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Local wrestlers eye area titles this weekend |
2010-02-08 |
By Trey Alverson |
Area 5-AAAA's 13 varsity wrestling teams will meet in Fayetteville today to battle for a team area title and individual sectional berths.
The host Fayette County Tigers are among the favorites to win it all, but Coach Jim Bailey's warriors will need to post good head-to-head showings against grapplers from Alexander and Northgate to lock up the area trophy.
The Tigers, who posted two wins in the State Duals tournament last month, are in the midst of one of their best seasons in recent memory. The 2009-2010 squad set a school record for single season duals wins.
Dylan Tanner (152) and Austin Vorwald (145) are the team's senior leaders. Both have been dominant in their weight classes all year and are favorites to lock up one of the higher seeds heading into next week's sectionals tournament. Neither have lost to a Class AAAA opponent this season.
The top four finishers from each weight class will advance to the West Sectionals at Upson-Lee High School, where they'll have a chance to wrestle their way into the traditional state tournament.
Other local favorites Saturday include defending state champ Derek Wojcik (160) of Sandy Creek, McIntosh heavyweight Sean Carney and Whitewater 119-pounder Austin Penland.
Wojcik is wrestling at 160 this year after winning Class AAAA at 171 a year ago.
McIntosh's Rickey Oskey (145) is also expected to medal.
Locals battled through the early rounds Friday after press time. The championship rounds will take place today (Saturday).
All told, 29 county wrestlers entered the Area tournament as top four seeds, meaning that Fayette schools should again have a strong showing at sectionals and state.
Last season, Wojcik, Whitewater's Chase Penland and Fayette's Patrick Blankenbecker each earned state titles. |
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