The Ware County Gator Wrestling Team hit the road on Saturday, November 15th, traveling to Brantley County High School to compete in the annual Battle at the Bay. In a deep and competitive field, the Gators posted a strong showing, finishing 4th overall with 130.5 points. Ware County’s effort placed them ahead of traditional 5A powers Glynn Academy and Brunswick, as well as Region 1-AAAA opponent Wayne County, marking an impressive early-season performance.
Leading the charge were senior standouts Jordan Maxwell and Jaden McKelvin, who turned in dominant championship runs in their respective weight classes.
Maxwell, competing at 113 lbs, captured the bracket title with authority - recording two pinfalls and three tech falls, including a finals tech fall over the #5-ranked 5A wrestler in Georgia (GeorgiaGrappler).
McKelvin matched that excellence at 150 lbs, rolling to the championship behind four tech falls and a major decision victory in the finals.
A pair of talented freshmen were next in line for the Gators.
Ashton Cox placed 4th at 106 lbs,
while Collin Deal finished 4th at 215 lbs,
both turning in strong tournament runs against seasoned competition.
Rounding out the top finishers for Ware County were juniors Evan Thomas and Aaron Bennett, along with senior Jalen Hampton, each earning 5th-place finishes in their respective divisions to secure valuable team points.
With momentum building, the Gators now prepare for a full week of competition.
The JV squad will travel to Coffee High School on Thursday for the JV Fight Night Meet,
while the Varsity Boys & Girls teams head to Valdosta High School on Saturday to compete in the Wildcat Duals.
The season is heating up, and the Gators are showing early that they’re ready to battle on every mat they step onto.
For more photos; visit warecountywrestling.com or please click the link below.
11/15/2025: Ware Wrestling @ Brantley “Battle @ The Bay”
Go Gators!
