The Coaches
Social Circle High School wrestling — a staff of former head coaches behind Georgia's #1 program
Head Coach: Randy Prater
Randy Prater is in his 20th season at the helm of the Social Circle Redskins (2007–08 to 2026–27). Every one of the program's 17 GHSA team state titles has come in the Prater era: 8 duals championships (2026, 2025, 2024, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015) and 9 traditional championships (2026, 2025, 2024, 2023, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015) — including five straight duals/traditional doubles from 2015–2019 and another three straight from 2024–2026.
He was named NWCA Georgia Coach of the Year for the 2014–15 season, after the program's first AA duals/traditional double.
"Our goal is for no kid to have a perfect record by the end of the season by the time we get to state... We want every kid to get beat... we want to see how they can respond after a loss."— Randy Prater, Walton Tribune, January 2018
Assistant Coaches
Prater's staff is built from former head coaches — the group (excluding Prater) was named the 2024 NWCA Georgia Assistant Coaching Staff of the Year.
Todd Cheney
Hartland (MI) head coach 1992–2021 — 29 seasons, 810-113-2, 2016 Michigan D1 state title. Social Circle assistant since 2022; MWA Hall of Fame 2026; NWHOF Michigan Chapter 2024. Full bio →
Nate Ethridge
Michigan native; 18-year head coach at Chippewa Hills HS (500+ dual wins, NWCA Michigan Coach of the Year 2016–17); revived Collins Hill (GA) before Prater recruited him ~2022. Credited alongside Cheney for returning the program "to the top."
Roger Strom
Former Loganville coach; on the Social Circle staff since at least 2016, coaching alongside Prater for a decade.
Robert Cline
Volunteer offseason and club coach since 2013; works through Circle Training Center and the Backyard Brawlers.
Emery Cline
Co-directs the USA Wrestling and AAU youth programs with Robert Cline — the program's feeder pipeline.
Charles Reynolds
Leads middle school development — building the next wave of Redskin wrestlers.
Program Standing
State titles, year by year
- 2026 — Traditional + Duals champions (A; duals final 56–13 over Elbert County)
- 2025 — Traditional + Duals champions (1A)
- 2024 — Traditional + Duals champions (1A)
- 2023 — Traditional champions (1A); Duals runner-up
- 2019 — Traditional + Duals champions (A)
- 2018 — Traditional + Duals champions (AA)
- 2017 — Traditional + Duals champions (AA)
- 2016 — Traditional + Duals champions (AA)
- 2015 — Traditional + Duals champions (Class AA; first duals title in program history)
Individually, the 2026–27 roster features three of Georgia's top-ranked seniors — James Sievers (#2, NDSU commit), Cohen Hargrove (#5), and Gable Hargrove (#7) on the Georgia Grappler Class of 2027 Big Board — and Sievers earned honorable mention in Sports Illustrated's national boys rankings (Oct 2026).
Football Program Ledger
- 1984 — Varsity football begins at Social Circle
- 2014 — On-campus stadium opens (August), after 30 years at Stephens Park
- 2022 — First playoff win in program history: 10–7 OT over Whitefield Academy (8–4 season)
- 2024 — First verified region crown
- Patton era — Rob Patton's tenure is the most successful stretch found: 8–4 in 2022, 2024 region champions, a 2025 Round 2 trip, 5–1 to open 2026
Sources: Walton Tribune · MaxPreps · Georgia High School Football Daily. No state-title, runner-up, or semifinal appearance was found.
In the Press
For the full press archive — every article about the program, the coaches, and the titles — see the Press page.
- "Total Package" — The Newton Community Magazine, Fall 2025 (dynasty feature: Prater, Cheney, staff, title history)
- Social Circle defends at GHSA Traditional Championships — Score Atlanta, Feb 2026
- 2026 GHSA Traditional Wrestling State Champions — GHSA.net, Feb 2026
- Social Circle Wrestling Adapts as GHSA Changes Classifications Again — Grady Newsource (UGA), Dec 2025
- Redskins win Walton Duals — Walton Tribune, Dec 2025
- 8 Takeaways as Georgia Shines at GFC — Georgia Grappler, Sept 2026
- Georgia high school wrestling championships: schedule & streams — Sporting News, Jan 2026
- GHSA announces reclassification assignments — Walton Tribune, Oct 2026
- Three teams defend titles at GHSA traditional championships — Score Atlanta, Feb 2024
- SCHS wins traditional state title — Walton Tribune, 2023
Sources
GHSA.net · Walton Tribune · Score Atlanta · The Newton Community Magazine · Georgia Grappler · Grady Newsource (UGA) · Sporting News · SEWrestle · High School Sports Scene · National Wrestling Hall of Fame