WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & SportsHeritage extends lead at GHSA Traditional Tournament

DULUTH, Ga. (WRCB) -- After a near perfect Thursday night at the GHSA Traditional Wrestling Tournament, Heritage made up the difference on Friday night.

The Generals went a perfect five-for-five in the Class AAA semifinals and built a 24-point lead in the team standings over rival Gilmer entering the final day of action at The Arena at Gwinnett.

Heritage qualified ten grapplers for the state tournament, nine of whom advanced to Friday morning's quarterfinals. Madison Martin (126 pounds), Landon Reed (132), Logan Perkins (145), Andy Bratton (170) and Michael Moore (195) claimed quarterfinal wins from that group, then followed with semifinal wins to clinch spots in Saturday's championship finals.

Gilmer will have three wrestlers in the championship round, but none will face a Heritage wrestler.

Ringgold's Sam Shepard (120 pounds), Dalton's Sidney Wheeler (182) and Southeast Whitfield's Carlos Fraire (220) also made the finals in Class AAA. The Raiders sit eleventh as a team with 40 team points.

LaFayette entered Friday evening's action tenth in the team standings with Brady Hart (152) and Caleb Mariakas (106) reaching the semifinals, but both Ramblers failed to advance.

In Class A, Gordon Lee qualified four wrestlers for Saturday night's finals and trails Bremen by just 8.5 points in the team standings.

Bremen has five wrestlers in championship bouts, but none of them are head-to-head matchups with Gordon Lee.

Seven Trojans made it through to the semifinals, but only Johnny Ragsdale (106), Cory Almond (138), Ethan West (160) and Cory Jewel (195) will wrestle for state titles for a state title on Saturday.

Darlington's Spencer Jones (152) is also in the Class A finals.

In Class AA, Calhoun and Chattooga each have a pair of finalists.

J.J. Blankenship (120) and Brandon Siffles (152) will try to win a state title for the Indians, while Donnell Anthony (138) and Hunter Knight (170) each have a shot at a championship for the Jackets. 

The following is a full list of area wrestlers still alive for a GHSA individual state title:

Class AAA

HERITAGE
Madison Martin (126)
Landon Reed (132)
Logan Perkins (145)
Andy Braton (170)
Michael Moore (195)

RINGGOLD
Sam Shepard (120)

DALTON
Sidney Wheeler (182)

SE WHITFIELD
Carlos Fraire (220)

Class A

GORDON LEE
Johnny Ragsdale (106)
Cory Almond (138)
Ethan West (160)
Cory Jewel (195)

Class AA

CHATTOOGA
JJ Blankenship (120)
Brandon Siffles (152)

CALHOUN
Donnell Anthony (138)
Hunter Knight (170)