In many ways I feel the same way about Georgia that I do Florida. I believe it has more than proven itself to be one of the absolute best wrestling states without a NCAA Division I opportunity. What's nice about Georgia is that they do have other collegiate opportunities at the lower levels. Emmanuel is rather competitive in DII & at the NAIA level Georgia is very competitive. Life is one of the top teams in the entire nation with competitive teams out of Reinhardt, Brewton-Parker & Truett McConnell. Fact is though, Georgia could most certainly use some Division I representation.
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| Ray Harrelson |
The State of Georgia wasted no time in crowning their first four time state champion. Winning his first title as a freshman at the inaugural Georgia State championships as a freshman, he would stand atop the award stand three more times in 62', 63' & 64'. To my knowledge Ray Harrelson of Briarcliff did not wrestle collegiately.
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| Ronnie Davis |
A graduate of Rockmart, Ronnie Davis won four Georgia State titles from 70'-73'.
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| Johnny Stallings Jr |
Johnny Stallings Jr won his four Georgia High School State titles for Woodward Academy between 73'-75'. Competing collegiately for Auburn, he won SEC titles his sophomore & senior seasons of 1977 & 1979, earning three trips to the NCAA tournament.
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| Arty McGuire |
A four time Georgia State champion for Lithonia, McGuire won his titles from 73'-76'. Per my research he did not wrestle in college.
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| Pete Fritts Jr |
Another four time champion for Woodward Academy (80'-83') Fritts wrestled collegiately for both Navy as well as James Madison.
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| Kenny Johnson |
Johnson won his four state titles in Georgia for Feldwood from 80'-83'. There was a Kenny Johnson on the roster at Indiana during this time frame, but I have not verified yet if it is the same Kenny Johnson or not.
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| Dale Hales |
Dale Hales won two of his Georgia State High School titles for Red Bud & he won the other two for Rockmart between 82'-85'. Collegiately he wrestled for UNC-Pembroke.
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| Joseph Alexander |
Another representative of Rockmart, Joseph Alexander won his four state titles from 87'-90'.
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| Scott Hage |
A four time Georgia State champion from 88'-91' for Parkview, Scott Hage was a three time NCAA qualifier for West Virginia in college.
John Adams was a four time Georgia State champ for Brookstone from 92'-95'. I know he went to college as he became a surgeon, but I'm not sure if he continued wrestling there or not.
Winning four Georgia State titles for Harrison from 92'-95', Sean Hage competed for West Virginia becoming a two time NCAA qualifier.
Lambert won four Georgia State titles for McEachern from 92'-95'. He started off his collegiate wrestling career at Georgia State & when the Panthers discontinued their wrestling program he finished up at West Virginia.
A four time Georgia state champion for Dublin from 95'-98', Durden enjoyed a successful collegiate career at Oklahoma. Placing 3rd at the NCAA tournament in his sophomore & junior seasons of 2001 & 2002, he was also a two time BIG 12 runner-up his junior & senior seasons as well.
A four time Georgia State champion from 97'-00' for Walker School, Chris Rodrigues began his college wrestling career at Michigan. He soon thereafter transferred to North Carolina where he had a standout freshman season earning runner-up honors at the ACC tournament before capturing All American honors with an 8th place finish at the NCAA tournament. He'd win the ACC title as a sophomore, qualifying for his second NCAA tournament appearance before deciding to prematurely end his wrestling career.
Hunter Garner who won four Georgia State titles for Jefferson from 00'-03', wrestled collegiately for Anderson (SC).
Winning four Georgia High School state titles for Dacula from 00'-03', Paul Stansbury wrestled collegiately for Army.
Another standout for Jefferson who won Georgia State titles from 02'-05', Forrest Garner wrestled for Anderson (SC) during college.
Parker won his four Georgia State titles for Collins Hill from 02'-05'. Collegiately he competed for Stanford although most of his career was hampered by injuries. He did manage to place 7th at the PAC-12 championships in 2010 though.
To my knowledge Garrison Goins who won four Georgia State titles for Ringgold from 03'-06', did not wrestle in college.
