By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

They’re almost to the finish line.

The state finals will be held in Macon from Wednesday to Saturday, and 16 local wrestlers have made it to the big stage.

The top six wrestlers in each weight class will earn a spot on the podium at the state finals and return home with a medal.

To reach the finals, the wrestlers first had to make it through the state sectionals.

While the LaGrange and Troup wrestlers were at West Laurens High for a Class AAAA sectional, Callaway was at Bremen for a Class AA sectional.

Five members of the Troup wrestling team earned a spot in the state finals by placing eighth or higher in the sectional.

Included in that group were two wrestlers, Darious Hanson and Pearson Strickland, who won their weight classes.

Hanson won the 132-pound weight class, and he’ll carry a 42-2 record into the state finals.

Strickland took the top spot at 126 pounds, and he’s 40-3 heading to state.

Also for Troup, Colby Harry finished second at 285 pounds to qualify for state and improved to 26-3.

Hanson, Strickland and Harry all placed at state last season.

Riley Bowles finished seventh at 220 pounds to advance, and Dylan Hayes was eighth at 120 pounds.

Kullum Irvin and Javontae Parham both won matches at the state sectional, but they didn’t finish in the top eight.

LaGrange will have five participants in the state finals.

Matt Callaway, who placed at state last season, finished sixth at 132 pounds.

Also finishing sixth for LaGrange was freshman Isaiah Coleman at 106 pounds.

Hunter Brooks (120 pounds) and Colin Cavender (138 pounds) and Charles Ray (285 pounds) placed seventh.

Jacob Anderson (145 pounds), Colton Clines (160 pounds) and RJ Haley (195 pounds) were ninth, and they’ll be state alternates.

Austin Skiff (113 pounds), Joseph Bozeman (182 pounds) and Christian Whaley (220 pounds) won matches and placed 10th.

Callaway had nine wrestlers at the Class AA state sectional, and six of them qualified for the state finals.

The wrestlers had to place sixth or higher in Class AA to advance to the state finals.

Callaway’s top finisher was Anthony Elliott (182 pounds), who improved to 29-7 on the season with a third-place finish.

LaQuize Gilbert (160 pounds) was fourth at 160 pounds, and he’ll carry a 31-7 record to state.

Also finishing fourth was Ladarious Williams (126 pounds), and Korbin Browning (120 pounds), Jakwon Nunley (132 pounds) and Lathan Patterson (285 pounds) were sixth.

Cameron Key (106 pounds) and Curmondre Bray (170) pounds were seventh, and they’ll be state alternates.

Jared Nation (195 pounds) also compete in Bremen.