TIFTON — Tift County’s Lady Devils survived the area wrestling duals Friday. Now, they have a chance of going to state.

Tift goes to Gainesville High Wednesday to take on the Area 8 champion Red Elephants. The winner will make it to the state duals, scheduled for Jan. 25 at Lumpkin County High in Dahlonega.

Coach Zac Martin said he expects the Gainesville battle to be a close one. Though they finished third in the state, he said Gainesville “lost a bunch of pieces.”

The Lady Devils are here after earning second at the Area 1 meet at Houston County High. Martin said Tift won over Warner Robins, then against Houston in the semifinals. A loaded Richmond Hill kept from the championship, but TCHS bounced back in a wrestle-back against Northside of Warner Robins for a true second place. That score was 46-30.

“Hard-nosed girls,” said Martin of the Lady Devils, further describing them as “resilient.”

Against Northside, Tift gave up two weight classes on forfeits, and also withstood a double forfeit at 105 pounds when neither team had a wrestler. Otherwise, they won eight weight classes, seven by pinfall. The match that was not won by pin was a major decision.

Zaniya Knights, Jayci Kelly, Sadie Davis, Skye Perry, Addison Braswell, Amy Deleon and Samantha Vicars had the pins.

Martin had compliments for everyone in the lineup. “The girls have been working their butts off all year,” he said. Martin also thanked coach Rayder Schemmel for his assistance.