MARIETTA - Pope put itself in good position to repeat as Area 6AAAAA's traditional wrestling champion Friday as the Greyhounds sat atop the team standings after the first day of competition at Kell.

Pope led the way with 61.5 points and placed 13 wrestlers in today's semifinals.

"That's as good as we can get," Pope coach Jim Haskin said. "We're looking good so far. We just have to keep the ball rolling."

Milton was second with 42 points, followed by host Kell (40), which placed seven of its wrestlers in the semis. Centennial (33), Lassiter (30), Alpharetta (28.5), Roswell (28), Wheeler (21.5), Walton (12) and Campbell (0) rounded out the team standings.

Lassiter qualified six for the semifinals, Wheeler had four and Walton had two.

Pope will have a strong presence in the semifinals with wrestlers in every weight class except 119 pounds.

Tucker Coltek qualified at 103, while the Greyhounds also have Brandon Savransky (171), Dexter Bushart (130), Brooks Climmons (145), Hudson Power (160), Phillip Montgomery (152), Aaron Griffin (189), Patrick Anthony (140), Ben Winiarczyk (135), Tommy Nickles (125), Charlie Farr (215), Thomas O'Reilly (285) and Cameron Munsey (112) moving on to the semis.

"The semis will tell the tale of this tournament," Haskin said. "Whoever controls the semifinals controls the tournament."

Kell will also be well-represented in the semifinals with Andrew Stringer (135), Steven Summey (119), Alec Stringer (125), Michael Abraham (189), Paul Amend (171), Matt McCrory (152) and Yousef Ali (160).

Lassiter's semifinalists were Acton Pifer (130), Dillon Dupree (171), Paul Pelletier (103), Scott Marmoll (140), Cedric Stadom (275) and Brian Dopson (189).

Wheeler will be represented in the semis by Anthony Wells (275), Peter Moot (160), Sam Izadi (215) and Tony Bailey (135).

Brad Noble (275) and Mitchell Lax (112) will lead the way for Walton.

The semifinals will be held today right after the conclusion of the first round of consolation action, which starts at 9 a.m. The finals will take place in the afternoon.

The winner, runner-up and top four consolation-round finishers in each of the 14 weight classes will earn spots in next week's state sectional at Tift County High School in Tifton.