Brandon Hall News:
Brandon Hall Wrestler Captures State Title and Live Video
February 15, 2012
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Brandon Hall Junior, Beau Graydon, a Greenville, SC native finished a 1 loss season with a GISA State Champions Medal in hand. The road to the Championship saw Graydon pin 3 of his 4 opponents, including in the finals match, taking his season record to an impressive 23-1. The decisive bout for Beau came in the semi-finals where he faced 2-time State Champion Mitchell Ball of Bulloch Academy. Ball was the favorite to wrap up his 3rd State Title and came into the match having an undefeated record spanning over 2.5 years, including handing Graydon his only loss of the season at the Trinity Invitational Tournament. Ball pressed the early match action and scored the first two points with a takedown, but it would prove to be the only scoring Ball would do. Graydon rallied to score 3 unanswered points, the last a 5:55 escape that erupted the gymnasium and secured a 3-2 win and a spot in the Championship match. In the finals match Graydon faced Bryce Westmoreland, of Westfield, another first time finalist. The match would end when Graydon pinned Westmoreland while leading 9-2 early in third period.
Graydon enjoyed the normal time with friends and family post match but was soon pressed back into action as one of two Brandon Hall wrestlers responsible for providing a live feed of the finals matches. Graydon, on the right in the image, is joined by teammate Jimmy Wood. The two made sure that over 200 additional wrestling fans were able to watch the event live, a first in GISA wrestling and an initiative by Brandon Hall School to promote the sport of wrestling and give their athletes an opportunity to broaden their digital skill sets.
