2011-12 Season

Three Dawgs win Sweet Onion Titles

Kalin lifts West Laurens's Demetrius Green

Jamar Smith pins Brian Whitfield from Commerce

J.D. Rogers, Kalin Wilhite and Jamar Smith each won individual titles to help lead the Toombs County Bulldogs to a fifth place finish in the Bulldog Sweet Onion Wrestling Tournament. Rogers (152 pounds) was the first Bulldog to win a title as he pinned Fitzgerald's Octavious Rivera with ten seconds remaining in the third and final period. "I had already wrestled him before and if I can pin him once then I can pin him again," said Rodgers. "I was down the whole match and late in the third period I was down by two. I had been working the switch the whole time and I finally got it in. I rolled him over and stuck him." Rogers also pinned Alphonso Williams from Burke County and defeated Vidalia's Solomon McLeod 7-0 to improve his record to 33-14 in his sophomore season. Kalin Wilhite remained undefeated (49-0) in his senior season by winning three matches. Willhite defeated Chris Mack of South Effingham 17-1 and pinned Carlton Holmes from Burke County. That advanced the defending state champion to the finals in the 182 pound weight class. Kalin took care of business by beating West Laurens's Demetrius Green 8-3. "It was a battle of wills," said Wilhite. "He's so strong, last week at Dublin it was a 3-0 match, one escape and one takedown. It was a lot different than the last match." Jamar Smith, competing in the 195 pound weight class, pinned all three of his opponents- Evan Joyner from Turner County, Tyler Smith of South Effingham and Brian Whitfield representing Commerce in the final. The freshman ended the championship match quickly by taking down Whitfield with a thump. Whitfield made a noticeable grunt when he hit the mat and Smith said he knew it was over, "I knew I had him right where I wanted him. He was hurt and he was down and I was going to hold him there." Smith is 34-8 on the season. The Bulldogs had two fourth place finishers -Austin Farrow 106 pounds and Erion Gaffney, wrestling up a weight class, at 160 pounds. Watch highlights You Tube

Bulldogs are Area 3 Dual champs

Despite being on his back a couple of times, Jamie Cruz avoided being pinned allowing the Toombs County Bulldogs to nip Appling County 36-35 in the championship match of the Area 3 Duals at Darian. Toombs also won the area title last year on the mats at McIntosh County Academy. The Bulldogs will be a number one seed at the GHSA State Duals, in Macon, on January 13 and 14. Toombs will meet Dublin in the first round on Friday. Lance Joyner, a sophomore competing at 170 pounds, like Cruz also wrestled a match in which he could not be pinned. "I just fought through it, I decided I couldn't be pinned so we wouldn't lose the championship," said Joyner, who lost 6-4. "It was extremely hard, he was strong and a really good wrestler." J.D.Rogers, who dropped from 170 pounds to 160, won his match. "It went really good, it was so intense because we were down and we had to start getting sticks or we are going to be out of it because their lighter weights are really good and you just got to keep fighting through it." The Bulldogs defeated Jeff Davis at 10 a.m. and then didn't wrestle again until 3 p.m. Head coach Travis Ellington said, "I can't say enough about how they wrestled against the competition. We had a couple of kids that just battled the whole time. Jamie Cruz was tremendous. In a dual meet there is a lot of strategy and we try to look for the best match ups to score the most points. Our leaders like Kalin Wilhite and Juan Alvarez, our seniors, and our underclassmen like J.D. Rogers and Xavier Horne and Jamar Smith, all had a great tournament. I just can't say enough about all the guys."

2010-11 Season 

GHSA State Wrestling Tourney

Willhite is a State Champ!

