Coach Arron Haynes' Dawson County High School wrestling team competed at the State Traditional tournament in Macon Feb. 12-14. The Tigers took six wrestlers to the meet led by Gavin Brown (195 pounds), Harrison Adams (138 pounds), Jeremy Whalen (145 pounds), Brett Whalen (182 pounds), Ty Williams (heavyweight), and Justin Evans (113 pounds). All six wrestlers finished in the top ten.

Two-time state champion, Gavin Brown, finished in fourth place at state. Brown moved up a weight class this season and completed the season with a 44-8 record.

Brown started the tournament with two wins over Daniel Lopez (Coahulla Creek) in a 15-3 major decision and nemesis Matt Dilbeck, (Banks County) winning 3-0.

The Tiger senior then lost his next match to eventual state champion Marlon Morales (Rockmart) 12-5. Brown bounced back to defeat region rival Zach Matthews (Lumpkin County) in a 6-3 decision before losing to AJ Edmond (Elbert County) 8-3 on Saturday.

Harrison Adams (35-19) also had a good tournament. Adams opened with a pin over Ian Spittler from Blessed Trinity before losing his next match against Griffin Green (Ringgold) 9-4 putting him in the wrestle backs. Adams picked up another win over Drake Dawson from Oconee County in an exciting 1-0 win.

The Tiger was then ousted from the tournament after losing to Austin Tillman from Sonoraville in a close 5-3 decision.

Following are the results for the Dawson County team:

Evans (113 pounds) Record: 40-13

•Lost to Aaron Aguirre (Calhoun) 8-2

•Win over Tillman Chester (Westminster) 9-3

•Lost to Scotty Arthur (Appling County)

Jeremy Whalen (145 pounds) Record: 35-19

•Win over Jacob Smith (Pepperell) 7-4

•Lost to Chase Piperato (Jefferson)

•Lost to L.J. Fullard (Pierce County) 8-4

Brett Whalen (182 pounds) Record: 35-15

•Lost to Kevin Hurtiz (Sonoraville) 4-2

•Won over Christian Erwin (West Hall) pin

•Lost to Rashamel Reynolds (Jenkins)

Ty Williams (heavyweight) Record: 32-20

•Lost to Kenny Cooper (Sonoraville) 1-0

•Won over Dexter Brown (Therell) 9-6

•Lost to Nick Holman (Jefferson)

The Tigers, as a team, came in 21st place with 25 points. Jefferson won their 15th straight Traditional title with 240.5 points, easily outdistancing second place Lumpkin County with 125 points. Rockmart finished in third place with 121 points.

Other notable teams in Region 7-AAA were Banks County (9th) -73 points and West Hall (17th place) -38 points.

The season has now come to an end for wrestling.