Kyle Baird won four Georgia High School State titles for Jefferson from 04'-07'. He started off his collegiate career at Gardner Webb, wrestled for a season at Gainesville State & then transferred back to Gardner Webb.
Competing for both Sequoyah as well as Union Grove, Carrington Banks won four Georgia State titles from 04'-07'. He began his collegiate career at Iowa Central where he was 4th in the nation as a freshman in 2008, before winning an NJCAA title in 2009 as a sophomore. He then transferred to Wartburg where he was a two time NCAA DIII All American placing 7th in 2010 & 4th in 2011.
Competing for Toombs County, Bryan Benton won four Georgia High School State titles from 06'-09'. I believe he attended Georgia Southern which does have a NCWA team today, but I'm not sure if they had one then or if he competed on it.
Winning four Georgia State titles for MeEachern from 06'-09', Brandon Westerman competed for Campbellesville in college. During his junior season he won the regional qualifier, taking 3rd place at the NAIA championships. Injuries caused him to finish 5th at the regional as a senior in 2014, but he was still awarded a wildcard entry to the NAIA national tournament. He made the most of the opportunity earning his second All American honor with a 6th place finish.
Winning Georgia State titles from 09'-12' Spencer Jones of Darlington to the best of my knowledge did not wrestle in college.
To my knowledge, Cad Starnes who won four Georgia State titles for Alexander from 09'-12' did not wrestle in college.
Winning four Georgia High School State titles for Northgate from 10'-13', Tyler Askey competed collegiately for Virginia. Starting off strong by placing 4th at the ACC championships as a true freshman in 2014, he returned to place 3rd as a redshirt sophomore in 2016. Unfortunately injuries would succumb him for the remainder of his career. Despite these hardships, Askey still managed to win 53 varsity matches.
Chance McClure was yet another four time Georgia State champion who wrestled collegiately for Virginia. Winning his titles for Commerce from 11'-14', his collegiate career was filled with various injuries. Throughout it though, he was able to win 24 varsity career matches.
Winning four Georgia state titles for Buford from 11'-14', Chip Ness competed collegiately for North Carolina. Earning a trip to the NCAA tournament via wildcard from the ACC championships as a true sophomore, it'd be after a redshirt that Ness really began to shine as a collegiate star. In his off year he placed 7th at the Southern Scuffle to come back at the ACC championships where as a redshirt junior he placed 3rd. He would then garner All American honors with a 7th place finish at the NCAA championships. Taking 4th at the ACC championships in 2019 as a junior, he would earn his second NCAA All American honor by placing 6th.
Collins' Sean Russell who won titles from 11'-14' was another four time Georgia State champion who had a standout career while in college. He started off his career at Edinboro where he won three EWL titles in a row from 16'-18'. Transferring to Minnesota, he was 3rd in the BIG 10 in 2019. A four time NCAA qualifier, he earned All American honors with a 7th place finish as a sophomore in 2017. Other notable credentials include finishes of 3rd-2nd-3rd at CKLV his sophomore, junior & senior seasons. Placing 4th at the Southern Scuffle as a sophomore and 5th at the Midlands as a junior. All in all he won 125 varsity matches while in college.
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| John Adams |
John Adams was a four time Georgia State champ for Brookstone from 92'-95'. I know he went to college as he became a surgeon, but I'm not sure if he continued wrestling there or not.
 |
| Sean Hage |
Winning four Georgia State titles for Harrison from 92'-95', Sean Hage competed for West Virginia becoming a two time NCAA qualifier.
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| Todd Lambert |
Lambert won four Georgia State titles for McEachern from 92'-95'. He started off his collegiate wrestling career at Georgia State & when the Panthers discontinued their wrestling program he finished up at West Virginia.
