Wednesday, February 14, 2001
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Wednesday, February 14, 2001 |
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Panthers are back-to-back state champions Final win in Perry over defending AAAAA champs By MICHAEL BOYLAN The Starr's Mill Panthers wrestling team won its second consecutive state title over the weekend. The Panthers won the AAAAA state title, with three first place finishers and two second place finishers. They defeated last year's AAAA state champs, Harrison High School. The three individual champions for Starr's Mill were Danny Davidson (140), Ariston Bowers (152), and Christopher Coleman (160). Coleman was a champion last year in the AAA meet, while Bowers placed fourth last year. Davidson finished the season at 60-8, while Bowers finished at 61-1. The two second-place finishers were Matt Fuhrman (171) and Lee Gresham (112). Jason Kiefer placed fourth at 145, while Tony Tofanelli placed fourth at 215. First and second-place finishers can attend the national wrestling meet and both Bowers and Coleman are planning on attending this year's meet, which will be held in Baltimore. The team was projected to finish second in the state meet to McEachern this year, but they entered the meet as they enter every meet, prepared and well-coached. The Panthers sent 11 wrestlers to the state meet, 10 of which are seniors. All 11 wrestlers won their first round matches and six of those wrestlers made the semi-finals. The Panthers finished an excellent season on a high note. They had a record of 78-3 in dual meets and did very well in highly competitive tournaments. The team placed third in the South Metro Invitational and at the Dalton carpet Classic and first at the Starr's Mill Invitational and at the Hoover Invitational in Alabama. McIntosh had a top-five finisher as well. Daniel Graham placed fifth at 112. In the AAAA meet in Rome, Kedric Golston of Sandy Creek placed second at 275. He lost in the finals to Jessie Grier of Etowah. |
