TIFTON — Tift County head wrestling coach Shawn Watson was feeling much better Tuesday.

Watson had recovered from a flu bug that hit him last week and at the Class AAAAAAA area wrestling tournament Saturday, seven of his Blue Devils qualified for state.

Caleb Barber (106 pounds, listed with a 31-22 record on TrackWrestling), Alex Cain (120, 17-8), Cody Waldschlager (126, 34-15), Braeden Wilbanks (132, 22-10), Bronson Lott (160, 39-8), Rod Redding (170, 22-11) and Gerald Coney (182, 32-9) will be in action when the tournament gets started at the Macon Centreplex Thursday afternoon. Watson will also bring along Angel Calles and Garrett Sumner. Both placed ninth in the tournament and are available as alternates. Watson said he should know by today if they will wrestle.

Coney was the top placer at area, having taken second. Cain, Waldschlager and Lott finished in third place. Wilbanks and Redding were sixth and Barber was eighth following a 12-11 loss in his final match.

“I feel Cain can place,” said Watson. “Waldschlager can place.”

“Gerald has a good shot,” he said.

Watson said Lott should have no trouble in his first match, but will be challenged in the second round.

Barber, said Watson, “has been great all year long.”

Redding did not wrestle his final area match because of injury Saturday, which gave him sixth place. He is being treated this week, but Watson has faith in Redding for state.

“He tends to rise to the occasion,” said Watson.

Of the seven Blue Devils scheduled to go to state, five of them have experience in the tournament: Wilbanks, Waldschlager, Lott, Redding and Coney. A sixth wrestler, Barber, is only a freshman and this is the second appearance for sophomores Wilbanks and Coney.

The wrestling tournament starts Thursday and will end Saturday.