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| Witt Durden |
A four time Georgia state champion for Dublin from 95'-98', Durden enjoyed a successful collegiate career at Oklahoma. Placing 3rd at the NCAA tournament in his sophomore & junior seasons of 2001 & 2002, he was also a two time BIG 12 runner-up his junior & senior seasons as well.
 |
| Chris Rodrigues |
A four time Georgia State champion from 97'-00' for Walker School, Chris Rodrigues began his college wrestling career at Michigan. He soon thereafter transferred to North Carolina where he had a standout freshman season earning runner-up honors at the ACC tournament before capturing All American honors with an 8th place finish at the NCAA tournament. He'd win the ACC title as a sophomore, qualifying for his second NCAA tournament appearance before deciding to prematurely end his wrestling career.
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| Hunter Garner |
Hunter Garner who won four Georgia State titles for Jefferson from 00'-03', wrestled collegiately for Anderson (SC).
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| Paul Stansbury |
Winning four Georgia High School state titles for Dacula from 00'-03', Paul Stansbury wrestled collegiately for Army.
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| Forrest Garner |
Another standout for Jefferson who won Georgia State titles from 02'-05', Forrest Garner wrestled for Anderson (SC) during college.
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| Tyler Parker |
Parker won his four Georgia State titles for Collins Hill from 02'-05'. Collegiately he competed for Stanford although most of his career was hampered by injuries. He did manage to place 7th at the PAC-12 championships in 2010 though.
 |
| Garrison Goins |
To my knowledge Garrison Goins who won four Georgia State titles for Ringgold from 03'-06', did not wrestle in college.
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| Kyle Baird |
Kyle Baird won four Georgia High School State titles for Jefferson from 04'-07'. He started off his collegiate career at Gardner Webb, wrestled for a season at Gainesville State & then transferred back to Gardner Webb.
 |
| Carrington Banks |
Competing for both Sequoyah as well as Union Grove, Carrington Banks won four Georgia State titles from 04'-07'. He began his collegiate career at Iowa Central where he was 4th in the nation as a freshman in 2008, before winning an NJCAA title in 2009 as a sophomore. He then transferred to Wartburg where he was a two time NCAA DIII All American placing 7th in 2010 & 4th in 2011.
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| Bryan Benton |
Competing for Toombs County, Bryan Benton won four Georgia High School State titles from 06'-09'. I believe he attended Georgia Southern which does have a NCWA team today, but I'm not sure if they had one then or if he competed on it.
 |
| Brandon Westerman |
Winning four Georgia State titles for MeEachern from 06'-09', Brandon Westerman competed for Campbellesville in college. During his junior season he won the regional qualifier, taking 3rd place at the NAIA championships. Injuries caused him to finish 5th at the regional as a senior in 2014, but he was still awarded a wildcard entry to the NAIA national tournament. He made the most of the opportunity earning his second All American honor with a 6th place finish.
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| Spencer Jones |
Winning Georgia State titles from 09'-12' Spencer Jones of Darlington to the best of my knowledge did not wrestle in college.
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| Chad Starnes |
To my knowledge, Cad Starnes who won four Georgia State titles for Alexander from 09'-12' did not wrestle in college.
 |
| Tyler Askey |
Winning four Georgia High School State titles for Northgate from 10'-13', Tyler Askey competed collegiately for Virginia. Starting off strong by placing 4th at the ACC championships as a true freshman in 2014, he returned to place 3rd as a redshirt sophomore in 2016. Unfortunately injuries would succumb him for the remainder of his career. Despite these hardships, Askey still managed to win 53 varsity matches.
 |
| Chance McClure |
Chance McClure was yet another four time Georgia State champion who wrestled collegiately for Virginia. Winning his titles for Commerce from 11'-14', his collegiate career was filled with various injuries. Throughout it though, he was able to win 24 varsity career matches.
 |
| Chip Ness |
Winning four Georgia state titles for Buford from 11'-14', Chip Ness competed collegiately for North Carolina. Earning a trip to the NCAA tournament via wildcard from the ACC championships as a true sophomore, it'd be after a redshirt that Ness really began to shine as a collegiate star. In his off year he placed 7th at the Southern Scuffle to come back at the ACC championships where as a redshirt junior he placed 3rd. He would then garner All American honors with a 7th place finish at the NCAA championships. Taking 4th at the ACC championships in 2019 as a junior, he would earn his second NCAA All American honor by placing 6th.
