CARROLLTON — Tift County wrestlers recently had the chance to learn from legends at a camp at the University of West Georgia.
Olympic gold medalist Cael Sanderson was lead instructor at Penn State’s wrestling camp. The Nittany Lions won the NCAA national championship in 2022. Sanderson, Penn State’s head coach, went undefeated as a collegiate wrestler, winning four national crowns and three Dan Hodge trophies. He won gold in the 2004 Olympics in freestyle wrestling.
Jake Varner and other Penn State individual national champions assisted. There were 325 wrestlers in attendance for four days. Those days began very early, with a 5:45 a.m. start.
Tift wrestlers fared well at West Georgia, showing that “wrestling in South Georgia is on the rise,” according to Coach Billy King. They competed in multiple camp challenges.
Tucker Lovett won the 120-130 challenge. Teammate Austin King was third in the tournament. Kellan Lukas earned second place in the 80-90 challenge.
Austin King finished first and Lovett was second in the Takedown Challenge.
Aiden Greer and Beau Bland also participated.
