Pack finishes second at Duals

November 22, 2008 10:53 pm

— 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.
Taylor Huite had an excellent tournament at 171, winning all four of his matches by pin.
“And all of them were pretty quick, too,” Torbert said.
Dillon Underwood, at 189, also went 4-0 and had three pins. At 215, Michael Davis went 2-2, with both of his victories via pin.
Chris Walsh went 3-1 with a pair of pins in the heavyweight class.
Torbert said heavyweight is one of his deepest classes.
Walsh won a wrestle-off against freshman Bryce Giddens to earn the chance to wrestle on Saturday.
“I can foresee Bryce getting his chance,” Torbert said. “Those two are really close. And they are both pretty good.”
Bainbridge defeated Westover to take third place in the tournament.
Westover was fourth, followed by Valdosta No. 2, Berrien, Crisp County and Thomas County Central.
Colquitt County will travel to Westover on Tuesday to face the Westover and Bainbridge again.