A Colquitt County High school record eight wrestlers are advancing to the GHSA 7A traditional championships taking place this weekend at the Macon Centreplex.

Those eight Packers earned their way to Macon by placing in the top eight of their respective weight classes at the B Sectional for 7A which was held Saturday at Lowndes High.

In a bit of a surprise, Colquitt’s 220-pound senior Nic Jarvis placed second at the sectional. The final match in this weight bracket was between Jarvis and Walton High’s Jonathan Chesser. It was Chesser taking the win by sudden victory.

Jarvis was the only Packer to reach a first-place match. Placing fourth were a pair of first-year varsity wrestlers. Jeremy Paradice, a freshman, was fourth in 138, and Markaybion Spradley was fourth at 182.

The other Colquitt qualifiers are: Ethan Sellers, fifth in 113; Deonte Edwards, sixth in 145; Michael Roberts, seventh in 195; and two eighth-place finishers, Ben Massey in 120 and Timothy Brinson in 132.

FREEDOM CUP WINNERS

For the second year in a row, the Colquitt County High boys soccer team brought the Freedom Cup championship home from Warner Robins.

For what is the only time all season, coach Jimbo Jarvis’ team played two matches in one day, that being Saturday. The Packers began that day scratching out a 1-0 win over Houston County. Jarvis said the lone goal came with about 4:30 remaining in regulation, and the point went to Reuben Gonzalez.

This match began at 11 a.m. The finals started at 7 p.m., and Colquitt County faced Etwoah High in the Freedom Cup for the second year in a row. The Packers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in 10 minutes, but Jarvis said the toll of the weekend’s schedule was starting to show and Etowah surged out to a 3-2 lead.

By sitting his starters and going with reserves for about 15 minutes of the second half, Jarvis said they were able to hold Etowah in check and – with starters returning for the last nine minutes – tie the match 3-3.

In overtime, both teams scored, and again it was Colquitt County needing to answer an early point by Etowah. Aldo Miranda, with 1:30 to play, converted a free kick sending the match to a penalty kick shootout.

The Packers won the shootout, and Jarvis gave the ‘hero of the day’ honor to his new goalkeeper Tony Jiminez. The coach said all through the match and extra time he was diving for saves and knocking balls away with his fingertips.