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| Sean Russell |
Collins' Sean Russell who won titles from 11'-14' was another four time Georgia State champion who had a standout career while in college. He started off his career at Edinboro where he won three EWL titles in a row from 16'-18'. Transferring to Minnesota, he was 3rd in the BIG 10 in 2019. A four time NCAA qualifier, he earned All American honors with a 7th place finish as a sophomore in 2017. Other notable credentials include finishes of 3rd-2nd-3rd at CKLV his sophomore, junior & senior seasons. Placing 4th at the Southern Scuffle as a sophomore and 5th at the Midlands as a junior. All in all he won 125 varsity matches while in college.
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| Jonathan Ragsdale |
Winning four Georgia State titles for Ragsdale from 12'-15' for Gordon Lee, Jonathan Ragsdale started off his collegiate career at West Virginia before transferring to Reinhardt.
Winning four Georgia State championships for Carrollton from 12'-15', I personally consider Taylor Lujan who competed for Northern Iowa in college to be one of the best of all time who never earned a medal from the NCAA tournament. Earning 114 varsity victories over his career, Lujan was a four time NCAA qualifier who made the BIG 12 finals, winning two titles in his sophomore and senior seasons. His freshman season Northern Iowa was in the MAC, where he won a title. In his freshman & sophomore seasons he was 7th & 3rd at the Southern Scuffle. Northern Iowa then competed at the Midlands tournament during Lujan's junior & senior seasons where he was the runner-up in 2019 & the champion in 2020. If that's not enough his last three seasons he was also 4th-3rd-4th at the prestigious Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite.
Justin Rivera won his four Georgia High School State titles for Kennesaw Mountain from 12'-15'. Collegiately he began his career at Notre Dame (OH) where he placed 3rd at Regionals, taking an 8th place finish at the NAIA championships as a true freshman in 2016. He'd qualify for the NAIA tournament once again in 2017 with a runner-up finish at Regionals. In 2018 he was 5th at Regionals. he transferred to Cumberlands for his final season, but I'm not sure what happened after that.
Winning four Georgia state titles for Archer from 13'-16', Daniel Bullard had a standout career in college competing for the Wolfpack of North Carolina State. Taking back to back 3rd place finishes at the ACC championships his freshman & sophomore seasons of 2018 & 2019, he'd make the ACC finals as a junior in 2020, winning the ACC title as a senior in 2021. Along with his first ACC title, he also earned his first NCAA All American honor with a 7th place finish. He was also 3rd at the Southern Scuffle his junior season as well.
No, you're not seeing double. Neither were the fans at the Georgia State championships between 2013 & 2016. This is Thomas Bullard, Daniel's brother who also won four state titles for Archer. Like brother Daniel he also competed for North Carolina State. Due to the extra year of eligibility granted to collegiate athletes due to COVID-19, Thomas Bullard received an extra year of eligibility which helped him to achieve the status of being a five time NCAA qualifier. A wild card entry in 2017, Bullard would earn runner-up honors at the 2019 ACC championships, taking 3rd in 20', 21' & 22'. 3rd at CKLV in 20', he placed 4th in 20' & 8th in 22' at the Southern Scuffle.
Winning four Georgia State titles for Commerce between 14'-17', Dalton Flint competed collegiately for Emmanuel. He earned NCAA DII qualification in 2021.
===
We're far from over in seeing four time Georgia State champs competing in college. There are still a ton to this day.
Justin Ruffin of Union Grove has thus earned two NCAA qualifications for Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. Medical hardship should garner him at least one more year of eligibility should he take it.
Dalton Balkenship of Darlington is at Davidson
Trevor Burdick of Sonoraville is currently at Reinhardt where he was an All American this past season.
Kyle Gollhofter of Woodland is at Northern Iowa
Tyler Hunter of Sonarville as well as Dalton is at Navy
Colton Woods of Darlington is at Air Force
Drew Eller of Evans is at Lander
Griffin Jarrett of Chattooga I'm not 100% positive about. He may have went the baseball route instead.
Gavin Kane of Cambridge is at North Carolina. He as an NCAA qualifier this past season.
