Annual fundraising raffle begins
The Tigers are currently raising funds via their annual raffle featuring a $400 gift certificate to Appalachian Armory.
Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased from any high school wrestler or coach with all proceeds going directly to the Dawson County wrestling program.
The drawing will be held during lunch on the second day of the Amicalola Classic on Dec. 29.
Winners must be over the age of 18 but do not need to be present to win the prize.
The Dawson County Tigers wrestling program improved their team record to 15-2 after competing in a set of matches with the Jefferson County Dragons and the Tucker Tigers on Dec. 12 at Dawson County High School.
The Tucker Tigers, a team in the middle of rebuilding their program, found themselves in an early hole as they forfeited eight matches in the lower weight classes. Dawson County rapidly took care of business in the remaining bouts with early pins in five of the six remaining matches.
The final match between the teams featured Dawson County’s DJ Mitchell going all three rounds with Tucker’s N. Sims winning the fight by a 13–7 decision, giving the Dawson County Tigers the clean sweep with an 81–0 final score.
Jefferson County presented a different story as they took to the mat and challenged the Tigers with a series of quick falls to take an early lead in the match.
“Jefferson has won at state for years in both traditional and duals,” said Head Coach Arron Haynes. “This is our measuring stick to see where the team is at so far.”
As the evening continued, bright spots for the Tigers emerged as Mitchell picked up his second win of the night followed by pins from Levi Baggett, Christian Harper and Alex Paynes, but in the end Jefferson County handed the Tigers their second loss of the season with a 60–24 victory.
The team then traveled to North Forsyth High School on Dec. 15 for the annual Coal Mountain Classic, the first traditional-style meet of the season.
Baggett took the top spot in the 195 weight class, winning his first match with a dominating technical fall and the remaining two fights by decision.
“I was going into it with the mindset to win it,” Baggett said. “Anything else is just cutting myself short.”
Kevin Arias wrestled his way into a second place finish in the 126 pound classification, while Mitchell and Danny Phillips finished third in their respective categories of 170 and 285 pounds.
Alex Paynes rounded out the scoring for Dawson County with a fourth place berth in the 220 pound weight class.