The weather is creating all sorts of havoc with the schedules for the Region Duals. Some Regions may have already completed their duals before I am able to get these previews up, but that's ok, we will do them anyway. On a side note, we may also run into some weather issues next weekend for State Duals as well, which isn’t good.

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Class 4A

Region 1

Teams: Benedictine, New Hampstead, Perry, Ware Co, Warner Robins, Wayne Co

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Outlook:

Three team race for two spots in this Region, and it should be really good competition. Ware Co appears to have a leg up with decisive wins over Benedictine and Wayne Co. I haven't seen many dual results from Perry, but they were top 6 in Class 4A last season and have had numerous outstanding teams the last 5 or 6 years. Benedictine also qualified for the 4A State Duals last season, and actually defeated Wayne Co in the 2nd round 56-18. Warner Robins and New Hampstead don't look to have the numbers to be competitive with the top 4 teams in this Region. There isn't a State Title threat in this Region, but both teams that emerge from this Region will have a good shot at making a run to the top 6 in 4A.

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Predictions:

1. Ware Co
2. Benedictine
3. Perry
4. Wayne Co

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Region 2

Teams: Eagles Landing, ELCA, Hampton, Jones Co, Locust Grove, McDonough, Ola, Stockbridge, Union Grove, Woodland Stockbridge

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Outlook:

A massive 10 team Region that has one clear favorite in Ola, and three teams all challenging for that #2 spot. There is no doubt in anyone's mind that the 2024 Class 4A runner-ups, Ola, will smash their way through this Region. Things get interesting after that #1 spot though, as Locust Grove, Jones Co, and Hampton all have shown signs of being capable of punching their ticket to the State Duals. Hampton's weakness is the lack of fire power throughout their lineup, they are tough from top to bottom, but they don't have a "stopper" anywhere in their starting 14. This leaves them vulnerable to teams that like to manipulate their lineup by bumping kids to get the matchups that they want. Jones Co has the best "top tier" talent out of the three teams vying for the final spot out of this Region, but several holes that make it possible for a coach to navigate their lineup. Locust Grove looks to be in between those two, with some solid "top tier" talent and fewer holes in their starting lineup. Ola is in contention for the State Duals Championship, whoever finishes 2nd in this Region will probably bow out in the consolation quarters or before depneding on the draws.

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Predictions:

1. Ola
2. Locust Grove
3. Jones Co
4. Hampton

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Region 3

Teams: Central Carroll, Griffin, Harris Co, Jonesboro, Mundy's Mill, Northside Columbus, Stars Mill

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Outlook:

This is quite possibly the easiest Region in the State to predict. Central Carrollton won the 4A State Duals last year, but for a variety of reasons they have dropped back to the back a little bit this season. Now they have plenty of firepower to cruise to a victory at the Region level, but they will face some formidable foes next weekend in the State Duals. Harris Co should be in a rebuilding year as they have graduated a ton of talent over the last 2 to 3 years, but their squad has seemed to have learned well from their predecessors and they are definitely out performing their early season projections. They don't have enough to overcome Central, but they will easily finish 2nd in the Region and they should prove to be a tough out at the State Duals next weekend. Starr's Mill is a solid #3 but they cant match up with either Central or Harris Co.

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Predictions:

1. Central Carroll
2. Harris Co
3. Starr's Mill
4. Jonesboro

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Region 4

Teams: Creekside, Drew, Forest Park, Jackson ATL, MLK, Mays, Midtown, Pace Academy

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Outlook:

Midtown and Pace are the only two teams that have the Region Duals on their schedule. The other 6 schools will struggle to field a lineup that has more than 8 wreslters, so this Region seems like a no brainer by default. I don't foresee either of these two teams advancing very far at the State Duals, and I truly believe that both teams will go 0-2 next weekend.

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Predictions:

1. Pace Academy
2. Midtown

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Region 5

Teams: Clarkston, Cross Keys, Druid Hills, Lithonia, Marist, North Springs, Northview, Southwest Dekalb, St Pius, Tucker

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Outlook: This is a very interesting collection of teams, with most of the Region not coming close to filling out a complete lineup. With that being said there are signs of improvement at some of these schools, and Northview is at the top of that list. However, they still have a long way to go to catch up to the rest of the Region, and it looks like Marist, SWD, St. Pius, and Tucker will be the main characters in this tournament. St. Pius appears to have a leg up on everyone as shown with a convincing 54-18 win over Marist. SWD looks to have a full lineup, but they lack the talent that can be found in Marist and St Pius' lineup. Tucker seems to be a little better off than SWD in the talent department, but they will probably have a few more open spots than SWD. St. Pius may make a run to the top 8, definitely the top 12, but the #2 team from this Region is looking at a quick 0-2 weekend.

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Predictions:

1. St. Pius
2. Marist
3. SWD
4. Tucker

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Region 6

Teams: Blessed Trinity, Cambridge, Centennial, Kell, Westminster

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Outlook:

Small Region in regards to the number of teams, but these are some traditionally tough teams that are thrown together in this Region. Westminster is having a great year in duals, and they have racked up a significant number of wins, but they haven't wrestled too many high caliber opponents. Cambridge on the other hand is rolling along at a .500 clip, but they have gone up against some big time programs, and been competitive. Blessed Trinity looks to be in the early stages of a significant rebuild and Kell has a few weights where they are solid, but they don't have the strength throughout their lineup to be competitive here. I don't see anyone coming out of this Region and pushing for top finish, but I do believe Cambridge has enough balance to pick up a couple of wins.

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Predictions:

1. Cambridge
2. Westminster
3. Blessed Trinity
4. Kell

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Region 7

Teams: Alatoona, Cartersville, Cass, Cedartown, Dalton, Hiram, Southeast Whitfield, Woodland Cartersville

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Outlook:

This Region completed their Duals last weekend, and to very little surprise Woodland Came out on top over Cass.

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Region 8

Teams: Cedar Shoals, East Forsyth, Eastside, Flowery Branch, Madison Co, North Oconee, Walnut Grove

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Outlook:

I see three different tiers in this Region and there isn't much separation among the teams within each tier. At the top I see North Oconee, Eastside, and Walnut Grove battling it out for Region supremacy. Walnut Grove does have November wins over both East side (46-28) and North Oconee (53-16), however a lot has changed over the last 6 weeks and both duals will be very different this time around. Eastside and North Oconee both seem to be hunting the right pieces to fill in the weights around their established studs. East Forsyth, Flowery Branch, and Madison Co make up the second tier, but all 3 seem to be significantly behind those top three teams. Each of those teams have some great individuals, but there is just too many weak spots in their lineup to give them a chance to pull of a dual meet victory. East Forsyth appears to be on the verge of making a leap, as they are a growing program that is in it's infancy, while Flowery Branch and Madison Co are trying to recover and rebuild from massive graduation losses over the last couple of seasons. Cedar Shoals is in a tier by themselves way behind the other teams in the Region.

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Predictions:

1. Walnut Grove
2. Eastside
3. North Oconee
4. East Forsyth

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Predicted Field:

1. Ware Co
2. Benedictine
3. Ola
4. Locust Grove
5. Central Carroll
6. Harris Co
7. Pace Academy
8. Midtown
9. St Pius
10. Marist
11. Cambridge
12. Westminster
13. Woodland
14. Cass
15. Walnut Grove
16. Eastside

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Predicted Seeds

1. Central Carroll
2. Ola
3. Woodland
4. Cass
5. Walnut Grove
6. St Pius

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