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Grapplers pin opponents
Capture first at Northwest Georgia Duals
Wrestling pic1
Evan Kells, in the 182 pound weight class, pins Christian Jaggie from Lanier High School in a tri-match held at East Hall High School last week. - photo by Ryan Coker Dawson Community News

It has been a busy week for Coach Arron Haynes' Tigers wrestling team.

The Tigers captured first place during the Northwest Georgia Duals on Jan. 21 at Chattooga High School.

Dawson then traveled to East Hall High School for a tri-meet with the Vikings and Lanier High School on Jan. 24.

The Tigers came away with two big wins over East Hall, 42-36, and Lanier, 62-15.

Friday the Tigers wrestled at Rockmart High School and on Saturday the team participated in the Tiger Invitational at Darlington High School in Rome.

Haynes' wrestlers faced good competition at the Tiger Invitational and finished in third place behind champion Rockmart and second place finisher South Paulding.

At the Tiger Invitational, Josh Gee (195 pounds), Preston Adams (160 pounds) and James Evans (126 pounds) all finished in second place. Adams' match final was voted the best upper weight match of the tournament.

Taking home third place honors were: Cory Jenkins (132 pounds) and Evan Kells (182 pounds). Finishing in fourth place was Joseph Toal (220 pounds).

Haynes also reached a milestone in his coaching career. He picked up his 200th win in last weekend's tournament. Haynes has been the head coach at Dawson County High School since 2004.

"I haven't wrestled a match. I have just been blessed with great wrestlers and assistant coaches," Haynes said.

At the Northwest Georgia Duals the Tigers won five matches. The team defeated Model, Pepperell, Piedmont (Alabama), Chattooga and Armuchee.

All of Dawson's points against Model High School were by way of a pin.

Pinning their opponents were: Justin Evans (106 pounds), Quade Buytendorp (113 pounds), James Evans (126 pounds), Travis Dawson (138 pounds), Preston Adams (160 pounds), Rick Brown (170 pounds), Josh Gee (195 pounds) and Colton Chester (285 pounds).

Against Pepperell, the Tigers had four pins, four forfeits and a decision to get the win.

Buytendorp (113 pounds), Cory Jenkins (132 pounds), Evan Kells (182 pounds) and Joseph Toal (220 pounds) all won their matches by pin.

Picking up points by forfeit were: James Evans (126 pounds), Travis Dawson (138 pounds), Zach Guy (145 pounds) and Adams (160 pounds).

At 170 pounds, Rick Brown won an 11-5 decision over Jarquavious Stamey from Pepperell.

In the match with Piedmont, the Tigers needed every point to squeeze out the win.

Pinning their opponents were: Buytendorp (113 pounds), Jonathan Mulberry (120 pounds), James Evans (126 pounds), Adams (160 pounds) in a hard fought match with Jarred McBrayer, Josh Gee (195 pounds) and Toal (220 pounds).

Receiving forfeits were Cory Jenkins (132 pounds) and Dawson (138 pounds).

The Tigers rebounded well against host school Chattooga to get an easy win.

Buytendorp (113 pounds), James Evans (126 pounds), Cory Jenkins (132 pounds), Travis Dawson (138 pounds) and Joseph Toal (220 pounds) all won with pins.

Tigers Preston Adams (160 pounds), Rick Brown (170 pounds), Evan Kells (182 pounds), Josh Gee (195 pounds) and Colton Chester (285 pounds) all collected points with forfeits.

In Tuesday's tri-match with East Hall and Lanier, the Tigers were pushed hard by the host Vikings before handling Lanier in the second match.

Five Tigers grapplers pinned their opponents from East Hall.

James Evans (126 pounds) pinned Xavier Summers, Cory Jenkins (132 pounds) pinned Felton Wood, Preston Adams (160 pounds) had a hard match with Steve Andrade before pinning him in the second round, Rick Brown (170 pounds) fought hard before pinning Jose Escobeda, and Josh Gee (195 pounds) pinned Kintavious Johnson.

Justin Evans (106 pounds) and Joseph Toal (220 pounds) won by forfeit.

Dawson dominated Lanier High School in the last match of the evening.

Six different Tigers wrestlers stuck their opponent's shoulders to the mat.

Justin Evans (106 pounds), Travis Dawson (138 pounds), Zach Guy (145 pounds), Preston Adams (160 pounds), Evan Kells (182 pounds) and Josh Gee (195 pounds) all pinned their opponents.

Cory Jenkins (132 pounds) won by a technical fall with a huge 18-3 victory over Lanier's Jaskaran Bhatia.

Tigers wrestler Levi Pressley won by a 7-4 decision over Zack Garner at 152 pounds.

Three wrestlers won by forfeit: Jonathan Mulberry (120 pounds), James Evans (126 pounds) and Joseph Toal (220 pounds).

The team finished the season with a 30-8 record.

"To the best of my knowledge that is the second most wins in school history behind the 2004 championship team," Haynes said.

The 2004 team totaled 35 wins.

Next up for Dawson County is the Area Traditional Tournament Friday and Saturday at Elbert County High School.

"We are peaking at the right time going into this weekend's area tournament," Haynes said.