Southland wrestlers take region title, set sights on state tourney

Published 12:07 pm Wednesday, February 8, 2017

ALBANY – On Feb. 2, the Southland Academy wrestling team traveled to Deerfield-Windsor School in Albany to compete in the Region 3-IAAA traditional wrestling championships.
In the meet, the Raiders were able to capture the team championship as well as name nine individual region champions. Southland’s wrestlers also earned a pair of region runner-up honors and a fourth-place finish.
The Raiders tallied 63 total team points while Deerfield Windsor took a distant second-place with 26.
Region champions for Southland are as follows: In the 120-pound weight class, Tanner Rundle; in the 126-pound weight class, Cole Landreth; in the 132-pound weight class, Raegan Trollinger; in the 138-pound weight class, Brody Shattles; in the 145-pound weight class, Billy Calcutt; in the 182-pound weight class, Morgan Youngdale; in the 195-pound weight class, Stephen Turton; in the 220-pound weight class, Stephen Barnes; and in the 285-pound weight class, Ragan Norman. Southland’s region runners-up are: in the 113-pound weight class, Colman Fort; and in the 152-pound weight class, Sam Copland. Jantz Womack took a fourth-place finish in the 170-pound weight class.

SUBMITTED BY LORI TURTON:   The three senior members of the Raiders’ wrestling team each won Region 3-IAAA titles in their respective divisions. Pictured above, from left, are Billy Calcutt, Stephen Turton, and Tanner Rundle.

SUBMITTED BY LORI TURTON:
The three senior members of the Raiders’ wrestling team each won Region 3-IAAA titles in their respective divisions. Pictured above, from left, are Billy Calcutt, Stephen Turton, and Tanner Rundle.

Southland will host the Wrestling State Championships at the Georgia Southwestern State University Storm Dome on February 10-11.
Southland wrestling coach, Josh Hicks, expressed his anticipation of the team’s potential to excel in the state tournament, stating, “The Raiders are peaking at the right time and have been getting major contributions from everyone on the roster.”