Sophomore Tiger wrestler Gavin Brown captured a second place finish Saturday during the State Traditional Wrestling Tournament in Macon.

Brown (182-pounds) lost in the finals to Chip Ness from Buford High School.

In his first match of the tournament, Brown defeated Hayden Dillbeck from Banks County, 3-2. In the next round Gavin pinned Austin Ross from Morgan County to reach the final match.

Brown had a great season and finished with a 53-2 record.

"I am excited about the career Gavin has in front of him," said coach Arron Haynes. "To have the season he had as a sophomore ... is outstanding and hopefully a preview of things to come."

Wrestling in his final tournament in high school, senior Evan Kells also had an impressive showing at state.

Kells wrestles in the 170-pound weight class. Kells picked up a fourth place finish for the Tigers.

Kells lost the opening match to Dalvon Ledford from Jackson High School. Ledford went on to win the state championship.

Kells then bounced back to defeat Dalvin Lott from Swainsboro and Fredrick Armstrong from McNair before losing to eventual third-place finisher Gerry Vessel from Cartersville.

Kells finished the season with a 51-7 record.

Keaton Toal and Harley Vaughn also wrestled at the state meet.

Toal (195-pounds) lost both matches to Andrew Posten from White County and Nate Long from Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe.

Long finished with a third place medal.

Posten was fourth in the weight class.

Toal finished the season with a 26-6 record.

Vaughn (285-pounds) was eliminated from the tournament following a tough loss to Ken Allen from Elbert County by a 5-3 decision.

Vaughn lost his first round match to Billy Seward from Oconee County.

Vaughn completed the season with a 24-11 record.

Dawson County compiled 27 team points to finish 14th in the state. Woodward Academy captured the state championship with 138 points. Oconee County finished second, followed by Banks County and Buford.