Kalin Willhite wins his first state championship

Kalin and his father Kelly celebrate a big night

Hadden finishes 2nd in state at 103 pounds

Tyler Hadden is on top of Kaden Scoggins

Bulldogs finish third in Double A

Saturday- Kalin Willhite came very close to winning a state championship as a sophomore. He lost a close 10-6 decision to Forrest Przybysz of Jefferson in 2010. This season Kalin dedicated himself to not only getting back to the title match, but to winning. Mission accomplished. Willhite defeated GAC's Zach Fuererbach 8-5 to improve his 2011 record to 63-1. His only loss of the season was at sectionals and he avenged that in the third place match. Y-101 Story Watch Kalin win his state championship Video Watch the rest of Kalin's matches 1st Round  Quarterfinals  Semifinals Tyler Hadden lost to Kaden Scoggins (Armuchee) 14-4 in the 103 pound Double A State Championship match. Tyler, 60-2, adds his second place finish to two third place finishes in 2009 and 2010. In the consolation bracket (140 pounds) Hakeem Mobley defeated Caleb Massey (Dade County) 5-4 and then he lost to Layton West Sonoraville 8-6 and he finishes fourth in the state. Mark Terrell (125 pounds) lost to Jordan Worthy (Pepperell) 4-0. Xavier Horne (189 pounds) lost to Bailey Ross (Morgan County) 8-1 and to Patrick Emerson (Lovett) 5-2. Kenneth McClendon (285 pounds) lost to Ben Lanier (Dublin) and Destry Walker (Cook County by pins and he finishes sixth in state.   Toombs County finished third in Double A. Jefferson was first with 196.50, Sonoraville second with 177, the Bulldogs third with 84.50 and Lovett fourth with 82. Dublin in eighth place was the only other South Georgia team in the top 10. TCHS also finished third in 2009.    Friday- Tyler Hadden defeated Calhoun's Carter Edwards 10-0 to move into the championship round of the 103 pound division. Junior Kalin Willhite earned his second straight birth in the 160 pound title match by defeating Curtis Greenway of Banks County 7-2. Hakeem Mobley (140 pounds) was pinned by Brandon Siffles of Chattooga in his semifinal match. Mobley, 51-6, will wrestle for third place.  Hakeem Mobley advanced to the semi's with a pin of Justin Brewer of Jackson County High School. Kalin Willhite is also into the semi's with a 9-3 victory over Oscar Sandoval of Monticello. Tyler Hadden moved into the semifinals with a 20-5 technical fall victory over Stephen Jenkins of Elbert County. The semifinals begin at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Hadden talks on Y-101 Radio about his first two matches Audio Kenneth McClendon lost a tough match in the quarterfinals 2-1 to Jack Howard of Blessed Trinity. McClendon rebounded by defeating Appling County's Zach Wright 4-2. Xavier Horne also lost in the quarters to Dim Aguero, of Buford, by a pin. Horne lost to Bailey Ross of Morgan County 8-1 in the consolations. J.D. Rogers lost in the consolation quarterfinals and his first state tourney has ended. Sonoraville's Paul McKnight pinned Rogers. J.D. won his first match in the consolation bracket beating Ronald Lucas, of Swainsboro, 6-5. J.D. trailed 4-0 and 5-3. Lucas was hit with three stalling calls costing him three points including one with 10 seconds left in the match that won it for Rogers. Holden Plante lost to Rich Niehaus, of Lovett, by a pin. Manny Hernandez lost to Ryan Kis by a pin. Thursday- At the opening day of the GHSA Traditional Wrestlng State Tournament the following Toombs County Bulldogs won their opening match- Tyler Hadden (pin), Mark Terrell (pin), Hakeem Mobley (pin), Kalin Willhite (pin), Xavier Horne (pin) and Kenneth McClendon (3-1). These Bulldogs lost their first match- Holden Plante (pin) Manny Hernandez (pin) and J.D. Rogers (default).

The Matdogs win the Region 2 Duals

Floridians take 1st annual Bulldog Duals

James Ethredge (red) is all tangled up with a Telfair Trojan

The team that traveled the furthest won the first annual Bulldog Duals at the TCMS gym. Lakewood High School, from Bradenton, Florida, went 9-1 with 56 pins and edged out Dublin for the top spot. South Effingham was third, Blessed Trinity fourth, Chesterfield, South Carolina fifth and the Toombs County Bulldogs were sixth with a 6-4 record. Watch some second day Bulldog action  Video

