Every high school sports program in Georgia sets high standards, but only a handful can ever meet them.
    Even fewer exceed them.
    Bulloch Academy’s wrestling team could stand alone in the realm of the GISA this weekend if they can capture their third consecutive state championship. But winning the state title isn’t good enough for the Gators because those expectations have become the norm at Bulloch Academy.
    They’re not going to Americus just to win state, they’re going to try and dominate.
    “Our goal now is to go 14 of 14 in the individual titles,” said head coach Andy Tomlin. “That’s the highest standard we can meet, and it’s something I believe is realistic for this program.”
    Having an entire team sweep at the state championships seems like an absurd benchmark to set, but when you’ve been to state and won twice in a row there has to be something else to chase. The last thing a team can do in Bulloch Academy’s situation is get complacent.  
    Alabama head football coach Nick Saban says, “complacency creates a blatant disregard for doing the right things or continuing to do the things that you’ve always done to help you be successful.” It rings true for any program who deals with the level of success like Alabama or BA, and their wrestlers know it too.
    “This is the most prepared we’ve ever been,” said senior Tyce Lovett. “I don’t think as a team, since I’ve been here at least, we’ve been more prepared for an event.”
    BA finished the season undefeated in dual meets at 21-0 and never lost a GISA sanctioned event. Their win at the Trinity Invitational — by far the most prestigious GISA wrestling event — was by a ridiculous 220-point margin. When you’re that far ahead of the game, you’ve got to get creative on how to make things seem competitive.
    “It’s become BA versus the rest of the GISA for us,” Tomlin said. “That’s what happens when you establish yourself as the best.”
    It’s true that BA has the target on their backs everywhere they go, even at GHSA events. The Gators have taken on an almost villainous role within their ranks — akin to the Miami Heat of Lebron, Wade and Bosh — and are actively rooted against when they travel to other venues.
    Large crowds will erupt upon a Gator defeat, and will steadily get louder if a BA wrestler is turned on his back or is losing while the clock is running down. It’s a role the team has come to own and uses it as fuel for any of their road trips.
    “Everywhere we go folks seem to want to pull against us,” said senior Garrett Williams. “It makes us thankful for the support we get from around the community and for the folks who come out and pull for us.”
    If the Miami Heat’s aforementioned big three was Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron James — then Williams, Lovett and fellow senior GC Kimbrell parallel as BA’s big three. All three are fresh of winning region titles — for Kimbrell, this was his fifth in a row — and will be heavy favorites to win their respective weight classes at state this weekend.
    Lovett and Kimbrell each already have one individual title from their sophomore seasons, while Williams has been the runner up two years in a row. The trio of seniors have been the backbone of the Gator team all season, and by Tomlin’s estimation you’ll be hard pressed to find better ones anywhere else.
    “I’m going to have a real hard time letting those three go,” Tomlin said. “I’ve known them since they were just little kids when they got started in this program, and it’s already been emotional today knowing it was their last practice.”
    Tomlin has made it a point that senior leadership defines each and every one of his teams. The better and more disciplined the seniors are, the better the team.
    “They really have set the tone this year for us,” Tomlin said. “We knew we were going to go as far as those two would take us, which had us feeling confident from the get-go this season.”
    Kimbrell (285 pounds), Lovett (220) and Williams (182) are just three of the weight classes BA seemingly has locked up at state. Seth Conner (195), Kyle Samuels (132), Jake Nelson (152), Lawson Anderson (145), Billy Tillman (160) and Wilson Joiner (171) are all heavy favorites to win the individual state titles.
    All nine of the aforementioned wrestlers won first at the Trinity Tournament, meaning they should all have a clear path to state titles as well. And while that’s not necessarily 14 for 14, it’s a good place to start from.
    “We already know we’re going up there to win, but the goal is to dominate,” Kimbrell said. “Simply winning is behind us now.”
    If the Gators win it all once more, they’d be the only sports program in Bulloch County or even the surrounding area to win three state titles in a row. The conquest begins this afternoon at Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus at 1 p.m.
    The championships continue Saturday at 9 a.m. and should conclude in the late afternoon.