Lyons, GA. – February 18, 2025 | Coach Todd Allen

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The MatDawgs traveled to the Macon Coliseum for the final event of the 2024-2025 season, the GHSA Traditional State Championship Tournament. The MatDawgs encountered surprises both positive and negative throughout the 2-day event leading to the MatDawgs, for the first time in school history, earning a 2nd place finish at the Traditional State Tournament. Anticipation was high at the beginning of the tournament as the MatDawgs were led into the tournament by four seniors, Jahir Lopez (113 lbs.), Robert Bruce Agzigian (138 lbs.), Dabvn Wadley (150 lbs.), and Slade Landrum (157 lbs.). However, the younger MatDawgs made impressive runs that solidified the 2nd place finish for the MatDawgs.

The lone senior to earn all-state honors was Jahir Lopez. Lopez was a previous state place winner (5th/6th) in 2022-23, but had his sights set on placing higher than that this year. Lopez made his way to the semi-final round where he saw his first and only loss of the tournament. He navigated the remainder of the tournament to earn a 3rd place finish and end his career as a 2x state place winner.

Freshman Lukas Young hit a roadblock losing his first round match, but then rattled off wins in his next three matches. This included a win against an opponent he had lost to twice earlier in the season. Young finished the tournament in 6th place.

Junior Tyson Brantley finished the tournament 4-2 at the tournament to earn 4th place. He dropped his quarterfinal match in a heartbreaker, as he was in the lead 5-1 before a late headlock in the third period by his opponent set him behind 8-5. It ended as a devastating 8-6 loss sending Brantley to the backside where he battled back all the way to the consolation finals before falling in a 5-4 decision.

Junior Lucas Coley had a dominant performance outside of one mishap that costed him the match in the semi-finals. After dropping his semi-finals match Coley rallied back through the backside pinning his consolation semi-finals and consolation finals match to earn 3rd place.

The night culminated with the MatDawgs having two wrestlers set for the State Finals match. The brothers, Walker and Wyatt Bunch dominated the competition to earn their way to the championship finals. Walker Bunch was set to wrestle at 120 lbs. against a Social Circle opponent and 2023-24 State Champion that had dominated him the previous two meetings by pin. This, however, was not the ending that Walker Bunch had in mind for their third meeting in the State Finals. The match started with the Social Circle opponent scoring the first points with a takedown and escape going up 4-0 heading into the third period. Bunch scored a takedown with 58 seconds remaining in the match and with his only hope of winning to let his opponent back up to his feet making the score 5-3 with only 52 seconds remaining. It seemed dismal that Bunch would be able to pull off a victory, but with only 15 seconds on the clock Bunch attempted a last second effort and threw his opponent to his back earning him 7 more points to go up 10-5 as the time ran off the clock. Walker Bunch won his first State Title as a freshman in thrilling fashion.

Next up was his brother Wyatt Bunch at 126 lbs. His finals match was set against a Bremen opponent that he had already defeated 3 times in previous meetings. Bunch left nothing up to debate as he dominated the finals with three takedowns and giving up only two points to his opponent. Final score was 9-2 and Wyatt Bunch ended the evening for the MatDawgs with their second State Champion,

These individual performances were enough to end the evening with the MatDawgs placing second at the GHSA Traditional Wrestling Tournament for the first time in school history.

Coach Allen said this of his team’s performance at the tournament, “I’m proud of our team. Over the last 24 hours we have seen some of the most heart wrenching moments, but also some gigantic dreams come true. It is what makes this sport so special. I’m thankful to have been a part of these student-athletes’ lives and made such special memories along the way.”

The MatDawgs finish the season with the following accolades:
GHSA 1A Area 2 Dual Champions
GHSA 1A State Dual Runner-Ups
GHSA 1A Area 2 Traditional Champions
GHSA 1A Sectional A Traditional Runner-Ups
GHSA 1A State Traditional Runner-Ups
Individual State Champions: 2
Individual State Placers (1st-6th): 6
Individual State Qualifiers: 11
Overall Dual Record: 11-2
Tournament placements:
Battle at the Bay- 2nd
Georgia Grappler Invitational- 2nd
Dalton Carpet Classic- 3rd
Swede Umbach Invitational (AL)- 2nd
Bradley Invitational (TN)- 4th