One thing the Dawson County High School Wrestling team and their Head Coach Arron Haynes will never be called is scared.

This team has faced some of the toughest competition in the state over the last two weeks.

The Tigers participated in the Raider Rumble at AAAAA Alpharetta High School last Friday and Saturday.

Coach Haynes and his troops were matched up against wrestlers from 20 different schools. Teams participating in the event were: Alpharetta, Chamblee, Chattahoochee, Druid Hills, Dunwoody, East Paulding, Gainesville, Jackson High School, Kennesaw Mountain, Lakeside, Lithonia, Lowndes, North Cobb, North Oconee, Northview, Redan, Roswell, South Forsyth and West Hall.

North Oconee and Dawson County were the smallest schools in the competition.

Joe Perry (135) took home a third place medal in the event. Perry defeated Malcolm Cowins (Redan) and Max McRae (Lakeside), both by pin, to receive the award.

Several other Tiger wrestlers also received big wins on the second day of the tournament. Preston Adams (140) defeated Matt Waken (Northview) by a 6-3 decision. Nick Tobias (152) won over Dalton Greene (North Oconee). Donavan Spittel (189) pinned Scott Houston (Northview). Zac Paz pinned Dustin Carter (Lowndes). David Wood (112) won a 7-0 decision over Aaron Solentic (Lakeside).

The Tigers traveled to East Jackson for a tri-meet with Morgan County and East Jackson High School Tuesday, Dec. 9.

Despite losing 49-30 to Morgan and 40-36 to East Jackson, the team performed well, according to Haynes.

Winning their matches by pin over Morgan County were: Joe Perry (140), Cody Riding (145), Donnie Spittel (189) and Zac Paz (215).

Against East Jackson, David Wood (112) won an 8-6 decision over Charles Hulett and Preston Adams won 10-5 over Kevin Kesler.

Winning by pin were: Joe Perry (140), Nick Tobias (160) and Zac Paz (215).

The Tigers participated in the North Oconee Duals Saturday, Dec. 6.

Once again, the Tigers performed well against some stiff competition.

Dawson County barely lost to host North Oconee by one point, 37-36.

Picking up wins by way of pin were Tigers, David Wood (112) and Cody Riding (145). Winning their matches by decision were Nick Tobias, 9-7, over Chad Stites and Kenneth Davis (171) over Joe Wingate by a 10-7 score.

Jackson High School defeated the Tigers in the second match of the day by a 45-33 score.

Pinning their opponents were Parks (125), Adams (135), Perry (140), Davis (171), Spittel (189) and Paz (285). Nick Tobias (160) outscored Joshua Bell 16-9 to pick up a win.

It didn’t get any easier for Dawson as they were matched-up with a tough Berkmar team in their third match of the day.

The Tigers dropped a 42-29 decision to the Patriots.

Travis Dawson (119) won his match by a 13-2 decision over Phillip Nguyen.

Tobias, once again, outscored his opponent 5-4 in a close match. Perry (140), Riding (145) and Wood (112) pinned their opponents.

The Tigers picked up their only win of the Duals with a 54-21 win over Monroe Area.

Dawson (119) and Justin Martin (215) picked up wins with 9-4 and 8-7 decisions respectively.

Winning by way of pin were: Wood (112), Adams (135), Perry (140), Tobias (160), Davis (171) and Kenny Houseal (285).

The team’s last match of the day was against West Hall. Unfortunately for the Tigers, West Hall came away with a close 42-36 win.

Pinning their foe were Tigers: Perry (140) and Davis (171). Preston Adams (135) won his match 6-0. Nick Tobias, 15-0 and Donavan Spittel, 20-10, both won their matches to finish out the tournament.

The Tigers will be back in action this Saturday as the team travels to Fannin County for the Fannin Duals. First match should begin around 9 a.m.

“We have been battling sickness and injuries,” said Haynes. “Also, our weights are not quite set yet.”

The Tigers currently have a 6-6 overall record.