COVINGTON, Ga. — When the GHSA State Traditional Wrestling tournament begins in Macon this Thursday, the Newton County area will be well represented. 

In all, 23 wrestlers from the area will make their way to Macon to vie for a state crown. Social Circle, which is fresh off a fourth straight duals state championship, will bring 14 of those grapplers to the Macon Centreplex, including sectionals champs Kyle Morris (120 pounds), Jackson Wheeler (132 pounds), Mitchell Thompson (145 pounds), Josh Engstrom (152 pounds), Douglas Peppers (160 pounds) and Rod Nunnally (285 pounds).

Eastside qualified seven grapplers, including Zack Cason who is marked as a state alternate, while Newton qualified two. 

On Thursday Feb. 8, the Class AAAA and Class AAAAAAA wrestlers will start weigh-ins at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. respectively with Class AAAAAAA action slated to begin at 2 p.m. and Class AAAA set to start at 4 p.m. 

Class AA will get underway with Friday morning weigh-ins and then action on the mats commencing at 10 a.m. with state finals beginning at 3 p.m. on Saturday. 

Below is a list of all state qualifiers we have received. If there are any omissions, please let us know. 

Eastside (Class AAAA)

Hunter Fuqua (113 pounds)

Kyle Johnson (126 pounds)

Seth Besaw (145 pounds) 

Will Gaither (152 pounds)

Seth Martin (182 pounds) 

Christian Curry (Heavyweight) 

Zack Cason (120 pounds) — state alternate 

Newton (Class AAAAAAA)

Jordan Reed (285 pounds) 

Shamal Alexander (145 pounds) 

Social Circle (Class AA)

 Tyler Post (106 pounds) 

 James Connelly (113 pounds)

 Kyle Morris (120 pounds) 

Justin Ivey (126 pounds)

 Jackson Wheeler (132 pounds)

 Jeffery Detweiler (138 pounds)

 Mitchell Thompson (145 pounds)

 Josh Engstrom (152 pounds) 

 Douglas Peppers (160 pounds) 

 Micah Thompson (170 pounds) 

Carson Boyd (182 pounds) 

 Nick Jolly (195 pounds) 

 Caelan Sanders (220 pounds) 

 Rod Nunnally (285 pounds)