Seniors Ben Reynolds and Hunter Bulger will be representing the Bainbridge High School Bearcats wrestling team Thursday in the state Class AAAA tournament at the Gwinnett County Civic Center.

Both earned their way to state with impressive performances at last Friday and Saturday’s Sectional Tournament at Upson-Lee High School in Thomaston.

The top eight wrestlers in each weight division advanced to state.

Reynolds, who won four of six matches, pinned his Thomas County Central High School opponent in his final match. He finished seventh in the 285-pound heavyweight division, and Bulger, who wrestles in the 140-pound weight division, defeated a Jones County High School opponent by points in his final match to earn an alternate spot at state.

In addition to his win by pin, Reynolds had two wins by points and one by forfeit. He lost one match on points and one by pin.

Bearcats coach David Kirkland praised Reynolds, Bulger and his other three senior wrestlers, 152-pound Gustavo Estala, 145-pound Curtis Anderson and 171-pound Raul Juarez for their leadership.

“We got a lot of leadership from our seniors this season,” Kirkland said. “They were always ready to go to work.”

Reynolds qualified for Sectionals with a strong second-place performance at the Region 1AAAA Tournament held on Feb. 7 at Lee County High School in Leesburg. He defeated Thomas County Central and Jones County high schools opponents by pin.