TCHS holiday sports

Hakeem Mobley grabs a leg & pins an East Laurens Falcon

Mark Terrell also pins a Falcon in a quick match

The Bulldog Duals wrapped up it's first day at the TCMS Gym and the host team went 2-3. The Bulldogs defeated East Laurens and Jeff Davis and they lost to Blessed Trinity, Lakewood, Florida and Dublin. Holden Plante and Hakeem Mobley were each 5-0 with four pins and Kalin Willhite and Tyler Hadden 5-0 with  three pins. Kenneth McClendon was 3-2 with two pins and J.D. Rogers 3-2 with one pin. Watch Highlights Video

'Tis the season for wrestling 

Hakeem Mobley graps a leg in a 6-3 win

TCMS wrestler forces the peace sign

The Toombs County wrestling teams opened up their home schedule versus Coffee County and Dublin. The Bulldogs improved their record to 9-2 in dual matches by beating Coffee 58-14 and Dublin 39-36. Watch highlights of TCHS wrestlers- Michael Drake, Kalin Willhite, J.D. Rogers, Kenneth McClendon, Holden Plante and Tyler Hadden and watch TCMS wrestler Jamar Smith Video

2009-10 Season

Area Champs- Hadden, Vasquez

Mobley and Willhite

Hakeem Mobley 140 pounds		Kalin Willhite 160 pounds

The Toombs County Bulldogs produced four area champs and finished third at the area traditional tournament at the TCMS Gym. Tyler Hadden, Johnathan Vasquez, Hakeem Mobley and Kalin Willhite all won individual titles. Mark Terrell and Mathew Powell were second and Dylan Rollins and Kenneth McClendon third. Watch McClendon, a first year wrestler, throw his opponent down and turn him with a power-half Video

Mobley wins Bulldog Sweet Onion title

Hakeem Mobley slips out of this hold and wins 12-9

Tombs County's Hakeem Mobley wrestled aggressively and effectively and defeated his opponent from Commerce 12-9 to win his weight class at the second annual Bulldog Sweet Onion Invitational at the Toombs County Middle School Gym. Tyler Hadden and Johnathan Vasquez finished second, Kalin Wilhite and Mark Terrell were third and Matthew Powell and Dylan Rollins were fourth. Watch Highlights Final Day  First Day

2008-09 Season

Two champs & 3rd place

Benton wins 4th title, Hawkins takes 2nd

Friday report Bryan Benton, Scottie Roach and Demery Hawkins will all three wrestle on Saturday night for individual state titles at the Gwinnett Center near Atlanta. Benton (135 pounds), who is trying to win his fourth state title, beat Austin Brooks of North Oconee 13-4 in a majority decision. Benton will meet Cam Thurmond of Jefferson for the title. Demery Hawkins (215 pounds) will go for his second state title after his 9-3 win over Banks County's Matthew Patton. Demery will wrestle Patrick Allen of Jefferson for the title. Scottie Roach at 171 pounds will be trying to win his first state title when he wrestles Jefferson's Zac Crosby. Scottie was a 3-1 winner in the semifinals over Jordan's Chris Caldwell. The finals begin on Saturday at 5 p.m. Three Bulldogs were defeated in the semifinals and will try to make it back through the consolations to wrestle for third place. At 103 pounds Tyler Hadden lost to Lovett's Rich Neihas 7-3. Freshman Kalin Wilhite (145 pounds) dropped a 7-2 decision to Lovett's Daniel Domanico and Neal Rodgers (286 pounds) lost to Cotton Reig of Riverside Military. Davey Parker lost in the second round of the consolation bracket. Jonathan Vasquez lost in the third round of the consolations 9-4 to Dustin Townsend of Sonoraville. The Bulldogs are in third place in Double A with 96.5 points. Jefferson is first with 188.5 points, Lovett is second with 126 and Henry County is 5.5 points behind the Bulldogs in fourth place. Earlier on Friday   For the first time in school history six Toombs County High School wrestlers have earned a birth in the semifinal round of the GHSA State Tournament. Bryan Benton, Kalin Willhite, Tyler Hadden, Scottie Roach, Demery Hawkins and Neal Rodgers all won in the quarterfinals. Jonathan Vasquez lost in the quarterfinals and Davey Parker, who lost in the round of 16, won his first match in the wrestle backs. Y-101 Story

