Central Georgia teams to help take over The Coliseum for GHSA wrestling

          A year ago, seven Central Georgia teams took to the mats in the GHSA state dual wrestling meet at the Macon Coliseum.

          This year, seven again will go for the title, with six of the same teams from a year ago.

          Dodge County is the new entry this year among the area teams, joining Veterans, West Laurens, Baldwin, Perry, Lamar County, and Mount de Sales.

          Action begins on Thursday at 9 a.m. with two rounds, action following on Friday and finals on Saturday. Finals competition begins at 3 p.m. on Saturday, with consolation semifinals at 9 a.m. and finals at 3 p.m.

          Tickets are $12 a day or $30 for a three-day pass, with a facility fee of $2 and $4.

          Veterans and West Laurens went 2-0 on the first day a year ago, the Warhawks ending up fourth in 5A and the Raiders fourth in 4A.

          Central won its tournament debut opener in 3A, then faced powerhouse Jefferson and lost, and was eliminated by Cook County.

          Lamar County was topped by Elbert County in the second round in AA and finished off by Callaway in the first wrestleback.

          No. 11 Mount de Sales knocked off No. 6 Landmark Christian, then lost to Wesleyan before thumping Chattahoochee County and Irwin County in the wrestlebacks. Turner County edged MdS 36-30 en route to a third place finish.

          West Laurens is the last Central Georgia team to take home a duals title, winning in 2005 and 2006.

          Defending champs are (largest to smallest class in order) Camden County (winner of three straight), Valdosta, Woodland-Bartow, Woodward, Sonoraville, Social Circle (winner of five straight), and Commerce (winner of six straight).

          Top-seed Social Circle in AA gets the Dodge County/Callaway winner in the second round.

          Commerce opens with a bye in A and gets the Irwin County/ECLA winner, with perhaps Mount de Sales after that, though the Cavs-Mt. Zion winner gets No. 4 Holy Innocents in the second round of the winner’s bracket.

Thursday’s Central Georgia pairings

Class 5A

Veterans vs. Starr’s Mill

Class 4A

West Laurens vs. Woodward Academy

Baldwin vs. Northwest Whitfield

Perry vs. Columbus

Class AA

No. 8 Dodge County vs. No. 9 Callaway

No. 6 Lamar County vs. No. 11 Harlem

Class A

No. 5 Mount de Sales vs. No. 12 Mount Zion