Starting Thursday, the Wildcats had defeated Stephenson on Thursday and then Creekview and Ola on Friday. Standing in their way of a state title were the Pope Greyhounds, the No. 1 seed at the Class AAAAA state team dual championships held at the Macon Centreplex.
Woodland, the No. 2 seed, had lost to the Greyhounds last year in the finals.
Make that two straight defeats at the hands of the nationally-ranked Greyhounds, as Woodland was no match for Pope’s strength and experience Saturday.
“I’m extremely proud of our wrestlers,” coach Adrian Tramutola said. “Everybody did a great job of getting us to the championship round. Unfortunately, we just didn’t have it today. Pope was the better team.”
Although the Greyhounds dominated Woodland, 50-14, overall, one of the bright spots emerging from the tournament is a possible fourth straight trip to the state team dual championships.
Tramutola has 12 of his 14 wrestlings returning. Three of those returning wrestlers were a perfect 4-0, including wins against the Greyhounds.
Logan Sims, a freshman, won on a technical pin in the 106-pound division. Jake Huffine, sophomore, who also won by technical pin in the 113-pound division. Isaiah Ross, who is a junior, won by decision, 11-4, in the 195-pound division.
To read the rest of this story, please purchase a copy of The Daily Tribune News at your nearby news rack or subscribe to the E-edition.