MOULTRIE – Colquitt County High wrestling set new standards this past weekend with six Packers going through traditional sectionals and advancing to this weekend’s GHSA 7A finals in Macon.

Held at Lowndes High, Colquitt County and its fellow Area 1-7A members faced Areas 2, 7 and 8 in the sectional. Those who earned the required number of wins are:

Brian Merritt, 285.

Nic Jarvis, 220.

Tyler McKinnon, 182.

Alex Hinson, 170.

Hayden Suggs, 145.

Jared Collum, 106.

“Going into sectionals I thought we had a chance of getting six guys through,” said Packer coach Evan Goff. “Two guys that I had in mind didnt make it, while two that I thought had a small chance of making it did make it. Not because they are not good wrestlers, but just because of their inexperience.

“Wrestling is a tough sport to coach. It is not like the team either wins or loses and everyone is either happy or sad. With 14 individual guys fighting through their own bracket, some win and some lose. You always celebrate the wins and are excited when a kid punches their ticket to state. On the flip side, you also experience the disappointment when a wrestler has a bad tournament and doesnt go.

Last season we took four guys. The three seasons prior to that, I think the team only qualified two combined. Four (this year) are only sophomores.  We just have to continue to invest blood, sweat, and tears in the sport.”