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 5A

Region 1

Teams: Brunswick, Effingham, Evans, Glynn Academy, Greenbrier, Lakeside Evans, South Effingham, Statesboro

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Outlook:

This Region is absolutely brutal for both the Region Duals and the Traditional Region tournament, with 3 teams that are firmly planted in the top 10 of 5A. Glynn Academy and South Effingham met in the Class 6A State Duals final last season with South Effingham winning on criteria. Brunswick has rebounded nicely after taking a step back in 2024, they would qualify for the State Duals in every other region, heck they'd win most of them. Greenbrier might just be the most snake bitten program in all of Georgia, as it seems they always find their way into the most brutal Region in the classification, and when they do make it through their draw is usually horrendous. I don't know if Glynn and South Effingham will meet in the State Finals again this year, but they are both on the short list of teams that will contend for the State Title next weekend.

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Predictions:

1. South Effingham
2. Glynn Academy
3. Brunswick
4. Greenbrier

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Region 2

Teams: Coffee, Houston Co, Lee Co, Northside WR, Thomas Co Central, Veterans

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Outlook:

Coffee Co has pulled away from the pack a little bit in this Region, and they should come out with the title based on their very talented group of lightweights. Behind Coffee is a group of three teams that are all solid, but they each have their flaws. Lee Co is hungry to return to the State Duals after missing out last season, but they will need a little more production from their middle weights in order to come out with the 2nd spot here. Veterans looks to be rebuilding nicely, and to me they appear to be a little ahead of schedule. Thomas Co Central qualified for the Class 6A State Duals last year, but if they want to return they will need to shore up their heavier weights. I don't see Coffee pushing into the top 4 next weekend, but they could make it as far as the conso semis.

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Predictions:

1. Coffee Co
2. Lee Co
3. Veterans
4. Thomas Co Central

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Region 3

Teams: Banneker, Dutchtown, Hughes, Lovejoy, McIntosh, Morrow, Newnan, Northgate

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Outlook:

In a Region where a majority of teams will struggle to fill double digit weight classes, there are three teams that have emerged as contenders for the Championship. Newnan has qualified for the State Duals several times in recent years, and they always seem to pick up a win or two, they have the most talent and experience in the Region, and should pull out the Title. Northgate and McIntosh look almost identical on paper, and Northgate has the head to head win over McIntosh back in mid November. I don't see anyone from this Region picking up more than 2 wins at the State Duals next weekend.

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Predictions:

1. Newnan
2. McIntosh
3. Northgate
4. Banneker

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Region 4

Teams: Arabia Mountain, Chamblee, Decatur, Dunwoody, Lakeside Dekalb, Shiloh, Tri Cities, Woodward

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Outlook:

Like Region 3, a majority of this Region will struggle to put forth a team that fills 10 weights. Also like Region 3, there is a list of 3 programs from this Region that will contend for the Region Title. Woodward has finished in the top 4 at the State Duals each of the last 2 years, but they have needed a major overhaul of their lineup this year, and I am not sure if they will get back to that level next weekend. Dunwoody qualified for the Class 6A State Duals last year and went 1-2, they have wrestled really well this season and they have more experience than anyone else in the Region. Decatur looks to be the only other team that consistently puts together a near full lineup, but they got handled by Dunwoody 65-14 in mid November. Once again, like Region 3, I don't see anyone in this Region picking up more than 2 wins at the State Duals.

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Predictions:

1. Dunwoody
2. Woodward Academy
3. Decatur

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Region 5

Teams: Alexander, East Paulding, Kennesaw Mountain, Lithia Springs, New Manchester, Rome, South Paulding, Villa Rica

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Outlook:

Villa Rica is returning almost everyone from a team that advanced to the top 8 at the Class 5A State Duals last season. Both Alexander and Kennesaw Mountain have been impressive in Duals this season with each picking up more than 12 Dual wins this year. All 3 of those teams are undefeated against Region opponents and have not wrestled each other head to head in a Dual. New Manchester looks to be the next best team in the Region as they have had the closest results with the top 3 teams. In the end, I think Villa Rica's experience will give them the edge to come out on top in a tight match with Alexander in the finals. Both teams that come out of this Region will have the ability to push through to the conso semis, but I don't see anyone from here making a run to the top 4.

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Prediction:

1. Villa Rica
2. Alexander
3. Kennesaw Mountain
4. New Manchester

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Region 6

Teams: Creekview, Lassiter, Pope, RIver Ridge, Riverwood, Sequoyah, Sprayberry, Woodstock

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Outlook:

Creekview finished 4th at the Class 6A State Duals last season, and there isn't anything that will stand in their way of snagging the Region Dual Title this week. Pope qualified for the Class 6A State Duals last season and went 1-2 with a pretty young team. Lassiter has the big guns in this Region with Hoshide and Brickley, but their lineup doesn't offer them much help in a dual, they could advance to the Region finals, but it would be an uphill battle. Sequoyah has a sneaky good lineup with their talent spread out well, making it very difficult to navigate their lineup to get the matchups you want. Woodstock is built much like Lassiter, and River Ridge seems to be a solid through out, but lacking any top tier stars. Creekview is on the short list of State Champion contenders, but no one else in the Region will pick up more than 2 wins next weekend.

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Predictions:

1. Creekview
2. Pope
3. Sequoyah
4. Lassiter

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Region 7

Teams: Chattahoochee, Gainesville, Johns Creek, Lanier, Milton, Roswell, Seckinger

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Outlook:

This is a fun little Region that lacks a bonafide Super Team, each team is solid and they all have decent pieces, but they all have huge flaws. Gainesville looks to be the most complete and I think they will have a slight advantage over the field because of their light weights. Milton may have the most "top tier" pieces in their lineup, but it is a huge drop off to the rest of their lineup. Chattahoochee has the best wrestler in the Region, but unfortunately he can only wrestle one weight class. Seckinger might has a solid lineup from top to bottom, but they lack a signature wrestler that they know they can trot out and pick up a win. No one from this Region will pick up more than 1 win next weekend at the State Duals.

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Prediction:

1. Gainesville
2. Seckinger
3. Chattahoochee
4. Milton

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Region 8

Teams: Alcovy, Apalachee, Clarke Central, Habersham, Jackson Co, Loganville, Winder Barrow

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Outlook:

Only 4 of these teams realistically consider themselves competitive in a dual format. Jackson Co returns a strong lineup that pushed into the top 6 at the Class 6A State Duals last season, and they are on the short list of contenders for the State Title. Loganville and Habersham look to be the best bets to face of against Jackson Co in the finals, both teams return a majority of their starting lineup from last year, but it looks like Loganville has a bit more talent through out their lineup. Whoever emerges from the Region as the #2 will struggle to pick up more than one win next weekend.y

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Predictions:

1. Jackson Co
2. Loganville
3. Habersham
4. Winder Barrow

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Predicted Field:

1. South Effingham
2. Glynn Academy
3. Coffee Co
4. Lee Co
5. Newnan
6. McIntosh
7. Dunwoody
8. Woodward Academy
9. Villa Rica
10. Alexander
11. Creekview
12. Pope
13. Gainesville
14. Seckinger
15. Jackson Co
16. Lognaville

Predicted Seeds

1. South Effingham
2. Glynn Academy
3. Creekview
4. Jackson Co
5. Coffee Co
6. Villa Rica

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