By MICHAEL BOYLAN
Sports Editor

Thirty-three teams gathered at McIntosh High School last week for the annual McIntosh Christmas Classic wrestling tournament.

The top high school wrestlers gather in what is likely to be a preview of the state meet at the end of the season. Three of the four county teams participated in the tournament: Fayette County, Sandy Creek and, of course, McIntosh. If this was a preview of the state tournament, they each have a ways to go.

Troup County, ranked second in AAA in the state, won the tournament with 247.5 points. Harrison came in second with 212.5 points, while Morgan County placed third overall with 178 points. As for our local teams, Fayette County placed 12th, scoring 79.5 points, McIntosh placed 16th with 73.5 points and Sandy Creek, which brought only five wrestlers, placed 31st with 25 points.

Sandy Creek's John Hilton (103) was the school's only placer in the tournament. He finished fifth overall. Hilton beat some competitors that he had lost to previously this season. Larry Wright hurt his wrist in the tournament and could not wrestle further. Ryan Stanfield also won several matches for the Patriots.

Sandy Creek's varsity team is off until its contest with Forest Park Jan. 4, but Sandy Creek will host the South Metro Junior Varsity Invitational Thursday at 9 a.m.

McIntosh coach Marty Hutsell was a bit disappointed with his team's performance. Their only two placers were Ricky and Eddie Smith. Ricky (112) placed fifth, while Eddie (130) placed third. Eddie lost in overtime to a wrestler he beat one week ago, two-time state placer from Harrison Michael Powell. The Chiefs head to Fitzgerald this Wednesday and Thursday and then are off until the War Eagle Classic Jan. 7 and 8.

Fayette County also produced only two placers: Jarrod Bailey (135) placed third and Brad West (140) placed fourth.

The one positive that both Fayette County and McIntosh take from the tournament is that their region is wide open. Fayette County gave the strongest performance among region 4-AAAA teams, but LaGrange was close with 77.5 points and Stockbridge came in behind McIntosh.

The region meet will be in February and at this point it is anybody's game.

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