MOULTRIE — The Colquitt County High wrestling team won its first three matches in the first Packer Duals on Saturday at the Gladys Espy Gymnasium, before falling to Valdosta in a close match in the finals.

The Packers defeated Westover 48-36, Valdosta No. 2 65-18 and Crisp County 60-24 to qualify for the championship match against Valdosta.

The Wildcats prevailed 44-33 in what Colquitt County coach Travis Torbert said was a meeting that could have turned on any one of a number of matches.

Overall, Torbert said he was pleased with his team’s performance.

“It was a lot better than I thought,” said first-year coach Travis Torbert. “I thought some of the new guys wrestled well and our veterans wrestled well.

“Most of the things we’re not doing well are correctible. I’m encouraged. And this gave the guys a chance to win some awards early.”

The Packers were led by sophomore Jose Zunun, who is expected to be the team’s primary 103-pound wrestler.

He won all four of his matches on Saturday, including three at 112. Three of the four victories were via pins.

“He really looked crisp today,” Torbert said. “Right now, he is at the point where we want the rest of our wrestlers to be.

“His goal is to win the region and go to state.”

With Zunun wrestling up, Matthew Deal was able to wrestle three times at 103 and he won all three, two by pin.

At 119, Reed Lott went 3-1 with three pins. Dejarion Spence, wrestling at 125 won one of his four matches, and it was by a pin.

Kevin Lemire split his four matches at 130 and got a pair of pins.

At 140, Ronnie Caldwell went 3-1 with three pins, including one in the finals against Valdosta that kept the match close.

Zach Eldridge went 2-2 with a pin at 152 adn Jay Jones went 3-1 with two pins at 160.