The Pope and Walton wrestling teams are in Macon, competing in the Georgia High School Association duals wrestling meet through Saturday.
The event got underway on Thursday morning, and it features 16 teams in each classification who qualified last weekend at regional meets.
Walton’s first-round opponent today in Class 7A is Camden County, while Pope will face Habersham Central in Class 6A. The only other Cobb County school competing is McEachern, also in Class 7A.
Duals is a team vs. team event, conducted in double-elimination fashion, and which began in Georgia in 2002.
Pope won the Class 5A state duals in 2013 and 2014, as well as the traditional state crown in Class 4A in 2011 and 2012.
Last weekend, the Greyhounds defeated Cambridge, another Class 6A powerhouse, by a 36-31 score for the 500th duals victory for coach Jim Haskins in the regional meet.
Walton is back in the state duals for the first time since 2007 after finishing second in its regional meet that was held at Walton.
However, the Raiders face a stiff challenge to start off.
Camden County has been dominant in recent years, as the two-time defending Class 7A duals and traditional state champion, and having won a state title in either discipline for the last four years.
The traditional regional and state wrestling meets will take place in February.
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