Troup’s Michael Mackfield will have one goal in mind when he takes the mat today for the start of the state wrestling tournament, and that’s to be the last man standing.

The objective, Mackfield said on the eve of state, is “to win the whole thing.”

To do that, Mackfield will have to beat the best of the best.

Mackfield, a senior, will be one of 16 wrestlers in Class AAAA competing in the 195-pound weight class.

Mackfield punched his ticket to the state finals by finishing third in the 16-man west sectional last weekend in Pickens County.

Also making it through to the state finals for Troup are 106-pounder Cameron Cato, and 132-pounder Adam Love.

The tournament will run today through Saturday at the Macon Coliseum.

Mackfield is competing at state for the second time, and he said he feels a lot more at home this time around.

“I’m more comfortable,” Mackfield said. “Last year, I was so nervous. This year, I’m feeling much better. I know more, and I should do more.”

As good as Mackfield has been this season, he believes he has another level or two he can reach.

“I’m almost at my top, but I’m not there yet,” he said. “I still have things I can do (better).”

Cato, a sophomore, is happy to be here after missing the end of last season with a shoulder injury.

Although the shoulder injury has flared up again of late, Cato said he’s good to go for the state finals after finishing eighth at the state sectional.

“I’m feeling really confident,” Cato said. “The coaches have supported me the whole way, and they’re still behind our backs supporting us.”

Cato said having success at the sectional against some of the state’s elite wrestlers has given him positive feelings heading to Macon.

“It’ll give me a lot of confidence knowing that I can win at state,” Cato said. “I’m pretty pumped up and excited to go.”

Love, a junior, has had a terrific season, but he figures the matches that really matter are still to come.

“It’s been a good season, but all of that was practice up until now,” Love said.

Love said it’s critical to get off to a good start.

If a wrestler loses his first match, he can’t win the state title, and earning a place on the podium by finishing in the top six becomes difficult as well.

“The first match will make or break you,” Love said. “You lose the first match, you have to wrestle a lot more just to place.”