Sprayberry High School - Echo Yearbook (Marietta, GA)

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4. V V . -.-.qw I U If - 'wt H -'Q :t,1eS'YW'f'if1?l 15 WH s ,.,.. Ja. , MMLi1ww,.m AA,-uuUfv0 ' ,. 1 7 is , . at x , at A .L J- ' iilllillli Z Z ,,,,,,,,K ,,,,. .mn Top: ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING matches of the year as proclalmed by Coach Keller and a Chattanooga newspaper was against Rlnggold Hlgh School. Home town splrlt filled the gym bleachers. The dual went down to the last match and Sprayberry barely brushed them by three polnts. Scott Vlness added to the edglng vlctory wlth a fall. Mlddle: CHRIS POWELL SWEPT THE SEASON wlth E! 1 f A if , . A , f- inn:-lg Wi nnie, ' -I my . I 'Ziff .. .sl mir' tlrst place awards in the Cobb County, North Metro, Region and State Tournaments. Chris also won the thlrd place position in the Southeastern Open. Above: FRESHMAN BOB ALMAND, whose skill and superiority won him a place on the Varsity squad, was one of the six Sprayberry masters against Rockdale County. This match was the only defeat for the Varsity grapplers. 61

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GRAPPLERS TAKE IT TO THE TOP . . . AGAIN AND AGAIN Sixth Straight Year In State Tourney The 1980-81 wrestling season began another great year for the Sprayberry Varsity squad. Coach Keller started the season by rebuilding the squad but they improved beyond all expectations. ln the first dual meet of the season, Sprayberry took on AAA Champion Rockdale County. This bout proved to be the only dual defeat suffered by Spray- berry throughout the season. After that surprising first game defeat, the squad came back to win nine duals in a row. Jonesboro, Douglas County, and Campbell were felled by crushing blows from the Varsity grapplers. Billy Hulsey captured a first place award, Chris Powell snagged third place and John Mercure took fourth place in the Southeastern Open Wrestling Tournament. Also, with undefeated records, Greg Powell and Billy Hulsey were named the North Metro Wrestlers of the week. The Varsity squad took every top position at tournaments and dual meets. Coach Keller described the bout against Ringgold as one of the most exciting matches of the year. Sprayberry arrived at Ringgold High School as the home school spirit filled the gym. The fate of the entire match came down to the last dual. In the end Sprayberry edged its opponent by three points. A Chattanooga newspaper cover- ing the dual described it as the most exciting match ot the year. All was in readiness for the journey to the top as the Jackets pinned Lagrange to the mats. Sprayberry advanced to the regional tournament where the squad took first place with 215 points. The Varsity Jackets were qualified for the state tournament. Said Coach Frank Keller, This is the thing we've worked for all year. All other dual meets and tournaments were . . . stepping stones to the state. lt's a brand new season when that starts. When asked what the team's chances were in the big playoff, he replied, We've improved steadily all year and I think at this point we've got a real good opportunity to go into the state tour- nament and make some noise. Continued on page 62 60 Rockdale County 41 SHS 22 Jonesboro 28 SHS 43 Douglas County 13 SHS 61 Campbell 12 SHS 48 Southeastern Open Tournament Cobb County Tournament 1st SHS 293-5 Walton 16 SHS 56 Wheeler 14 SHS 49 Ringgold 30 SHS 33 North Metro Tournament 1st SHS 165 McEachern 29 SHS 37 Berkmar 25 SHS 27 Lagrange 25 SHS 42 Region Tournament 1st SHS 215 State Tournament 6th SHS 79 Left: LOSING ONLY ONE MATCH THIS YEAR and placing first in both the Southeastern and Cobb County Tournaments was Billy Hulsey. His skill as a returning state competitor won him the North Metro Wrestler of the week and the championship in the Thanksgiving Open. Billy is one of several college prospects. He also placed flrst in the regional and state tournaments. Below: A FIETURNING STATE CHAMPION, David Wagner lost only one match this season when he dropped down a weight class before the McEachern bout. David captured first place in the Cobb County, North Metro, and Regio Tournaments. David Wagner is another college prospect. gt-u-IB .t.,.-.. -Ura -.... i I Z5 I IWW Mx

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I' . 1--e. , . . 1 e C - 3 . . . AND AGAIN Continued from page 60 Nineteen Eighty-one was the sixth year in a row that Sprayberry has participated in the state championships. The Varsity squad was also defending the number one position from tough competi- tors Iike McEachern, Dunwoody, and Berkmar. Although the squad placed sixth in the state, it still gained a good deal of experience for its college-bound seniors. The Varsity wrestling team at Sprayberry still has many strong years ahead. Right: A COLLEGE PROSPECT and one of this year's top wrestlers, Chris Powell helped defeat Walton High School with a 12-0 victory in his match. This was Chris' most outstanding dual. He also won two matches by falls. Far middle lop: MANY OF THIS YEAR'S J.V. SQUAD had an opportunity to compete in Varsity competition. Among these was Ron Jeske. Ron held a 3-3 record and finished fourth in the North Metro Tournament. Far top: RETURNING THIS YEAR AS A STATE CHAMP, David Wagner served another year on the number one wrestling squad. David spent a season winning the top positions in all tournaments except stateg he placed second. David experienced his only defeat at the hands of McEachern when he dropped down a weight class in one day. Far middle: BILLY HULSEY HAD AN UNDEFEATED SEASON as he won lour matches by falls and properly ground his Campbell opponent into the mats with a 22-3 triumph. Far below right: JUNIOR EARL HAMPTON spent his first year on the Varsity squad. Coach Frank Keller described him as a top wrestler who really came on strong, ln the region and state tournaments, Earl took second and fourth respectively. Below right: PAT MEDVED TOPPED TWO OPPON- ENTS in lalls. He also won first in the Cobb County Tournament and second in the region. He was another winner against Rockdale County with an 8-3 victory, 62 ,tief-244, 4..'i'..-... J 'Hi-wx, ' L JY .J