The 29th annual Amicalola Classic wrestling tournament was a huge success.

This year's event was only held on Saturday because of the way the holidays lined up.

Host Dawson County finished in second place with 149.5 team points.

North Hall High School won the team event with 178 points.

There were nine schools who wrestled on Dec. 27: Murphy, N.C., Cherokee, N.C., Chestatee, North Hall, Dawson County, Mt. Vernon, East Hall, East Jackson and Fannin County.

"I was very proud of how our young men battled this weekend to take second place," said Head Coach Arron Haynes. "The tournament went great and was run very smoothly thanks to the help of my wrestling parents, and our faculty. I also can't say enough about how hard my managers worked along with my outstanding assistants to make this a great tournament."

Tiger Justin Evans won his weight class (113-pounds) with a 9-5 decision over a North Hall opponent. Earlier in the day Evans defeated, by way of pin, a Fannin County opponent.

"I am really proud of the way Justin competed today," Haynes said.

Taking second place medals for the Tigers was Quade Buytendorp at 126-pounds.

Buytendorp lost in the finals to a competitor from East Hall. To reach the finals Buytendorp defeated a Fannin County opponent.

Harrison Adams (138-pound) also placed second as he lost to a Chestatee grappler, 8-1, in the finals.

Adams pinned a Fannin County opponent to reach the finals.

Reigning Georgia state champion Gavin Brown (182-pounds) lost in the finals, 6-1, to a competitor from Murphy, N. C.

Brown has lost in the finals of the last two tournaments to the state champion from North Carolina and South Carolina in their respective weight classes.

Brown reached the finals with pin over a North Hall competitor.

At 220-pounds, Tiger Brenden Capps lost to a wrestler from North Hall in the finals to capture second place.

Tiger grappler Ty Williams also picked up a second place finish.

Taking third place for Dawson County were: Jeremy Whalen at 152-pounds, Gilbert Pruitt at 160-pounds and Brett Whalen at 195-pounds.

Finishing in fourth place, and picking up valuable team points, were Josh Poe at 132-pounds and Caine Wells at 170-pounds.

Also wrestling, but not placing, were Ben Umberger (145-pounds) and James Steele (120-pounds).

Up next for the Tigers will be a trip to Cherokee, N.C. to wrestle in the Saunooke Invitational on Jan. 3.