Wrestlers from around the area compete at state
Jackets Eli Bowman brings home a title for Rockmart Several wrestlers from around the area made it to state competition and a few had reason to celebrate to round out the 2026 season. Don’t miss · Basketball SUBSCRIBER VIDEO: Mt. Zion at Rockmart Boys Basketball Read more → Among those is Rockmart’s Eli Bowman, who […]
Jackets Eli Bowman brings home a title for Rockmart
Several wrestlers from around the area made it to state competition and a few had reason to celebrate to round out the 2026 season.
Among those is Rockmart’s Eli Bowman, who took a 36-0 by fall over East Jackson’s Brody Buckley to take a state title.
Two other wrestlers made it to second place: Wesley Rakestraw at North Paulding, and Ruthie Ridings of Rockmart in girls competition.
The Jackets were among one of the top teams to bring a large group of their team to state traditional, with 13 participants in total including Bowman, Ridings along with Colton Chappell, Kannon Chambers, Chaz Graham, Tripp Clay, Sawyer Johnson, Hagen Sharp, Bradley Cowan, Kenneth Fiers, Bradley Cowan, Blakeston Warner, Jayce Smith, Jake Gravitt, and Kaydee Jackson.
Bremen and Haralson County also sent a lot of teammates to the state round.
The Blue Devils included Alonzo Edmerson, Jack Stanford, Ethaen Shroyer, Conlan Braun, Elijah Karr, Tucker Karr, Tavares Tucker, Logan Johnson, Elijah Ellison, Xavier Edmonson and Jagger Patterson. Cameron Ludwig represented Lady Blue Devils as well.
Haralson were represented by Cohen Walker, Charlie Hembree, Michael Hansen, Boston Benefield, Israel Sinclair, Blake White, Colton Hutson and Walker Ward.
Here’s some others who took part this year:
- Cedartown – Todd Cochran, Braiden Thomas, Lila McClendon and Rylynn Bridges.
- Hiram – Bradley Gallup and Sophia Bradshaw
- East Paulding – Bryson Thompson and Aiden Williamson
- North Paulding – Wesley Rakestraw, Jackson Thacker, Ben Southern, Preston Pas, and Jackson Lane
- Paulding Co. – Kayleigh Grant
- South Paulding – John Badami and Brayden Park
A majority of the wrestlers competed in the first round of the state championships and were either pushed into consolation rounds with losses, or knocked out early.
Rockmart’s Gravitt, Graham and Sharp went to the semifinals, North Paulding’s Lane went to semifinals, Bremen’s Ethaen Shroyer also made it to the semifinals.
Bremen’s Elijah Karr got to the finals and finished as runner-up on the year as well.