Class 3A Area Duals Preview

IT'S REGION/AREA DUALS WEEK!!!!!!!

CLASS 3A AREA 1 DUALS PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS

Area 1: Hosted by Columbus
Carver Columbus, Columbus, Crisp Co, Dougherty, Monroe

Carver and Crisp do not have any wrestlers on their roster in the system.  That leaves 3 teams for 4 spots, which means there will be a "Bye" in the State Duals Sectional brackets.  Columbus is clearly the best team in this Area, and they could possibly march to the championship without surrendering any dual points.  

Predictions:
1. Columbus
2. Monroe
3. Dougherty

CLASS 3A AREA 2 DUALS PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS

Area 2: Hosted by Pike Co
Jackson, Mary Persons, Peach Co, Pike Co, Upson-Lee

All 5 of these teams competed in the same Area last year, and Peach County was the team that was left out.  There aren't many dual results available from this Area, but Pike is the defending champ, and despite a narrow 1 point victory over Mary Persons, looks to be in decent shape to capture the title again.  Upson-Lee does own a win over Peach Co, and Mary Persons has the best wrestler in the Area, so things could be tight across the board in this tournament.

Predictions:
1. Pike Co
2. Mary Persons
3. Upson Lee
4. Peach Co
5. Jackson

CLASS 3A AREA 3 DUALS PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS

Area 3: Hosted by Long Co
Beach, Calvary Day School, Johnson Savannah, Long Co, Savannah Christian, Savannah Country Day

I'm not really sure what to make of this Area as only Long County has more than 10 wrestlers who consistently weigh in.  It is possible that only 1 team even decides to competes in the Duals postseason from this Area.

Predictions:
1. Long Co
2. Calvary Day
3. Savannah Christian
4. Beach

CLASS 3A AREA 4 DUALS PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS

Area 4: Hosted by Harlem
Cross Creek, Harlem, Hephzibah, Morgan Co, Richmond Academy, Salem

Another Area where we may not have 4 teams even compete in the Area Duals.  Cross Creek doesn't have any wrestlers in the system and both Richmond Academy and Salem are generally competing with 10 or fewer wrestlers in their lineup.  Hephzibah will also not be able to field a full 14, and that leaves us with a Finals matchup between Morgan Co and Harlem.  Morgan Co significantly out scored Harlem at the East Metro individual tournament.

Predictions:
1. Morgan Co
2. Harlem
3. Hephzibah
4. Richmond Academy
5. Salem

CLASS 3A AREA 5 DUALS PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS

Area 5: Hosted by Bremen
Adairsville, Bremen, Carver Atlanta, Cedar Grove, Douglass, Sandy Creek

Yet another Area where we will probably have fewer than 4 teams that decide to participate in the post season for Duals.  Only Adairsville and Bremen consistently weigh in more than 10 wrestlers, so they will probably be the only two teams that will even compete this weekend.  

Predictions:
1. Adairsville
2. Bremen
3. Sandy Creek
4. Douglass

CLASS 3A AREA 6 DUALS PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS

Area 6: Hosted by Ringgold
Coahulla Creek, Gordon Lee, LaFayette, Lakeview Fort Oglethorpe, Ridgeland, Ringgold

LFO and Ringgold split this season, but Ringgold really looks to be rounding in to form at the right time.  Gordon Lee beat Coahulla Creek and Ridgeland this season, but lost to LaFayette. LFO is putting together a pretty solid season highlighted by a 1 point win over Ringgold.  It's hard to say how much everyone's lineups have changed since November, but each of these teams will bring solid squads to the tournament this weekend.

Predictions:
1. Ringgold
2. Lafayette
3. LFO
4. Gordon Lee
5. Ridgeland

CLASS 3A AREA 7 DUALS PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS

Area 7: Hosted by White Co
Dawson Co, Gilmer, Lumpkin Co, Pickens, Wesleyan, West Hall, White Co

CLASS 3A SUPER DUAL ALERT x2: Semifinal match between White Co and Lumpkin Co and the winner against Gilmer in the finals.  (I am assuming Gilmer gets the #1 seed, but I could be wrong.)

This region is loaded from top to bottom, and which ever team gets 4th in this Region is going to give some poor Region Champion all it wants in round 1 of the State Duals.  Gilmer dropped a few duals early in the season, but seem to have gotten their lineup in order just at the right time.  Lumpkin Co and White Co seem to have been up and down all season long, and both schools may end up being just a tad better suited for traditional tournaments. Pickens is the darkhorse in this Area, and they could surprise a few people, but they did drop a dual to Gilmer 54-16 in early December.  

Predictions:
1. Gilmer
2. Lumpkin Co
3. White Co
4. Pickens Co
5. Wesleyan
6. West Hall

CLASS 3A AREA 8 DUALS PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS

Area 8: Hosted by Oconee Co
Franklin Co, Hart Co, Monroe Area, Oconee Co, Stephens Co

Monroe Area looks to be the team that will get left out of the State Duals mix among this group of 5 teams.  Franklin Co and Hart Co look to have quite a showdown looming in the Area Duals finals, but Stephens Co could spoil the party as they lost a close dual with Hart Co earlier in the season.

Predictions:
1. Franklin Co
2. Hart Co
3. Stephens Co
4. Oconee Co
5. Monroe Area

TOP 8 DUAL TEAMS

1. Columbus
2. Gilmer
3. Franklin Co
4. Ringgold
5. Lumpkin Co
6. White Co
7. Hart Co
8. Morgan Co

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