State titles will be awarded this weekend, and if the wrestlers in Cherokee County have anything to say about it, a few of those titles will be headed this way.

The traditional state championships begin tonight at the Macon Centreplex. The quarterfinals and semifinals will be held Friday, with the finals Saturday.

Creekview leads the way with nine wrestlers going to the Class AAAAA meet.

“I think we are prepared,” Grizzlies coach Wyatt Wilkie said. “We have been working all year for it and we are ready to go.”

Wilkie said he wishes all of his wrestlers could have made it this far, but that the guys that are left each have the potential to win a state title.

“They aren’t satisfied with just making it here,” Wilkie said. “They want to do as much as they can do.”

Hunter Udall (170 pounds) and Joseph Sorrentino (182) are two of the Grizzlies’ top performers this season, but Wilkie isn’t counting anyone out. Also competing for state titles are Justin Pettyjohn (152), Grant Slater (113), Hunter Smith (160), Brock Tupman (285), Logan Ridings (195), Ryan Camp (103) and Justin Gross (120).

“I’ve been pleased, especially with some of our younger guys coming in,” Wilkie said. “I’ve been pleased with the outcome and not surprised.”

Sequoyah was shut out of the Class AAAAA finals.

Cherokee and Etowah will be each sending six wrestlers to the Class AAAAAA meet, while three will compete for Woodstock.

Etowah’s Maveric Rechsteiner (195) won his weight class at last week’s sectional and is expected to contend for a state title. He will be joined by teammates Josh Thomas (106), Dylan Wagner (113), Leonard Payton (120), Alex Rusk (126) and Brad Morgan (220).

“They have worked very hard and here they are in the top 16 in the state,” Etowah coach Charles Higdon said. “I think it’s great for them. I think it’s great for the school.”

Higdon said the coaching staff and wrestlers have worked hard all season to get to this point.

“I think they all have a chance to do something special,” he added.

Cherokee will be represented by Blake Walker (113), Andrew Torrence (126), Dusty Phyfe (152), John Metcalf (160), Brady Sandercock (170) and Hunter Burton (182).

Woodstock’s Tristan Watson (113), Zach Shareef (138) and Wes Pella (285) will also compete.

In Class AAAA, River Ridge will be sending just one wrestler, Noah Smith, to compete at 145 pounds.