Sports Editor

Both the McIntosh and the Starr's Mill wrestling teams

finished where they expected to in their respective state meets

this weekend. The Chiefs finished 10th in the AAAA meet,

while Starr's Mill finished fifth in the AAA meet. McIntosh scored

70 points overall and finished with one state champion, Matt

Waters in the 275 pound division. Waters defeated Davey Pollack of

Shiloh by a score of 10-2 in the championship match.

"I just couldn't be happier for Matt," said Coach Marty

Hutsell. "Matt has been with me since he was a 145 pound seventh

grader." Waters was the 23rd state champion that Coach Hutsell

has coached in 23 years of coaching. He was the first heavyweight

to win a state championship for Coach Hutsell. Matt has

enlisted in the Marines and will join them after graduation this year.

The Chiefs started the meet off strong but their pace was

slowed by tremendous efforts from some of the state's most talented

wrestlers. Carlos Dinkins placed fifth for the Chiefs at 103, making

him all-state for his weight division. Eddie Smith injured his

shoulder and faces the possibility of surgery during the off-season.

The Chiefs off-season includes a freestyle program led by an

outside teacher, as Coach Hutsell cannot lead the team until

the summer. The Tribe wrestling club begins in March and is open

to all students in Fayette County at a cost of $75 for

membership. This weekend McIntosh will host the USA Kids state qualifier

meet for children between the ages of 5-14. The meet will feature

300 youth wrestlers and will begin at 9 a.m. in the McIntosh gym.

The Fayette County Tiger wrestling team placed 28th at

the AAAA meet this past weekend with Jonathan Bailey placing

fifth at 165. The Tigers had hopes of breaking the top 20 at the

state meet but lost several members of the team due to injury, illness

and grades a few weeks ago.

Starr's Mill placed fifth in their state meet last weekend

and scored 106.5 points. The Panthers had three wrestlers finish

all-state; Clint Barbour at 215 with a third place

finish,Stephen Behringer at 189 with a fourth place finish and Ariston

Bowers at 135 with a fifth place finish.

The Panthers got two sixth place finishes from Bryan

Kyser at 130 and Chris Coleman at 145. Matt Thurber, Jason Kiefer

and Matt Fuhrman all had top eight finishes at 112, 125 and 152

respectively.

Starr's Mill had a very successful season and should bring

their entire squad back next year. They will be favorites in the area

and state meets next year and should have some state champions.

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