The Fannin County High School Rebels wrestling team hosted the 8-AAA Area Duals tournament where Woodward Academy and Blessed Trinity claimed the two spots available in the State Tournament by finishing first and second respectively in the Area. Fannin fell in both of its two Duals, 54-16 to Dawson and 44-33 to Pike; however, the Rebels, who will lose only two seniors from this year’s team, Blake Carroll and Matthew Seabolt, continued to show marked improvement from previous years.The Rebels began the Dawson County Dual with the lead, 6-0, after Seabolt procured a pin in the first match. The lead was short lived as Dawson scored back to back pins to take a 12-6 lead.

Mason McClure secured a major win (eight or more match point victory) with an 11-2 match win, that cut the lead to two, 12-10; however, the Tigers won the next eight matches to take a commanding 48-10 lead.

Uriah Giet’s win at 113 gave Fannin 16 points, before the Tigers took the 54-16 victory.

The second of the Duals saw the Rebels fall to Pike in a close match decided by a mere nine points, 44-33. The Rebels are closing the gap on the Area team, and should expect to see some wrestlers compete at the State Traditional Tournament later this year.