Penland gets 200th win as Whitewater picks up two more dual meet wins

Whitewater went into Brookwood the only 5A school against 6A State Dual placers Chattahoochee, Lowndes and Brookwood, but came out winners in their final dual meet in Snellville on Friday night.

The Wildcats first took on Chattahoochee. After falling behind 18-6, Whitewater got some needed forfeits and wins from Zach Thorne (Fall 2:47), Austin Penland (TFall 15-0), Joseph Vanmeter (Dec 7-3), Alex Walker (Dec 6-1) and Francisco Obregon (Fall :35). The Wildcats couldn’t hold on as Chattahoochee came from behind to win 42-38.

Brookwood, fresh off their 4th place finish in the 6A State Duals, was next. After a pins by George Harris, a forfeit and a win by Zach Thorne (Dec 8-3), the Wildcats had a slim 15-14 lead. Then four successive wins by Austin Penland (Fft), Joseph Vanmeter (Fall 3:30), Francisco Obregon (Fall 1:41), and Alex Walker (Fall 3:03) gave the Wildcats the lead for good, 39-14. Pins by Taylor Daly and Dylan Davis capped off a decisive 51-23 win.

The most exciting match of the night was against south Georgia’s Lowndes High School. The Wildcats took a solid lead of 17-4 on wins by George Harris (TFall 15-0), Reid Loveless (Dec 5-4), Logan Wesolowski (Dec 6-0) and Zach Thorne (Fall :42). After a pin by Gary Hogg, Whitewater led by only nine, but Lowndes came back to bring the score even at 29-29. In the last match of the night, Dylan Davis won by fall at 1:09 to give the Wildcats the victory 35-29.

But the star of the night was Austin Penland. After winning against Chattahoochee through a Tech Fall, he gained his 200th win via forfeit against Brookwood. Austin continued his winning career with his 201st win, a pin against Lowndes at 1:39 in the first period to a standing ovation from the Whitewater crowd and teammates. His four year career includes a 201-23 record with 90 percent career winning percentage, 118 pins and 292 take downs. In the state traditional tournament, he has two 4th place finishes and was State runner-up last year. This year he is currently undefeated with a 38-0 record and 22 pins and championships in the Bradley Central, Hardaway, Rockmart and Whitewater Brawl individual tournaments.

Penland and his teammates continue on the road to the 2012-2013 GHSA Traditional Wrestling State Tournament in Macon. On Feb. 1 and 2, the Wildcats will be in the Area Traditional tournament at Ola High School with county teams Starr's Mill and McIntosh. Matches begin at 5 p.m. on Friday night.