The Ware County Gators Wrestling Team traveled to the Clayton Convocation Center this past week to compete in the GHSA Class 4A State Championships, wrapping up an outstanding 2025–2026 season on Saturday, February 13. Battling against the best wrestlers in the state, the Gators finished 10th overall in Class 4A with 69 team points, placing among the top programs in Georgia.
Class 4A Final Team Standings (Top 10)
Woodland, Cartersville - 218.5
Cass - 193.0
Ola - 157.5
Jones County - 87.5
Harris County - 83.5
Walnut Grove - 82.0
North Oconee - 75.0
Dalton - 73.0
Allatoona - 71.5
Ware County - 69.0
🥉 Jordan Maxwell Claims 3rd Place (113 lbs)
Leading the charge for Ware County was Jordan Maxwell (51-6) at 113 pounds. Maxwell put together a dominant tournament run on the consolation side after an early quarterfinal loss. He secured multiple technical falls and pins, including two decisive falls in the final rounds to claim 3rd place and score 23 team points.
Maxwell’s run included:
Fall in 0:58 in Round 1
Two technical falls (17-0 and 15-0)
Fall in 0:33 in the consolation semifinals
Fall in 1:20 in the 3rd place match
His resilience and aggressive style highlighted an exceptional season and capped off a remarkable year for the Gator standout.
💪 Strong Performances Across the Lineup
🥉 126 lbs - Rodrigo Reyes (33-14) - 6th Place | 8.5 Points
Reyes opened the tournament with a decision win and an impressive technical fall in the quarterfinals. After falling in the semifinals, he battled through the backside to earn a 6th-place finish, contributing valuable points to the team total.
🥉 144 lbs - Jaden McKelvin (48-10) - 6th Place | 10.5 Points
McKelvin showcased toughness throughout the bracket, earning a major decision in the opening round and two strong consolation victories, including a tech fall and a major decision. He narrowly dropped a 13-12 decision in the consolation semifinals before finishing 6th in the state.
🥉 150 lbs - Aaron Bennett (44-15) - 6th Place | 10 Points
Bennett fought his way through the consolation bracket with a fall and a major decision to secure a 6th-place finish. His effort helped solidify the Gators’ team standing in a highly competitive weight class.
🥉 165 lbs - Gunter Fore (10-3) - 6th Place | 12 Points
Fore made a strong statement at 165, earning two technical falls and an early-round pin. He finished 6th overall, adding 12 crucial team points for Ware County.
Additional Gator State Qualifiers
120 lbs - Noah Paul (32-25) - 3 team points
132 lbs - Damarion Zanders (23-15) - 3 team points
138 lbs - Evan Thomas (31-18)
175 lbs - Collin Deal (37-22)
215 lbs - Jalen Hampton (29-23)
285 lbs - Antonio Birch (6-8)
Each state qualifier represented Ware County with determination and grit on the biggest stage of the season.
A Season to Remember
Finishing 10th in the state is a testament to the hard work, preparation, and competitive mindset of this Ware County squad. With multiple state placers and strong performances throughout the lineup, the Gators once again proved they belong among Georgia’s elite programs.
The future remains bright for Ware County Wrestling as the program continues to build momentum and develop championship-caliber competitors.
Congratulations to all of our Gators on a tremendous season! 🐊💚💛
