Mat Devils edged by Lassiter at sectionals

Published 11:00 am Tuesday, January 17, 2023

TIFTON — The trip to Class 6A’s state duals finals came down to one match Saturday, Jan. 14. Tift County was battling it out with Lassiter to win the sectional and the Blue Devils had a narrow lead.

But Lassiter, a squad which Tift head coach Shawn Watson said is stellar at the lower weights, had one of their best on the mat for this match. It went the Trojans’ way and, by a 36-33, score, they will be at Gainesville High this weekend with seven other teams to battle for it all.

“If we had won one more match,” he said. Tift was the No. 2 seed at the sectional to Lassiter’s No. 1, so had the Devils won, it would have been an upset. “We knew it was going to be tough,” Watson said. The weight classes that did not favor either school went Lassiter’s way.

“We had a chance,” he said, adding he couldn’t complain about how the season has been going.

This will be the second straight year the Trojans will be in the elite eight. They won their sectional last year as well.

Watson would rather not have the week of rest, but admits his team might could use it because of all the bumps and bruises acquired over the season. They will next compete at one of the rare traditional tournaments on the calendar, the Port City Classic on Jan. 28 in Brunswick. The first week of February will be traditional region championships for boys and girls.

Tift and Lassiter were equally dominant in the first round. The Blue Devils demolished River River, 64-12, while Lassiter shellacked Morrow, 66-12.

“We won big like we should have,” said Watson. The start, though, was not one easily predicted. He said River Ridge wrestled well out of the gate — until they ran into Donterrius Whitaker. Whitaker won a tough match and everything went as it should. “His match swung it,” said Watson.

Nearly half of Tift’s roster won both of their matches at the sectionals. Whitaker had two wins against opponents Watson said were quite tough. Also going 2-0 were Damion Moate, Antron Johnson, Abraham Soto, Danny Freeman and Mori Alexander.

Marietta, site of the sectional was only a skip and a jump from the middle school duals championship in Cartersville, where the Blue Devils won their second straight title and third in four years.

“That was awesome,” Watson said. Naturally, he’s thrilled about the future. Tift’s team is very young this year, with only three seniors, albeit high quality seniors in Whitaker, Soto and Sergio Martinez. He’s hopeful of the rare luck of having not just outstanding wrestlers but tons of them. Numbers are higher this year at TCHS, with plenty more in middle school.

With strong roots in place, he sees a potential dynasty forming. “it’s going to keep coming,” he said.