Prep Wrestling: Askey leads four Vikings headed to sectional round
From Staff Reportssports@newnan.com
Without much of a surprise, Northgate senior wrestler Tyler Askey advanced to this weekend’s Class AAAAA West Sectionals while taking another important step toward finishing an undefeated varsity career in the Georgia High School Association.
But he wasn’t alone among Viking standouts at last weekend’s Area 4-AAAAA Tournament at Ola.
Askey and Geres will be joined by Ethan Bellora (126) and Tristan Parker (152) at the West Sectionals at Allatoona High in Cobb County. The top-four qualifiers from from 4-AAAAA will join those from areas 1, 5 and 6. The top eight at sectionals among brackets of 16 in each weight class will advance to the GHSA Championships, Feb. 14-16 in Macon.
Askey dominated the 170-pound division on Saturday while remaining perfect during his four-year career. The University of Virginia signee is looking to become just the third athlete in the GHSA’s history to finish his wrestling career undefeated while also continuing a bid to become the 24th in the state to win four consecutive individual state titles.
Askey joins Wes Varnum of Harris County, Darion Perry of Stephenson and Jacob Sledge of South Paulding as the division’s No. 1 seeds in this week’s sectionals, which start Friday night and continue Saturday morning.
Geres battled to reach the championship against Ola’s Seth Osborne while earning a No. 2 seed at 106 pounds. He’ll open the sectionals against Villa Rica freshman Michael Hurley.
Parker battled back in the wrestlebacks to finish fourth at 152 pounds for the Vikings and will face Region 1-AAAAA champion Chris Rapley of Lee County to begin the Class AAAAA West tournament.
East Coweta and Newnan will send a large contingent of county wrestlers to Cobb County for Saturday’s Class AAAAAA West Tournament at Kennesaw Mountain. Among 23 qualifiers, however, only seven are making a return trip to sectionals.
The Indians, who finished second among team standings to Area 3-AAAAAA champion Douglas County, qualified nine wrestlers including individual winners Dusty Nelson (106), Leo Olivas (126), Blake Green (132) and Drew Higgins (138), all of whom will enter sectionals as No. 1 seeds.
Matthew Durham (113), Zach Gabriel (120), Jamaal Ragland (160) and Tristan Mann (195) earned No. 2 seeds after also reaching the area finals. The group will also be joined by Kevin Lashley, who finished third at 170 pounds last Saturday at home.
Newnan’s 14 sectional qualifiers are led by area champions Andrew Sowerbrower (120) and Max Davis (145) as No. 1 seeds. Three others — Nathan McGaha (132), Tyler Vermilya (170) and Christian Shellenbarger (220) earned No. 2 seeds after also reaching the Area 3-AAAAAA finals in respective weight classes.
Jason Moore (138), Nick Robinson (195) and Josh Coffman (285) advanced after placing third while Andy Callaway (113), Xavier McCrary (126), David Cornelius (152), Mike McCoy (160) and David Quesinberry (182) will open the sectionals as No. 4 seeds against Area 4-AAAAAA champions from Cobb.
