CARROLLTON, GA — The Carrollton Lady Trojans Wrestling Team is once again the GHSA State Team Dual Champions after defeating Greenbrier 49-27 on Saturday, etching their names deeper into state wrestling history.

The second-seeded Lady Trojans started their march to the finals on Friday afternoon with a dominant 72-12 win over Meadowcreek in round one. In round two, they faced a tough Gainesville program, initially tied 24-24 after eight matches. However, the Lady Trojans rallied with four consecutive pin victories and clinched a 54-30 victory over the Red Elephants, securing their spot in the finals.

In a semifinal rematch against Gilmer County, the Trojans, who recently faced them in their home invitational, engaged in a tight battle through eight matches, trailing 24-21. Junior Bailey Moore and senior Maggie Dudley swiftly reversed the situation, securing the next two matches by pin, pushing the team score to 33-24. Despite a controversial match that earned Gilmer six points, Junior Johana Mejia's quick pin extended the Trojans lead to 39-30. Following a three-point win by Gilmer, freshman Sierha Lopes sealed the deal with a pin, propelling the Lady Trojans to the championship match with a 45-33 victory over Gilmer County.

In the championship round, the Trojans' wish came true as they faced Greenbrier, setting up an exciting rematch. In December, at the Greenbrier Invitational, both teams tied 42-42 after all matches were wrestled, with Greenbrier securing the win on tiebreaker criteria. This final showdown was eagerly awaited by the entire wrestling community.

Hailey Lussier's quick pin gave the Trojans a 6-0 lead. Despite Greenbrier’s pin and decision win, Gabby Carnes leveled the match at 9-9 with a decision victory. The Wolfpack gained momentum, winning two of the next three matches by pin, extending the score to 21-15 after seven matches. Senior Bella Moore's pin in match six kept the Trojans within striking distance. With seven matches remaining, junior Bailey Moore secured a major decision, cutting the Wolfpack lead to 21-19. The Trojans then surged ahead with three consecutive pins by Maggie Dudley, Madison Cooley, and Johana Mejia, grabbing the lead at 37-21. Freshman Sierha Lopes clinched the championship with a pin in match 13, and Greenbrier forfeited the final match, resulting in the Trojans' decisive 49-27 victory.

The Lady Trojans defeated three out of the top four team finishers in the tournament to become the 16th team in GHSA wrestling history to win back-to-back team dual championships.

Head Coach Allen Newton said the team’s hard work and dedication earned them their second straight championship.

“I am so proud of our team and coaching staff,” Newton said. “They’ve had a target on their backs after winning last year, and our message all year has been ‘pressure is a privilege.’ The girls kept working each day to be their best, and it paid off in the end.”

Coach Newton praised the UWG Coliseum as a fantastic venue and appreciated the strong support from Trojan Nation.

"I'm grateful to the entire Trojan Nation and community for their support," Newton expressed. "The loud cheering gave our girls extra energy on the mat. Special thanks to parents, teachers, students, Coach Nick White, the boys' wrestling team, volunteers, and Coliseum staff for their hard work in making this tournament a success. We're one big family, and I'm thankful to be part of it."

“I am so proud of these girls,” said CHS Athletic Director Paul Fitz-Simons. “They have worked incredibly hard all season long, and this championship win reflects that. We are also thankful to the University of West Georgia and the Coliseum staff for providing a first-class venue and experience for the meet.”

The Lady Trojans will move on to the traditional wrestling season, which begins this Friday as they travel to Columbus High School for the Area tournament. 

The Carrollton Lady Trojans Wrestling Team is once again the GHSA State Team Dual Champions after defeating Greenbrier 49-27 on Saturday, etching their names deeper into state wrestling history.
 

Senior Maggie Dudley went 4-0 on the weekend, including a pin in the Championship match against Greenbrier.

Sophomore Madison Cooley takes down her opponent in the championship match, helping the Trojans win a state championship.