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Wrestlers prepare for classic
Tourney in its 27th year
Wrestling pic
Dawson County wrestler John Markley attempts a hold against an Oconee County opponent. The Tigers will host the annual Amicalola Tournament this Friday and Saturday. - photo by Pam Jacobs Dawson Community News

Tiger wrestler James Evans captured a first place tournament champion’s medal at the Walnut Grove Invitational on Saturday, Dec. 19. Evans wrestles in the 112-pound weight class. He finished the tournament with an impressive 6-1 record.

  

The tournament at Walnut Grove High School was set up in a round robin format for the first five rounds and then the top four in each weight class were seeded into a four-man bracket.

  

After Friday’s round, Dawson was in fourth place. As of press time the Tigers final standings had not been posted.

  

Eian Perry, 140 pounds, and John Markley, 145 pounds, finished in fourth place. Both wrestlers ended up with a 4-3 tournament record.

  

Tiger Tony Sleigh barely finished out of the top four with a fifth place finish in the 189-pound weight class.

  

One of the most prestigious wrestling tournaments in Georgia will begin this weekend at the Ford E. Phillips Center. The Amicalola Wrestling Classic will be held for the 27th year at Dawson County High School Friday and Saturday, Jan. 1 and Jan 2.

  

The tournament will be in a traditional wrestling format, pitting wrestlers from each team against each other.

  

There will be 14 different weight classes, ranging from 103 pounds through to the heavyweights at 285 pounds. The brackets will contain 16 grapplers in a double elimination style.

  

The tournament was founded by William Howington 27 years ago and is one of the oldest in Georgia. The tournament is full of tradition and this year’s field will be tough.

  

There are 17 schools lined up to participate in the classic event.

  

Action will begin Friday with matches starting at 3 p.m. The wrestling will begin again on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. Finals should begin in the early afternoon.