Mat Cougars Look to State Tourney

Each member of the Piedmont Academy varsity team will advance to the state tournament which is set to begin Friday in Americus.

Last week’s region tournament, scheduled to be in Monticello, was not held due to Covid-19 concerns. Coaches in the region decided to cancel the region tournament and advance all athletes to state.

“Our main concern is a wrestler developing Covid-19 between the time of region and state tournaments,” Piedmont coach Kaden Miller said. “If that happens, then all the wrestlers who have competed against that Covid positive wrestler would be in jeopardy of missing the state tournament due to exposure. His teammates would probably be ruled out as well.”

The coach said it was not an easy decision to cancel the region tournament but believes it was the best one.

“I spoke with our wrestling team prior to my vote and they were all in favor of not competing,” Miller said. “They feel they have worked too hard to miss this opportunity to compete in state competition. Even though we are not wrestling (at region), there was still be a weigh-in. In order to qualify for state, all wrestlers had to weigh-in at region. We will seed wrestlers based on their past performances. I hope everyone understands this decision. I feel it is in the best interest of the boys. I would hate for Covid to jeopardize their opportunity to compete at the state tournament.”

The GISA state wrestling tournament will be Friday and Saturday at the Storm Dome in Americus. Weigh-ins begin Friday at noon with wrestling at 2 p.m.