CAIRO – The Cairo Syrupmakers wrestling team had a strong finish to its season with two of its wrestlers finishing in the top six in their respective weight classes at the state championship meet at the Macon Centreplex.

Senior Ralph Conyers finished fifth in the 126-pound weight class, while junior Dominic Lombardo placed sixth in the 138-pound division.

“We were pleased with the results. When you get to that level, it’s all about competing at the highest level that day. We had good preparation for it and went in with a good mindset, and they wrestled hard,” Cairo wrestling coach Scott Marshall said. “They have worked hard all year and battled. They won the matches when it counted the most. I’m very proud of them. We were excited to have them perform at their potential.”

The duo were two of four Cairo wrestlers that competed at state. Conyers finished sixth at sectionals, while Lombardo placed third. To finish in the top six at state was an exceptional achievement for both wrestlers, explains Marshall.

“It’s the best of the state. Everybody at a state tournament is a very, very good wrestler,” Marshall said. “There’s a lot of matches that went three periods and some matches where wrestlers were winning, and the other guy caught them in a move and pinned the other guy.

“One match decides if you’re out of the tournament or you’re going to the next round. For us, luckily, the matches decided if we were placing or not and we made it through the ones that really mattered,” Marshal said.