Bulldogs are Area Champs again

Bryan Benton wins 135 pound Area 3 Title		Kalin Willhite pins opponent

The Toombs County Bulldogs added a traditional Area 3 championship to an Area Dual title that they won earlier in the season. The Bulldogs had six individual area champions- Tyler Hadden, Davey Parker, Bryan Benton, Kalin Willhite, Demery Hawkins and Neal Rodgers. Jonathan Vazquez, Triderek Hunt and Scottie Roach finished second and Hakeem Mobley was third. In all 12 Bulldogs will move on to sectionals. Watch highlights Video

Bryan breaks Bradley's record

and wins another Sweet Onion Title

The Bentons have set the wrestling standard at Toombs County High School. First it was Bradley who won 202 matches for the Bulldogs and won state titles. On Saturday, in the semifinals of the 140 pound division of the Sweet Onion Bulldog Invitational, Bryan beat Luis Verduzco 8-3 to win his 203rd match and break his brother's school record. Later in the day Bryan wrapped up another Sweet Onion title with a 3-2 overtime victory over South Effingham's Robbie Collum. Benton, a three-time state champ has won 95.3% of his matches and has 204 and 10 record with 126 pins. Bill Benton talks about both of his son's accomplishments Audio The Bulldogs finished third in the event behind first place Commerce and second place West Laurens. Toombs County's Jonathan Vazquez won the 125 pound division with a pin and Scottie Roach took the 171 pound weight class with a 5-3 win over West Lauren's Johnny Smith. Neal Rodgers lost in the 285 pound finals and Demery Hawkins defaulted in the 215 pound weight class due to an injury. Tyler Hadden (103 pounds) and Davey Parker (112 pounds) both finished third.

Bulldogs win Area Duals, down Irish 47-21

Lonzo Skinner		Bryan Benton		Dalton Parker		Kalin Willhite

Scottie Roach		Neal Rodgers		Johnathan Vazquez		Hakeem Mobley

The Toombs County High School wrestling team beat Dublin 47-21 to take the Area Dual title on Friday at the TCMS Gym. Y-101 Story Watch highlights of all the winning Bulldogs Part 1  Part 2	Hakeem Mobley, who Bryan Benton called Toombs County's most outstanding wrestler against Dublin, celebrates the Bulldogs' second Area Dual championship in the last three years.

Bulldogs wrestlers finish 2nd

The Toombs County wrestling team finished second at the Eastern Band Cherokee Invitational Duals in Cherokee, North Carolina. The Bulldogs, who went 5-0 in pool play on day one, were 2-2 in crossover action and they lost to two big schools from Georgia- Northwest Whitfield and Berkmar. Bryan went 9-0 and was named the most outstanding wrestler and Kalin Wilhite was also 9-0. Audio

Bulldogs wrestlers win WL Raider Invitational

Team Results Toombs          274.5 points Dublin                  268 points East Jackson    267.5 points West Laurens      223 points Chattooga        164.5 points	1st Place Scottie Roach      171 lbs Demery Hawkins  215 lbs        2nd Place Tyler Hadden       103 lbs Bryan Benton       145 lbs
3rd Place Jonathan Vazquez    125 lbs Kalin Willhite             152 lbs Neal Rodgers           275 lbs	4th Place Triderek Hunt       119 lbs Dalton Parker       140 lbs

The Toombs County Bulldog wrestling team finished first in their first event of the season. The Bulldogs, who placed third at last years Raider Invitational at West Laurens, won this years event by 6 1/2 points over arch-wrestling rival Dublin. Listen to Scottie Roach and Demery Hawkins talk about their individual wins at West Laurens Y-101 Story Tyler Hadden, Neal Rodgers, Kalin Willhite and Triderek Hunt talk about their high finishes Y-101 Story

College wrestlers teach tactics to local youth

Four instructors with college wrestling experience are working with local wrestlers at a camp at Toombs County Middle School. Witt Durden (pictured left), a Dublin native who wrestled at the University of Oklahoma and finished third at the NCAA Tournament, is working with the DiCarlo brothers and Bradley Benton, from Anderson University, to teach tactics to little kids in the morning and high school wrestlers in the afternoon. Y-101 Story  Watch action from the camp and an interview with Durden  Video

