Quick Poll

With the recent passing of music icons Donna Summer and Robin Gibb – each had major success in the 1970s and 1980s – which music decade is your favorite?

Recent Polls

Blogs

Angela McRae

Tea with friends

Deberah Williams

Everyday Finesse

Lorrie Lynch

Who's News

Published Friday, February 03, 2012 in Sports

Prep Notebook: Northgate expects to be challenged at area wrestling tournament

By Chris Goltermann

The Newnan Times-Herald

The number of state championship contenders assembled at this weekend's Area 3-AAAA wrestling tournament starting today at Fayette County High School is so large, it's scary to think about.

Now if they can all just manage to qualify for state.

Once again, Northgate wrestlers find themselves up against some of the best athletes in Class AAAA, with one of its own -- unbeaten junior Tyler Askey -- expected to be a heavy favorite as the No. 1 seed at the 170-pound weight class.

Askey, who has won state titles during his first two seasons at 145 and 152 pounds, is just one of a host of potential state champions trying to take the first step toward reaching the final 16 among respective weight classes at Gwinnett Arena.

Only the top four finishers from each will advance this weekend at the area level, beginning at 5 p.m. today with at least three rounds. Lineups from Alcovy and state duals qualifiers Whitewater and Ola expect to lead teams producing top challengers.

Last year, the area produced state placers in 11 of 14 weight classes and four individual state champions.

Vikings head coach Adrian Anderson summed up the scenario in a single word.

"Brutal."

"There aren't many weak weight classes, that's for sure," he said. "I mean at 120 pounds, you've got five potential state placers. So one of them isn't going to make it."

In addition to Askey, four more Vikings earned seeds among the top four. Lightweight Michael Geres is a No. 3 seed at 106 pounds in what could be a bit of a confidence booster.

After bumping up to 126 pounds, Braxtin Ward is a No. 4 seed and will be in a mix of four or five potential contenders to pick up the final two state berths barring an upset of the top-two favorites.

Senior Cody Simonez is also a No. 4 seed at 138 pounds as is Nick Martin in the 160-pound class.

Wrestling picks up Saturday morning at 9 a.m.

• • •

BASKETBALL – EAST COWETA, NEWNAN MEET TONIGHT

The final basketball meeting of the regular season between teams from East Coweta and Newnan face off tonight at John Thrower Gym will bring an end to at least one losing streak.

A 7 p.m. varsity doubleheader also hopes to add some lost momentum for four lineups that have had a tough time making up ground in Region 2-AAAAA this year.

The Cougars (10-12, 1-11) enter hostile territory tonight looking to snap a four-game slide that continued Tuesday with a 41-25 loss at Newton. The Indians, meanwhile, are riding a six-game losing streak dating back to Jan. 10.

East Coweta, at 8-13 and 1-10 in 2-AAAAA, won its only region game of the season at Newnan in a 62-58 victory at the Max Bass Athletic Center.

The Lady Indians enter tonight having played well in their last five games, winning three and losing the others to 18-4 Stephenson and M.L. King. The team snapped a two-game slide on Tuesday at home with a 56-50 victory over Luella.

Newnan's girls are coming off a 46-33 loss to a 17-5 Newton team after picking up its first Region 2-AAAAA win last Friday at home against Langston Hughes.

The Lady Cougars (8-14, 1-10) will look to avenge their 54-47 loss to East Coweta's girls at home on Jan. 7.

East Coweta plays its final two region games at home next week before heading into the 2-AAAAA tournament, while Newnan is on the road at M.L. King and Stephenson to close the regular season.

Other basketball action tonight includes a Region 3B-AAAA doubleheader at Northgate against ranked lineups from Fayette County.

The Vikings take on the top-ranked Tigers at 21-1, while the Fayette County defending Class AAAA girls champions are ranked sixth.

Comment On This Story

Times-Herald.com does not necessarily agree with the comments posted below. Responsibility of comments rests solely with the writer. Comments posted in ALL CAPS will be deleted.

Submission of a comment does not guarantee publication. Comments will be posted by a moderator after being scanned for abusive language, relevance, etc. See our Comments FAQ for more details.