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Bryan Benton Archive
College wrestlers teach tactics to local youth
| Four instructors with college wrestling experience are working with local wrestlers at a camp at Toombs County Middle School. Witt Durden (pictured left), a Dublin native who wrestled at the University of Oklahoma and finished third at the NCAA Tournament, is working with the DiCarlo brothers and Bradley Benton, from Anderson University, to teach tactics to little kids in the morning and high school wrestlers in the afternoon. Y-101 Story Watch action from the camp and an interview with Durden Video |
Benton wins his third state title
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Benton controls title match |

Bryan (red) on the podium |
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Wrestling video from the State Tourney
135 pound state championship match- Bryan Benton versus Wes Rampley Video
215 pound state championship match- Demery Hawkins versus Kelby Smith Video
Benton's first round match versus Lafayette's Seth Taylor, Bryan wins 11-4 Video |
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Toombs County High School junior wrestler Bryan Benton beat Wes Rampley of Armuchee 22-7 to win his third straight state championship. Benton, competing in the 135 pound division, finished the season with a 65-0 record and is 166-9 for his career. Demery Hawkins also wrestled for a state championship, but he lost to Wesleyan's Kelby Smith 9-7 in the title match. Hawkins, who won a state championship last season at 189 pounds, went 56-1 this season wrestling mostly in the 215 pound division. Triderek Hunt (112 pounds) lost to Ricky Chanel of Rockmart in the fifth place match. The Bulldogs finished in seventh place out of the 56 Double A teams participating. Y-101 Story |
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Seven Bulldog wrestlers qualify for state
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Demery Hawkins pins a Tiger |

Bulldogs with their 2nd place trophy |
The Toombs County Bulldogs will send seven wrestlers to state next weekend after a second place finish in the Area 2AA Tournament at the Toombs County Middle School gym. The Bulldogs had two individual champions and both remained undefeated for the season. Bryan Benton took the 135 pound weight class and Demery Hawkins ruled at 215 pounds. Both won with quick first round pins. Tyler Hadden, Case Schofill, Triderek Hunt and Cedric Hilton each finished second and Jonathan Vasquez was third. Watch action of Benton, Hilton and Hawkins wrestling in the finals Video Watch video of Benton and Hadden wrestling in the second round Video |
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Bulldogs 4th at Sweet Onion
The Toombs County Bulldogs finished fourth at the Sweet Onion Invitational at Vidalia High. Bryan Benton won at 135 pounds and was voted the Most Outstanding Wrestler. Watch Demery Hawkins (pictured right) win at 215 pounds. Video |
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Bulldogs bring home Three Rivers trophy
The Toombs County wrestling team traveled down to Baxley and beat Appling County 51-27 and Vidalia 51-18 to bring home the Three Rivers trophy. In the Appling victory TCHS won seven straight matches, including six by a pin. Y-101 Story |
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Bulldog wrestlers beat Treutlen and Fitzgerald
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Triderek Hunt |

Bryan Benton |

Jonathan Vasquez |

Case Schofill |
The Toombs County Bulldog wrestling team played host to Treutlen and Fitzgerald and beat both schools. Watch highlights of five matches Video |
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Bulldog wrestlers finish first in Dublin
The Toombs County wrestling team finished first in a one day tournament in Dublin. Bryan Benton went 3-0, on two pins and a technical decision, and was named the most outstanding wrestler. Demery Hawkins was 3-0 on three pins. Benton and Hawkins remain undefeated. Coach Kevin Hill talks to Y-101 about the results Audio |
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Bryan Benton beats LaFayette wrestler |
Bulldogs split at State Dual
The Toombs County wrestling team lost its opening round match in the State Dual Meet in Macon 51-27 to LaFayette, the number one ranked Double A team. The Bulldogs will wrestle Cook County on Saturday. Coach Kevin Hill talks about day one of the tourney Audio On Saturday the Bulldogs beat Cook County 37-31, however, the threat of bad weather ended the event early and the Bulldogs did not get to wrestle for third place. Coach Hill talks about Day 2 Audio Hill was featured in the Macon Telegraph |
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Bulldogs qualify for state by finishing second in area duals
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Bryan Benton |
Demery Hawkins |
Vince Jones |
Case Schofill |
The Toombs County wrestling team is going back to the state dual tournament after finishing second in the area duals held in the Toombs County Middle School gym. The Bulldogs beat Pierce County, Washington-Wilkes and Appling County easily and then they wrestled Dublin for the area title. The Irish pulled out a 36-30 decision over the Bulldogs, avenging a loss to TCHS in last season's area championship match. Watch highlights of the title match Video 1 Video 2
TCHS vs. Pierce County Video |
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Bulldog wrestlers exceed goal by finishing 8th in Valdosta
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Demery Hawkins (left) and Bryan Benton (above) are winners |
The Toombs County wrestling team had a goal of a top 10 finish at the Wildcat Invitational in Valdosta. The Bulldogs exceeded that goal with an eighth place finish and they were the highest placing small school in the 23 team event. Seven Bulldogs scored points as TCHS won 19 of 29 matches. Bryan Benton won the 135 pound division with a 6-4 win over Stewert Drew of Coffee and Demery Hawkins pinned all four of his opponents in taking the 215 pound weight class. Benton is 38-0 and Hawkins 34-0. Coach Kevin Hill discusses the event. Audio |
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Bulldog wrestlers finish 4th in North Carolina
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Bulldogs finish 4th |

