By MICHAEL BOYLAN

Sports Editor

The South Metro Wrestling Invitational took place at Fayette County High School last Friday and Saturday. There were 20 teams of varying strengths and it was a battle from the opening match until the last match. McIntosh won it all with 214 points, though Eagle's Landing was the favorite going in. It was the eighth year in a row that Coach Marty Hutsell and the McIntosh Chiefs have won the South Metro tournament title.

The Chiefs had three champions in South Metro, Carlos Dinkins at 103 pounds, Eddie Smith at 135 and Lukas Smith at 189. Coach Hutsell feels that Joe Giovinco is having a great year. Giovinco knocked off last year's AAA state champ in the last two seconds of the semifinals on Saturday.

As for the hosts of the Invitational, Coach Bailey was impressed with his Fayette County Tigers performance. Jared Bailey was a champion in the 130 pound division while his older brother, Johnathan, got his 100th career victory. Everyone on the Tiger's wrestling squad scored points and two wrestlers forfeited their matches on Saturday to take the ACT test. If they had wrestled it would have most likely boosted Fayette County to a fourth place finish.

Starr's Mill Coach Mickey Statham is pleased with his team's performance over the weekend. The Panthers placed sixth and had to face some of the toughest programs in the state. Drew Cofty was champion of the 140 pound grouping, while Stephen Behringer and Clint Barbour took third place in their weight divisions. Starr's Mill hosts the Starr's Mill Invitational next Friday and Saturday.

As for Sandy Creek, Coach Damian Belvedere is a little disappointed. There were five matches that the Patriots led by five points or more and then lost. Ryan Brown was the only wrestler who placed for Sandy Creek. The Patriots will work on how to hang on to a lead as they travel to the Eagle's Landing Classic this Friday and Saturday.

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