Local wrestling

teams are starting to warm up for the 2000-2001 season. Starr's Mill,

a state powerhouse for the past two years in AAA, is now in 4-AAAAA. They

should be a contender again this year, once they get several members of

the football team back.

"It's

a tough region," said Coach Mickey Statham. "There are a lot

of good teams in the region and it will be hard to get out and enter the

states."

The Panthers

entered the Walton Duals this weekend and had to forfeit four weight classes;

135, 189, 215 and 275. Despite the forfeits, Starr's Mill went 2-3 and

their three losses were not blowouts. The Panthers defeated Wheeler, 43-33

and a team of All-Stars, made up of members of all the teams there who

could not squeeze everybody on to the varsity roster, 41-24. Their lossses

came to McEachern, 50-20; Westminster, 42-29; and Collins Hill, 51-17.

Three members

of the wrestling team went 5-0 during the meet. Danny Davidson, 140; Ariston

Bowers, 152; and Chris Coleman, 160. Jason Kiefer, 145 and Rusty Lyle,

171, both went 4-1, while Lee Gresham, 119 and Kevin Trickey, 125, went

3-2. Kiefer's one loss came to a two time state champion. Scott Hartpence,

130, went 2-3 and the two freshmen, Tyler Corrazion, 103, and Patrick

Bates, 112, went 1-4.

The Panthers

will host Mt. Zion, Jonesboro and Cedar Grove today at 5 p.m. and will

head to Fayette County High School this Friday and Saturday for the South

Metro Tournament. The tournament should serve as an excellent indicator

for how the season will go.

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