The Richmond Hill’s boys’ team advanced seven wrestlers to this weekend’s state traditional (individual) tournament in Macon while Bryan County had a program record three advance.

The big news for the Wildcats, however, was on the girls’ side as Izzy West took a first-place finish at 110 pounds and set herself up as one of the favorites to claim a state title when action gets underway at the Macon Coliseum. The tournament runs from Thursday through Saturday.

This is the first year Richmond Hill has fielded a girls’ team. West, a junior with a 30-2 record, has had to wrestle on the boys team the past two seasons. She claimed the sectional title by beating Say Paw of Stone Mountain, a senior with a 32-4 mark, in a fall at 3:58.

With the top six finishers advancing to the state tournament, the top qualifier for the boys was junior Miller Osteen (13-5) who claimed second at 144 pounds in losing to Grayson junior Miller Osteen (13-5) by decision, 11-4, at 144 pounds.

Sophomore Carter Anderson (34-10) had a third at 106 pounds as did senior Cody Willoughby (36-7) at 138 while fourth-place finishes were claimed by sophomore Brenden Fair (16-5) at 120, and senior Trey Bowkett (24-12) at 190.

A pair of sophomores, Blake Whitaker (16-14) at 215 and Noah Hampton (31-10) at 175 finished fifth. Mat Josefik (132) and Caden Whitaker (150) finished seventh and will go as alternates.

Richmond Hill finished third in the 21-team field with 59 points, trailing Region 1-7A mates Camden County with 175 and Colquitt County 84.

Camden will be heavily favored to win its seventh straight traditional state championship. Last month the Wildcats won their eighth consecutive duals (team) title. (Results and individual records are per TrackWrestling.com.)

Bryan County’s fourth-year program took another big step forward as Raul Parrish (175), Carlos Arias (215) and Jett Lewis (285) all finished sixth to earn their trip to Macon. They join John Wanzer, Tarrell Singleton, Jayden Lee and Colton Gunter as Redskins who have earned state qualifying status.

Lee was attempting to qualify for a second straight year at 126 pounds but came up short. He will, however, Coach Zach Ledbetter said, go as an alternate as will Charlie Hinely (106), Riley Shuman (120), and William Patrick (132).

“It was another great day to be a Redskin,” said Ledbetter of his team’s performance.