The storied Jefferson High wrestling team, which is the defending traditional and dual state champions in Class AA since 2002, doesn't consistently win state titles by taking on a soft schedule.
Despite having some of the state's best wrestling talent, Dragons coach Doug Thurmond doesn't expect to have any undefeated wrestlers after the trip to Rochester, Minn. for the two-day Clash National Duals Tournament on Dec. 30-31.
It's not because this team doesn't have wrestlers capable of competing for a state title, it's that Thurmond's team spends its regular season testing itself against top teams from around the country.
"We've got to get them some tough competition," Thurmond said Wednesday while heading to Pigeon Forge, Tenn. for the Southern Duals.
Before Tennessee they were in North Carolina for the WRAL Invitational.
Not only does the team fare well against nationwide competition, Jefferson is also dominant in the state: The Dragons are 8-0 this season in dual meets.
Currently defending state champion Forrest Przybysz is Jefferson's lone undefeated wrestler. Whether he stays undefeated after yet another tough tournament, Przybysz and the rest of the Dragons will be well prepared for the postseason tournaments in the new year.
SHOOTOUT AT LANIERLAND: At the end of East Hall's 101-97 win over Chestatee on Monday in the first round of the Lanierland tournament, Vikings Joe Dix said that, had his team shot their free throws well, something that has plagued them this season, the 2010 tournament champs should have scored more.
Even so, it was the highest total scored, and the first time the Vikings had surpassed 100 points scored, since a 109-62 win over White County during the 2006-2007 season, which ended in a state championship loss.
Not surprisingly, five players scored in double figures for East Hall on Monday.
Four War Eagles players scored in double figures.
JOHNSON'S HOLLIS OUT: Knights guard Matt Hollis suffered a meniscus tear in his knee during the Lanierland Tournament this week and will miss 2-4 weeks following surgery.
It will certainly have an effect on the season, but the Knights displayed Wednesday that they are still a tough team to beat as they held off a high-flying Chestatee team 83-73 in the consolation bracket.
RICH GET RICHER: In each Lanierland championship game Thursday night, the most successful boys and girls programs throughout the history of the tournament met.
On the boys side East Hall (23 titles) and Gainesville (17) had combined for a whopping 40 of 51 Lanierland titles. Thursday night at Johnson High the Gainesville boys won their 18th.
And on the girls side, while not quite as extreme, East Hall (16) and North Hall (11) met. The Lady Vikings won Thursday night for their 17th title.
In other words, history has once again repeated itself at Hall County's premier basketball tournament.