Boys Wrestler of the Year
Paul Watkins, North Forsyth, Sr.
The senior Lehigh signee finally got an individual state championship to cap off his illustrious high school career, winning the Class 7A title at 145 pounds to cap a sterling 48-3 season.
Girls Wrestler of the Year
Sophia Eglian, North Forsyth, Jr.
The junior became the county’s first girls wrestling state champion in the first year of the event, winning by fall to finish 12-8.
Coach of the Year
Jeremiah Walker, Forsyth Central
Walker led the Bulldogs to one of their best seasons in program history, with the team amassing five state placers, six individual region champions and a team title at the Region 5-7A traditional meet, which was Central’s first-ever team region championship in Class 7A.
First team
Mark Metz, Pinecrest Academy, So., 106
Went 45-4 and won on the Paladins’ first-ever state championship of any kind with Class 1A title
Steven Messer, Forsyth Central, Sr., 113
Region champ and sectional runner-up went 27-8 and placed fifth at state
Abraham Perez, Forsyth Central, Sr., 120
Region, sectional champ went 51-7 and placed fourth at state
A.J. Riner, South Forsyth, Jr., 126
Region, sectional champ went 51-6 and placed third at state
Tate Bissell, North Forsyth, Jr., 138
Region champ went 45-9 and placed fifth at state
Ethan Rickert, West Forsyth, So., 145
Region, sectional runner-up went 44-3 and placed fourth at state
Avery Krippner, Forsyth Central, So., 160
Region champ, sectional runner-up finished 48-10
Keaton Platzke, Forsyth Central, Sr., 195
Region, sectional champ finished 48-9 and placed fifth at state
Dylan Fairchild, West Forsyth, So., 285
Region champ and sectional runner-up placed third at state
Ashlee Rice, Forsyth Central, Fr., 106
Sectional champ and first-ever Central girls state qualifier went 10-8 overall and placed sixth at state
Second team
Lucas Teillon, Lambert, So., 120
Finished third at sectional, 43-18 overall
Mikel Stowers, Forsyth Central, So., 132
Went 46-17 and placed fifth at state
Joe Metz, Pinecrest Academy, Jr., 145
Sectional runner-up went 47-8 and placed fourth at state
Bentley Wheeler, North Forsyth, Fr., 152
Sectional runner-up finished 45-15 overall
Sam Aldrich, Forsyth Central, Sr., 152
Region champ went 45-11 overall
Creston Lorenzo, West Forsyth, Jr., 170
Finished sixth at sectionals but bettered that performance and placed fifth at state, finishing 35-14
Branden Redecker, Forsyth Central, Jr., 182
Region champ finished 39-5
Luis Gonzalez, South Forsyth, Sr., 195
Region, sectional runner-up finished 49-14
Trevor Patrick, South Forsyth, Sr., 220
Finished 51-15 and placed sixth at state
Darius Green, Forsyth Central, Jr., 285
Region runner-up finished 42-12 overall
