2005 Georgia Games Wrestlers Come From Far and Wide

MARIETTA - Wall to wall wrestling mats adorned Kell High School&#39;s gym floor, as day two of the 2005 Georgia Games Wrestling Championships got under way on Saturday.<br> <br> Over 100 wrestlers spanned the floor feeling the weight of anticipation. Some sparred, some ran, some stretched, all trying to keep their energy high for the upcoming matches. <br> <br> Among those waiting their turn on the mat were Al Hansbrough and his 8-year-old son Tre, from Acworth. The Hansbroughs spent Friday in North Carolina competing in the Junior Olympics Regionals for track.<br> <br> &#34;We arrived about 3 a.m. from Greenville,&#34; said the elder Hansbrough shaking his head, &#34;We&#39;re tired, but we made it.&#34;<br> <br> In only his third year of wrestling, Tre won the 2004 State Championships for 60 pounds. Tre managed to work through his shyness long enough to say he was excited to be at the Georgia Games and looked forward to coming back. <br> <br> At 9:30 a.m. the wrestlers gathered around the main mat while the head referee explained the rules and answered questions. Even as the meeting ran, changes were made to the competitors bracket.<br> <br> Behind all the commotion sat Donna Racine, the Georgia Games State Chair for wrestling. This marks the third year Racine has coordinated the tournament.<br> <br> &#34;There aren&#39;t many tournaments in Georgia during the summer, and few of them offer an Ironman competition,&#34; said Racine, &#34;I wanted something to offer the kids.&#34;<br> <br> Racine considers these wrestlers to be family.<br> <br> &#34;They are my kids too,&#34; Racine said. Apparently the wrestlers appreciate her effort.<br> Almost every competitor in the gym stopped by to talk and give Racine a hug. <br> <br> However, not everyone made it on time. Myron Petro, age 18 from Dacula, ran into the gym well after the opening meeting. After getting checked in, the Mill Creek High School assistant coach breathed a sigh of relief.<br> <br> &#34;I was worried about being late, but it looks like they are running a little behind schedule as well,&#34; said Petro. <br> <br> Petro heard about the Georgia Games in high school and decided the event sounded like something &#34;fun to do for the summer.&#34;<br> <br> For the past 15 years, the Georgia Games has offered amateur athletes from around the state a chance to compete regardless of age or skill. <br> <br> &#34;I just wanted to offer kids an opportunity to wrestle, and the Georgia Games gave me the opportunity to help them,&#34; said Racine, &#34;I am like the middleman between the Georgia Games and state wrestlers.&#34;