Nick Masters of Woodward Academy is at Princeton
Nick Stonecheck of Buford is at Lock Haven
 |
| Taylor Lujan |
Winning four Georgia State championships for Carrollton from 12'-15', I personally consider Taylor Lujan who competed for Northern Iowa in college to be one of the best of all time who never earned a medal from the NCAA tournament. Earning 114 varsity victories over his career, Lujan was a four time NCAA qualifier who made the BIG 12 finals, winning two titles in his sophomore and senior seasons. His freshman season Northern Iowa was in the MAC, where he won a title. In his freshman & sophomore seasons he was 7th & 3rd at the Southern Scuffle. Northern Iowa then competed at the Midlands tournament during Lujan's junior & senior seasons where he was the runner-up in 2019 & the champion in 2020. If that's not enough his last three seasons he was also 4th-3rd-4th at the prestigious Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite.
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| Justin Rivera |
Justin Rivera won his four Georgia High School State titles for Kennesaw Mountain from 12'-15'. Collegiately he began his career at Notre Dame (OH) where he placed 3rd at Regionals, taking an 8th place finish at the NAIA championships as a true freshman in 2016. He'd qualify for the NAIA tournament once again in 2017 with a runner-up finish at Regionals. In 2018 he was 5th at Regionals. he transferred to Cumberlands for his final season, but I'm not sure what happened after that.
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| Daniel Bullard |
Winning four Georgia state titles for Archer from 13'-16', Daniel Bullard had a standout career in college competing for the Wolfpack of North Carolina State. Taking back to back 3rd place finishes at the ACC championships his freshman & sophomore seasons of 2018 & 2019, he'd make the ACC finals as a junior in 2020, winning the ACC title as a senior in 2021. Along with his first ACC title, he also earned his first NCAA All American honor with a 7th place finish. He was also 3rd at the Southern Scuffle his junior season as well.
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| Thomas Bullard |
No, you're not seeing double. Neither were the fans at the Georgia State championships between 2013 & 2016. This is Thomas Bullard, Daniel's brother who also won four state titles for Archer. Like brother Daniel he also competed for North Carolina State. Due to the extra year of eligibility granted to collegiate athletes due to COVID-19, Thomas Bullard received an extra year of eligibility which helped him to achieve the status of being a five time NCAA qualifier. A wild card entry in 2017, Bullard would earn runner-up honors at the 2019 ACC championships, taking 3rd in 20', 21' & 22'. 3rd at CKLV in 20', he placed 4th in 20' & 8th in 22' at the Southern Scuffle.
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| Dalton Flint |
Winning four Georgia State titles for Commerce between 14'-17', Dalton Flint competed collegiately for Emmanuel. He earned NCAA DII qualification in 2021.
===
We're far from over in seeing four time Georgia State champs competing in college. There are still a ton to this day.
Justin Ruffin of Union Grove has thus earned two NCAA qualifications for Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. Medical hardship should garner him at least one more year of eligibility should he take it.
Dalton Balkenship of Darlington is at Davidson
Trevor Burdick of Sonoraville is currently at Reinhardt where he was an All American this past season.
Kyle Gollhofter of Woodland is at Northern Iowa
Tyler Hunter of Sonarville as well as Dalton is at Navy
Colton Woods of Darlington is at Air Force
Drew Eller of Evans is at Lander
Griffin Jarrett of Chattooga I'm not 100% positive about. He may have went the baseball route instead.
Gavin Kane of Cambridge is at North Carolina. He as an NCAA qualifier this past season.
Nick Masters of Woodward Academy is at Princeton
Nick Stonecheck of Buford is at Lock Haven
Am I wrong for saying it'd be cool to one day say...
Is at Georgia...
Is at Georgia State
Is at Georgia Tech
Is at Georgia Southern
Is at Kennesaw State
Is at Mercer
I know I like the sound of that.
Is at Georgia...
Is at Georgia State
Is at Georgia Tech
Is at Georgia Southern
Is at Kennesaw State
Is at Mercer
I know I like the sound of that.
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