third at area duals
Walker Compton, Aidan Dellinger, Luke Holbrooks, Keyvon Gresham and Kendon Brown each won multiple matches as the OCHS boys wrestling team finished third at the Area 8 Class A duals on Saturday.
The Patriots defeated Fannin County, Rabun County and Banks County. Compton, Dellinger, Gresham and Brown each went 4-0. Holbrooks was 3-0 and Ethan Bray was 1-0 in the tournament.
Paris Crowder, one of the top wrestlers, was lost for the year with a knee injury on Monday.
“It has been real emotional for all of us, not just because he is a great wrestler, but because he is a great young man,” coach Steve Mason said. “In our area, he is respected by all the coaches, on and off the mat. Paris conducts himself with class. We pray for a full and speedy recovery for Paris.”
Seniors Keagan Moats and Ethan McLean are also out with injuries, and Mason said they “hopefully they will return to competition soon.”
The Patriots will compete at the Campbell Duals on Saturday and will host senior night against Putnam County and Clarke Central on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
OCMS results
The Oglethorpe County Middle School boys basketball team defeated George Walton 33-18 on Jan. 8. The OCMS girls lost 36-16.
On Jan. 12, the OCMS girls lost 22-14 to Bethlehem Christian Academy and the boys lost 30-4.
Both teams will play host to Athens Christian on Thursday, Jan. 15.