Chilton County senior wrestlers Colby Bernier and Caleb Mims were freshmen on the school’s first squad and went through the growing pains to be expected of any start up program.

Now, Bernier and Mims, along with other Tigers, are enjoying the pay off for the time and effort they’ve put in.

Bernier finished second in the 160-pound weight class at the Barry Mask tournament at Tallassee on Nov. 27.

“I think they’ve made strides; they’ve gotten better every year,” third-year coach Kess Cottingham said about Bernier and Mims.

Fellow seniors Dylan Jackson (first place in the 189-pound weight class) and Tim Canon (third at 103 pounds) also fared well.

“I think the guys wrestled hard,” Cottingham said “I guess we need to get in a little better shape. I was a little disappointed with our stamina.”

The Tigers will have a chance to improve on that stamina on Saturday as they host a meet beginning at 8:15 a.m. that will also include Brookwood, Holtville and Shelby County.

The competition will be a duals meet, meaning CCHS as a team will face Brookwood and then the other two teams, as opposed to a standard format individuals tournament.