Demery Hawkins is the MVP |
The Toombs County wrestling team finished fourth out of 14 teams at a dual event in Cherokee, North Carolina. The Bulldogs won seven or their 10 matches and Demery Hawkins and Bryan Benton each went 10-0. Hawkins was named the tournament's MVP.
The Bulldog wrestlers went 4-1 in Friday’s action. The Dogs defeated Hayesville, NC (AA) 43-36 in the first round of the tournament. Toombs County faced Pisgah, NC (AAA) in the second round and won 39-33. Round three pitted the Dogs against NW Whitfield #2, GA (AAAA) and the Dogs cruised to a 50-12 victory. Toombs County defeated North Henderson, NC (AAA) 45-33 in round four. NW Whitfield #1 gave the Dogs their first loss of the tournament in round five 53-19.
Toombs County went 3-2 on Saturday to capture fourth place. Toombs County got the day off to a good start by defeating Swain, NC (AA) 60-18. The Toombs wrestlers wrestled their best dual of the tournament in Round two on Saturday and defeated Dobyns-Bennett, TN (AAA) 42-33. The Toombs wrestlers secured a trip to the medal round by defeating Cherokee, NC (AA) 48-34. The Dogs lost to Enka, NC (AAA) 56-24 and Greenville, TN (AAA) 62-15 to take fourth place.
Leading wrestlers for the Bulldogs were: Bryan Benton 10-0, Demery Hawkins 10-0, Triderek Hunt 8-2, George Dykes 8-2, Cedric Hilton 6-4, Stacy Cheshire 5-3, Jonathan Vazquez 5-5, Lawrence Bagley 5-5, Hakeem Mobley 4-6, Tyler Hadden 4-6, Josh Allen and Vince Jones also had wins for Toombs County. Coach Kevin Hill talks about the event Audio |
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Bulldog wrestlers split against tough competition
The Toombs County wrestling team split a pair of home matches against two tough opponents. The Bulldogs beat Cook County 39-34 and lost to West Laurens, the defending Triple A state champion, 42-36. The Bulldogs, who were missing four starters, got key victories against Cook County from Bryan Benton (6-4 victory over Jernardo Harris) and Lawrence Bagley, Stacy Chesire, Triderek Hunt, and Demery Hawkins, who all won by a pin. Against West Laurens Hunt, Benton, Hawkins, Cedric Hilton, Tyler Hadden and Vince Jones all won with pins. Watch the Bulldogs wrestle West Laurens Video Y-101 Audio Story Coach Kevin Hill talks about the split Audio |
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Bulldogs win Viking Invitational
The Toombs County high School wrestling team finished first in the Viking Invitational in Soperton and three Bulldogs were individual winners. Bryan Benton, Demery Hawkins and Lawrence Bagley each won their division. Y-101 Audio Story |
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Toombs County wrestlers sweep first home event
The Toombs County High School and Middle School each beat Swainsboro and Vidalia in the first home action of the season. The Bulldogs beat Swainsboro 51-30 and then edged rival Vidalia 39-33. The Bulldogs trailed the Indians by six points going to the 215 pound class. Demery Hawkins pinned his opponent to tie the match and then first year senior wrestler Vince Jones won it with a first round pin in the heavyweight division. The Bullpups won easily in their two matches and you can watch some of the action from the Swainsboro matchup on Toombs Now. Video |
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TCHS finishes 3rd as Benton and Hawkins win easily
The Toombs County High School wrestling team placed third at the Raider Invitational behind 5A South Cobb and the host school, 3A West Laurens. Bryan Benton dropped down a weight class and won the 140 pound division by pinning five of his seven opponents. Demery Hawkins claimed the 215 pound division with seven pins. Hawkins was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler in the higher weight classes. Cedric Hilton finished second at 189 pounds and Tyler Hadden and Case Schofill placed third. Y-101 Audio Story |
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TCHS wrestlers open up their season
Toombs County High School opened its wrestling season by finishing fourth in a tournament in Swainsboro. The Bulldogs, who were missing defending state champ Demery Hawkins, were the highest finishing Double A school in the 14 team event. Bryan Benton and Case Schofill each won their weight divisions. Y-101 Audio Story
Toombs County split a pair of matches in Dublin. The Bulldogs beat Dublin 54-29 and they lost to Effingham County 38-36. Coach Kevin Hill talks about the start of the season. Audio |
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Wrestling season is here
The Toombs County High School wrestling team, coming off a fourth place finish in the state in both the duals and traditional, returns two state champs from last season. Bryan Benton, a two time state champion, and Demery Hawkins, the state champ at 189 pounds, are back along with several other Bulldog wrestlers who did well at state last season. Watch the Bulldogs practice. Video TCHS wrestlers talk Audio |
2007 TCHS Wrestling Photo Gallery
Eastern Band Cherokee Invitational
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Bulldogs finish 4th out of 14 teams |
Demery Hawkins is the MVP |
Viking Invitational
Swainsboro Tournament
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Jonathan Vasquez, Case Schofill, Bryan Benton and Cedric Hilton |

Left to right: Lawrence Bagley, Davey Parker, Trey Wingate, Gabriel Winston, Kalin Wilhite
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Bryan Benton |

Case Schofill |
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