The Ware County Gator Wrestling team put together a gritty, hard-fought weekend on Friday and Saturday, January 16 - 17, traveling to Ola High School to compete in the GHSA AAAA State Dual Tournament. Battling the best teams in the classification, the Gators finished among the top six teams in the state, showcasing depth, toughness, and championship-level resolve.
Ware County opened the tournament in dramatic fashion with a 41 - 36 victory over North Oconee in the championship bracket’s opening round. The match featured multiple momentum swings and clutch performances. Jordan Maxwell, Rodrigo Reyes, Jaden McKelvin, Aaron Bennett, Gunter Fore, and Collin Deal all recorded crucial wins, many by fall, as the Gators edged out the Titans in one of the most competitive duals of the tournament.
In the quarterfinals, Ware County ran into host school Ola, falling 51 - 24. Despite the loss, the Gators picked up early bonus-point wins from Ashton Cox, Jordan Maxwell, and Rodrigo Reyes, while Kyler Matthews closed the dual with a pin at heavyweight.
Dropping into the consolation bracket, Ware County responded with resilience. The Gators defeated Wayne County 41 - 32 in Consolation Round 2, highlighted by pins from Jordan Maxwell, Noah Paul, Evan Thomas, Charles Sams, Jalen Hampton, and Colton Miller. The win kept Ware County’s state run alive and set the tone for the remainder of the weekend.
Momentum continued in Consolation Round 3 as the Gators earned a 47 - 36 victory over Central (Carroll). Ware County recorded pins in seven weight classes, including dominant performances from Damarion Zanders, Evan Thomas, Jaden McKelvin, Aaron Bennett, Gunter Fore, Collin Deal, and Jalen Hampton. Jordan Maxwell capped the dual with a technical fall, further underlining his standout tournament.
In the Consolation Semifinal, Ware County faced a strong Harris County squad, falling 41 - 30. Even in defeat, the Gators fought until the final whistle, with wins from Rodrigo Reyes, Damarion Zanders, Jaden McKelvin, Aaron Bennett, Gunter Fore, and Jordan Maxwell.
Across the two-day tournament, the Gators demonstrated why Ware County remains a fixture among Georgia’s elite wrestling programs. With multiple wrestlers stepping up in key moments and the team battling through one of the toughest brackets in AAAA.