Georgia High School State Wrestling Tournament Underway in Macon

There’s a certain smell in the air when you walk through the doors of the Macon Centreplex this weekend. It’s a smell only a wrestler can appreciate, when all others try to cover their nose.

72 teams from across the state of Georgia have decended upon Macon for the G.H.S.A. Team Duals State Wrestling Tournament.

It’s a double-loss elimination tournament, which means every match is crucial, and every point counts.

Some teams have seen this tournament every season for many years. Others, like Howard High School in Macon, have never before been to Macon…as a state tournament contender.

Northside High School in Warner Robins is also representing middle Georgia.

Howard and Northside both lost their first round matches. But the teams still have another shot to stay alive, as they head into Friday night.

“A lot of them had butterflies,” Northside head coach Dan Kelly says of his team. “This is the biggest thing they’ve been to yet…we started six, ninth graders. They were obviously nervous.”

Howard High School head coach Tom Bartolotta, says he was happy just being able to get his team to the tournament this year.

“I hope they learn what it takes to be successful next year at a high level. Competing is one thing, but they have got to understand what it takes to be successful.”

Both teams now enter the loser bracket, and match against their respected teams at 8:30p.m.