MOULTRIE — Defending heavyweight champion Antonio Sutton and his Colquitt County High teammates will be in Douglas today for the Region 1-AAAAA individual tournament to be held at Coffee High School.

The Packers have struggled of late, dropping two matches on Feb. 2 at Thomas County Central and two more on Tuesday at Lee County.

But first-year coach Greg Tillery says several of his wrestlers have a chance to make some noise at the region meet.

Tillery said he especially likes the chances of Sutton, Lawrence Glenn and Ricky Grier.

“I will be very disappointed if they do not perform well at the region,” Tillery said.

Sutton will have to be a favorite after going 35-3 last year en route to the region title and a place in the state tournament. He is the only current Packer who qualified for the state tournament last year.

“Sutton is doing fine,” Tillery said. “He just has to be more offensive.”

Glenn, at 125, and Grier, at 215, have come on strong at the end of the season and “are wrestling very well right now,” Tillery said. “They are peaking at a good time. If they can keep it up for 10 more days, they should do well.”

Jacorey Dillard, Nathan Fowler and Shawn Jimenez also could make a run as well, Tillery said.

“Dillard has a chance to place if he can stay under control and wrestle and not get frustrated,” Tillery said. “Fowler has a very good opportunity as well. Jimenez can fare well if he will wrestle to win and not wrestle with an attitude of not to lose.

“I told the others that placing at region would be icing on the cake.”

The Packers have a young team, with Fowler, Grier and Sutton as the only seniors.

“Most of these boys are in their first year of wrestling and they could have thrown in towel long ago,” Tillery said. “But they have hung tough and I am very pleased with their effort.”

Dillon Underwood, who wrestles at 140, as been unable to perform recently and is waiting to get medical clearance to participate today.

Trey Brooks, at 152, has had bronchitis and his status for today is uncertain.

“Of course, I want everyone of them to qualify,” Tillery said. “We will go over there and give it our best and see how it comes out.”

Last Tuesday, the Packers lost to Lee County 51-30 and to Tift County 44-31.

Fowler lost to both Lee and Tift County. Dillard beat Lee and won by forfeit against Tift County. Glenn defeated both his Lee County and Tift County opponents.

Tyler Dismuke and Beau Weathers lost both of their matches. Jimenez lost to Lee County, but defeated Tift County. Brooks lost to Lee then forfeited because of illness.

Taylor Huite and Donovan McGowan lost both of their matches and Justin Jones lost to Lee, but defeated Tift County.

Grier and Sutton won both of their matches.

In junior varsity matches on Tuesday, R.J. Taylor, Mason Jones and Heath Lamb got victories.

Colquitt County lost to Thomas County Central 45-33 and to Lee County 45-29 on Feb. 2.

Against Thomas County Central and Lee County, Fowler dropped a pair of matches; Lamb and Dillard each got a win at 119; Glenn won both of his matches, but Dismuke and Weathers lost a pair.

Jimenez lost to Lee, but defeated Thomas County Central. Huite and Jones lost a pair.

Michael Davis wrestled at 189 and lost to Thomas County Central.

Grier and Sutton won both of their matches.