Benton wins his third state title

Benton controls title match

Bryan (red) on the podium

Wrestling video from the State Tourney 135 pound state championship match- Bryan Benton versus Wes Rampley Video 215 pound state championship match- Demery Hawkins versus Kelby Smith Video   Benton's first round match versus Lafayette's Seth Taylor, Bryan wins 11-4  Video

Toombs County High School junior wrestler Bryan Benton beat Wes Rampley of Armuchee 22-7 to win his third straight state championship. Benton, competing in the 135 pound division, finished the season with a 65-0 record and is 166-9 for his career. Demery Hawkins also wrestled for a state championship, but he lost to Wesleyan's Kelby Smith 9-7 in the title match. Hawkins, who won a state championship last season at 189 pounds, went 56-1 this season wrestling mostly in the 215 pound division. Triderek Hunt (112 pounds) lost to Ricky Chanel of Rockmart in the fifth place match. The Bulldogs finished in seventh place out of the 56 Double A teams participating. Y-101 Story

Seven Bulldog wrestlers qualify for state Demery Hawkins pins a Tiger Bulldogs with their 2nd place trophy  The Toombs County Bulldogs will send seven wrestlers to state next weekend after a second place finish in the Area 2AA Tournament at the Toombs County Middle School gym. The Bulldogs had two individual champions and both remained undefeated for the season. Bryan Benton took the 135 pound weight class and Demery Hawkins ruled at 215 pounds. Both won with quick first round pins. Tyler Hadden, Case Schofill, Triderek Hunt and Cedric Hilton each finished second and Jonathan Vasquez was third. Watch action of Benton, Hilton and Hawkins wrestling in the finals Video  Watch video of Benton and Hadden wrestling in the second round Video

Bulldogs 4th at Sweet Onion The Toombs County Bulldogs finished fourth at the Sweet Onion Invitational at Vidalia High. Bryan Benton won at 135 pounds and was voted the Most Outstanding Wrestler. Watch Demery Hawkins (pictured right) win at 215 pounds. Video

Bulldogs bring home Three Rivers trophy The Toombs County wrestling team traveled down to Baxley and beat Appling County 51-27 and Vidalia 51-18 to bring home the Three Rivers trophy. In the Appling victory TCHS won seven straight matches, including six by a pin. Y-101 Story

Bulldog wrestlers beat Treutlen and Fitzgerald Triderek Hunt  Bryan Benton  Jonathan Vasquez  Case Schofill  The Toombs County Bulldog wrestling team played host to Treutlen and Fitzgerald and beat both schools. Watch highlights of five matches  Video

Bulldog wrestlers finish first in Dublin The Toombs County wrestling team finished first in a one day tournament in Dublin. Bryan Benton went 3-0, on two pins and a technical decision, and was named the most outstanding wrestler. Demery Hawkins was 3-0 on three pins. Benton and Hawkins remain undefeated. Coach Kevin Hill talks to Y-101 about the results Audio

Bryan Benton beats LaFayette wrestler

Bulldogs split at State Dual   The Toombs County wrestling team lost its opening round match in the State Dual Meet in Macon 51-27 to LaFayette, the number one ranked Double A team. The Bulldogs will wrestle Cook County on Saturday. Coach Kevin Hill talks about day one of the tourney Audio  On Saturday the Bulldogs beat Cook County 37-31, however, the threat of bad weather ended the event early and the Bulldogs did not get to wrestle for third place. Coach Hill talks about Day 2 Audio  Hill was featured in the Macon Telegraph

2007 TCHS Wrestling Photo Gallery

Eastern Band Cherokee Invitational

Bulldogs finish 4th out of 14 teams

Demery Hawkins is the MVP

Viking Invitational

Swainsboro Tournament

Jonathan Vasquez, Case Schofill, Bryan Benton and Cedric Hilton	Left to right: Lawrence Bagley, Davey Parker, Trey Wingate, Gabriel Winston, Kalin Wilhite
Bryan Benton	Case Schofill