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The champion newspaper.
March 02, 2023
Image 13
The champion newspaper., March 02, 2023, Image 13
About The champion newspaper. (Decatur, GA) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (March 2, 2023)
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Newspaper Page Text
SPORTS
THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MARCH 2 - 8, 2023 • PAGE 13
Isaiah Scott won a state championship after being named an All American as a
sophomore last season.
Jerrel Baskins won a state championship in the 175-weight class.
Dharrin Smith (pictured) won one of the titles, marking Southwest DeKalb’s first time on Jayden Hammonds placed as a runner up.
the podium since Rock Ya-Sin’s prep career.
WRESTLING
Continued From Page 1
impressive with the Panthers' competitors having
several more wrestlers than Southwest DeKalb.
"It felt very exciting. It was amazing," said
Johnson. "These kids worked hard over the years.
They wanted to be state champs. Whenever we
win a region or win a state championship, we
put a banner up. Those kids look at the banners
every day and they want to be a part of that."
The championships and runner up finishes
come after Scott—who was an All-American last
season as a sophomore—completed a perfect
35-0 season, Baskins finished at 27-0, and
Hammonds and Smith both finished at 29-2.
In the state championship finals, Hammonds
fell to Braydon Bowen of Troup High School,
Smith defeated Tim Dunn of Troup High School,
Baskins won over Evan Wingrove of Heritage
Catoosa High School, and Scott won against
Parker Warren of Walnut Grove High School.
Earlier this season, high-ranking individual
performances from the same four also
propelled Southwest DeKalb to four sectional
championships.
"It was tight; it was good competition. But
with us coming from 5A to 4A, I don't think they
had a clue about what south DeKalb County
brings to the table. Like I said, my Four Horsemen
got the job done," added Johnson.
Johnson added that the state title was special
for Southwest DeKalb because the wrestling
program is small but has had the same coaching
staff and support system since 2005.
"The coaches and kids trust each other. It's
all about trust to make this happen. They believe
in our coaching staff and what we bring to the
table," said Johnson. "They came together as a
team and motivated each other. We're a small
team, so us sticking together as a family is
important."
Joshua Bass, Charles McKinney Jr., Bernard
Warren, and James Grayson make up the
coaching staff, in addition to Johnson. Johnson
said none of the coaches work as teachers or
administrators at Southwest DeKalb, which he
added makes the team's comradery even more
impressive.
The wrestling coach also established a
wrestling program at Chapel Hill Middle School-
Southwest DeKalb's feeder school—where he
coaches the middle school football team.
Johnson said all five members of the
inaugural middle school team were on Southwest
DeKalb's freshman wrestling team this season.
He said that he hopes the state championships
bring more attention and more interest to both
the middle school and high school wrestling
programs.
