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Tide girls wrestling team takes runner-up at state duals
Long County girls wrestling
The Lady Tide wrestling team celebrates with their runner-up trophy. On the front row, left to right, are Madison Spurgeon, Aaralyn Ruise, Shelby Hoard, and Bella Gardner; middle row, ssistant coach Jenny Fulton, Daisy Ortiz, Janiya Williams, Aleena Clark, Hayley Jones, Evelyn Walters, Caileigh Hughes; and head coach Kristy Versprille; back row, Kaiyah Wilson, Tymiah Powell, Allison Otero, Ansleigh Benton, Jaylah Davis, and Mackenzie Spurgeon.

DAHLONEGA - The Long County Lady Blue Tide wrestling team made history this past weekend as they competed in the GHSA Division 2 state wrestling duals at Lumpkin County High School. The Tide became the first girls team to compete in a state finals match as they finished as the state runners-up.

The state duals tournament was moved up from Saturday to Friday due to threats of the winter storm in north Georgia, but the Lady Tide did not let that bother them.

The Lady Tide dominated the first two rounds of the tournament, beating Jefferson 52-18 and then Pierce County 53-29 to earn a spot in the state finals match against host Lumpkin County.

It was going to be a tall task to get past the Indians, especially after the Tide faced them earlier in the season and won only one match against them. The Indians also came into the tournament as the defending state champions.

Things got off to a great start for the Tide as they took an early 17-6 lead with pinfall victories by Tymiah Powell in the third round and Hayley Jones in the second and a tech fall victory by Aleena Clark in the third.

However, the Indians proceeded to win eight of the next nine matches by first round pin and another by forfeit to take the 66-17 victory over the Lady Tide.

With this appearance in the state finals match, the Lady Tide make history in a number of ways.

They are the first Blue Tide girls team to compete in a state finals match, the first Blue Tide team to compete in a state finals game since 1961, and the first Blue Tide team to compete in a state finals match since the school became Long County High School in 1970.

Ludowici High School won a boys state basketball title in 1961.

The Lady Tide focus for the rest of this season will shift to the traditionals tournament in February.