MOULTRIE – Colquitt County wrestling coach Benjy Scarbor calls Region 1-6A the toughest in the state, regardless of classification.
Having Camden County in the region contributes to that assessment, of course.
The Wildcats have won 11 straight team dual state titles and 10 straight traditional state titles.
But the other five teams – Colquitt County, Lowndes, Tift County, Richmond Hill and Valdosta – also are chock full of outstanding wrestlers as Saturday’s traditional region tournament at Tift County nears.
“Every team in this region has good wrestlers who really know how to wrestle,” said the longtime coach who has worked at both Valdosta and Colquitt County.
With only the top four wrestlers in each weight class advancing to the Feb. 8 Sectional in Valdosta, it could be that some strong competitors will be left out when the region tournament dust settles.
“After Camden, there could be just three places for the rest of us,” Scarbor said, adding that he expects a number Region 1 wrestlers to be among the top finishers at the Feb. 13-15 state meet in Macon.
Individual wrestlers take their first shots at state tournament berths on Saturday.
Although the snow that shut down the Colquitt County schools last week cost the Packers valuable practice time, Scarbor said he believes at least 10 of his top 14 Packers have a strong chance to advance on Saturday.
“I’ve got high expectations,” Scarbor said. “I just want us to do the best we can do.”
At 106 pounds, freshman Ariel Quinteroa Zunun already has a win over his foe from Richmond Hill and has split with his Tift County opponent.
Ben Yingling, a sophomore wrestling at 113, will take a 19-19 record to Tifton
“He’ll be fighting for a spot,” Scabor said.
Freshman Brandon Harrell will represent Colquitt at 120, although he has performed mostly for the junior varsity team this season.
Cruz Grijalva, a sophomore who will wrestle at 126, is 24-9 this season and finished fifth in the state as a ninth-grader last year.
Britton Marshall, at 132, has had a solid junior season for the Packers, posting a 32-11 record.
Tray Gomez, who will wrestle at 138, has had an excellent freshman season going 19-9.
He also has wrestled at 144 during the season.
At 144 at the region tournament, the Packers will send out sophomore Evan Flowers, who is 27-8.
The younger brother of Russell Flowers, who will wrestle at 165, Evan will face Camden’s defending state champion and strong competitors from Lowndes and Tift County.
“This will be his first region tournament, but he has wrestled real well for us,” Scarbor said.
Two-time state champion Logan Paradice will put his 33-0 record on the line when he competes at 150 on Saturday.
The only points he has given up this season have been on strategic escapes.
At 157, Colquitt will be represented by freshman Cheveiyo Barber.
Russell Flowers, who finished fifth in the state tournament last year, will take a 30-6 record into the region tournament. He will wrestle at 165.
Either senior Ramsey Dennis or freshman Paul Milligan will be at 175. Dennis joined the wrestling team after football season and went 6-13.
Milligan went 2-4.
“And that is one of the toughest weight classes in the region,” Scarbor said.
Rafael King has had a strong senior season at 190 pounds, posting a 28-12 record.
“He qualified for state last year and is a tough competitor,” Scabor said of King, adding that “He is one of my favorite kids.”
King is likely to have to go up against a two-time state champion from Camden County.
Senior Matthew Dillon, who won the region title last year and went on to finish third at state, is 17-1.
His only loss came on a medical forfeit. And he later avenged that loss.
Dillon, an All-Region center on the Packers football team, will face some strong competition at 215 pounds from Camden County and Richmond Hill.
Sophomore Brantley Braswell will wrestle at 285. He has logged a 13-8 record this season.
“He’s always working hard, always trying to find a way to win,” Scarbor said.