By Nick Nunn
Staff Writer

The MCHS Wrestling team had its first tournament last Saturday at Allatoona High School, the Blackbeard Duals.
Unfortunately, Morgan County lost three of their four matches for the day.
They opened the first round of the tournament against North Forsyth, who placed in the top five in the AAAAA State Duals last season. Although Quentavious Jackson, Nathan Lundy, Luke Biscoglia, and Jacob McAlister each were individual winners by fall, Morgan County lost to North Forsyth 24-64.
Next, Morgan County faced off against Woodstock in the first consolation round. Woodstock outscored Morgan County 49-29.
Individual winners against Woodstock included Dmonta Wright, Lundy, Mason Woodham, McAlister, and Wyatt Martin, who won by fall, and Jackson, who won by a major decision.
In the second consolation round, Morgan County got a win against another AAA team, Cartersville, 33-27.
Wright, John Grubbs, Lundy, Jack Leclair, and McAlister all won by fall, and Clayton Bearden won by a 6-5 decision.
But McEachern topped Morgan County in the last consolation round of the day 62-18.
Lundy, Leclair, and Dakota Shelton were the only winners for Morgan County in the round, each by fall.
Head Coach John Robbins, however, isn’t overly distressed by the showing last Saturday.
“This is one of the premier events in Georgia for opening weekend,” said Robbins.
“We are obviously missing returning starters at 7 or 8 of the 14 weight classes [because of football], which really changes the approach we took going into this competition.
Because of the success of the football team, senior captains Austin and Bailey Ross, Carter Shultz, and Stewart Spence haven’t yet had the chance to train with the rest of the wrestling squad.
“They will certainly add some thump to our line-up when they return, as all four are legitimate candidates for individual state titles, said Robbins.
“Mix these guys in, and we become a pretty dangerous crew.”
Coach Robbins sees last weekend’s tournament as a chance for the younger wrestlers on the team to, “get a glimpse of what it takes to be a varsity wrestler.”
“Standout performances were turned in by Nathan Lundy and Jacob McAlister, who will both play a major role in the success of our team this year.”
The MCHS varsity and JV wrestling team’s next meet will be Saturday, Dec. 1, when the varsity squad will be traveling to Chatanooga for the Old Timer Duals, and the JV team will be in Walnut Grove for the Warrior Rumble.

Printed in the November 22, 2012 edition