Grangers Make Their Presence Felt; LaGrange Qualifies 11 For Sectional

Every time Richard Gaskin takes the mat for LaGrange High, it’s important.

Gaskin is a senior wrestler who wants to go out the right way – giving everything that he has. Gaskin did that on Saturday at the Area 5AAAA Traditional Tournament at LHS. Gaskin was one of just 11 Grangers who qualified for the Sectional meet, which is scheduled for this week at Woodward Academy in College Park.

“I’m one of the fastest heavyweights. I win with technique, heart and everything. Failure is not an option. I try to outwork my opponent. Wrestling is making me a better man,” said Gaskin, who finished second in his weight class at the Area Tournament.

The Grangers left with some first place gold as well. Pinning down LaGrange High’s two Area individual titles was the senior duo of De’Erious Sands and John Todd Bohn. Sands was the champion over Jake Lee of Sandy Creek in the 120pound weight division.

Bohn went the distance as well for the Grangers with an Area Traditional Tournament title over Troup High junior Brantley Robinson. That championship match was in the 126-pound weight class.

LaGrange High also won some second place silver with Gaskin, sophomore Chase Sams at 152 pounds and John Arthur at 160 pounds. They have qualified for this Friday and Saturday’s Sectional Tournament.

The Grangers were awarded some more medals with a third place silver tint. Taking third place for La-Grange High at the Area meet were Lane Oliver at 106 pounds, Demetrius Dean at 145 pounds, Quindon Dunson at 132 pounds and senior Jordan Ragan at 195 pounds.

They, too, have advanced to the Sectional Wrestling Tournament in metro Atlanta.

“We competed hard. We left some points on the board, but we didn’t quit. We’ve been drilling and working on our techniques. There were a lot of dominant wrestlers here (at the Area Tournament),” said Grangers head coach Scooter Weathers.

Two more LaGrange High wrestlers were scrapping and laying it on the every loving line. Cole Everett placed fourth in the 138-pound class for the Grangers. Dexter Fitzpatrick of LHS also took a fourth place at 170 pounds. Everett and Fitzpatrick will wrestle at the Sectional Tournament in just a few more days.

As for the Area team standings, it included Troup High with 226 points, La-Grange with 161 points, Central Carrollton with 152.5 points, Cartersville with 144 points, Cedartown with 98 points and Sandy Creek with 38 points. Chapel Hill finished last with a seventh place total of 21 points.

Chris Fernsler Sports Writer