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The Troup High wrestling team booked their spot in the final four of the GHSA 3A duals state wrestling tournament on Friday, beating Oconee County and Gilmer County to book their tickets.

“You know, this is something we’ve been preparing for all season long, and again, just to put these kids against all these top teams across the state,” said a fired-up Drew Garner, Troup’s head wrestling coach. “This is just a testament to the hard work all of them have put in this season. I’m really pumped right now.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t shed a tear just seeing my brother and my family and everybody here to see it.”

The quarterfinals match between Troup and Gilmer County was an instant classic that the Tigers won 39-38 in dramatic fashion. Kameron Huzzie won an electric penultimate match at 165 lbs that pushed Troup over the top and sealed the win.

“Gilmer has a great team and a great coach that has already won several state titles,” Garner said. “The coaching was done weeks ago. Tonight it was all about the guys that went out there and wrestled. I’m proud of all of them.”

It was not just Huzzie who shined. Up and down the lineup the Tigers got top-quality performances from wrestlers like Waylon Pemberton and Emerson Hill, who both went undefeated on Friday.

“Everybody showed that Troup heart tonight,” Garner said. “Even the guys that didn’t win, they went out there and competed 

It was an impressive showing in the opening round for the Tigers. Despite trailing Oconee County by as many as nine points, Troup was able to rally and earn a dominant 54-24 victory. 

Jefferson, Lumpkin County, West Laurens or Troup County will be walking away with a state championship on Saturday. The youth-filled Tigers might not be the favorite, but their motto will be the same as it has been all season: why not us?

“I just want to see them go out there and do their best. Go out there for six minutes and wrestle their hearts out and not quit and no matter what the outcome is we can hold our heads high,” Garner said. 

Saturday’s wrestling will start at 9 a.m. with the consolation rounds. The Tigers will likely take the mats versus West Laurens sometime between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. but that is subject to change depending on how the matches scheduled ahead of them play out. 

Troup will match up with West Laurens, who the Tigers tied (40-40) in last year’s state tournament with the winner of this year’s contest advancing to the state championship match.

“We are a little salty about that match from last year,” Garner said, flashing a grin. 

Regardless of the outcome tomorrow, this event is a great showcase for wrestling in West Georgia and Troup High School. 

“We started on Tuesday, got the mats laid out then we got rugs and chairs out. The cheerleaders have come in, and they’ve provided decorations, the ambassadors have stepped in and they’ve helped with Miss (Tiffany) Graham helping out a lot,” Garner said on Thursday before the event took place. “The boys’ team, the girls’ team, the middle school team, the youth team have all been working to make this happen. The communal support we’ve got from places like Tom’s Coffee Truck, Waffle House, Kona Ice, and tons more has been essential. So, yeah,  it’s been one community rooted together.”