Veterans Warhawks qualify for first GHSA State Team Duals finals in dramatic fashion

Macon- The Veterans Warhawks athletic program isn’t very old but a milestone is a milestone. The wrestling program qualified for their first Georgia High School Association (GHSA) state team duals final Friday night following a pin by senior Wylde Wilkerson (182). With the Warhawks ahead by six points, 31-25, coming into the final match of the evening, the educated wrestling fan thought well of Wilkerson, a West Point Academy commit, wrestling last but you never know. Buford’s final wrestler of the night, Jacob Downing, didn’t stand a chance as Wilkerson was done with the match, in minutes. “This will be the first time in my high school career that Buford won’t be in the [5A] state team duals final,” said Wilkerson moments after leaving the mat victorious. 

“That’s a huge win,” said Veterans head coach Garrett Martin. “Everyone did their job today. This team performed and executed exactly how they had to.”

As successful as the program has been on the individual level, during GHSA area meets and during county competition, the team had never been as good as it was Friday night. Veterans qualified for their first state team duals just four years ago and now they will wrestle in the finals Saturday afternoon (3 p.m.) against Woodland (Cartersville). “Each year we continued to make progress towards our goal which is to win state,” said Martin about the program’s accomplishment. “Along with West Laurens, Veterans was the only middle Georgia program taking part in the semifinals. 

The night started with Austin Suess (195 pounds) winning his match with a pin. “It was nerve-racking but I was excited,” said Suess of being the first to wrestle. “My heart rate was up. Going first is nothing to mess around with so I had to be serious with it.” Suess was ahead 7-0 in the first round before winning the match. 

Behind 9-6 following the 220 and 285-pound matches, Veterans got a huge lift from the lightest wrestler on the team in Damien Johnson (106). Johnson won his match 14-2, giving the Warhawks a 11-9 advantage they would keep for the remainder of the match. “I was nervous at first, but then I knew the team needed it so I went out there and executed,” said Johnson afterwards. 

Tyler Barb (113-pin), Julian Farber (132), who’s headed to the University of Northern Iowa, Devyn Hasbrouck (138), Tanner Vorse (145), and Appalachian State University commit and two-time state individual champion Francis Morrissey (152) all won their matches to give the Warhawks a 31-16 lead with three weight classes remaining.

Following his 11-7 victory Vorse, lying on the ground behind the scorer’s table said of his opponent Hector Garcia, “He was wearing me out, but I feel good about the match overall.”

So should the Veterans wrestling faithful, dozens of whom were in the stands at the Macon Centreplex to support the team. Their team is headed to the finals.