TUSCALOOSA &045; The wrestling team at Marion Military Institute Junior College have reached mid-season form. They walked away with championship from the University of Alabama wrestling tournament this past weekend. It was their first out-right win of the season.

MMI scored a team total of 67 points for the win in the National Collegiate Wrestling Association event. The second place finisher, the University of Georgia totaled 32 points. Darton College of Georgia captured third place with 30 points. Seven schools were represented in the Saturday afternoon affair. The other schools in their order of placing were Miami of Ohio, Mercer University, Alabama, and Auburn.

The Tigers wrestled in 11 weight classes. They were champs in five and finished second in four of the round robin events. The five MMI champions were C.J. Hamilton, the Tigers point leader for the season, moved up from the 125 lb. class to the 133 lb. class and still came out on top. Zack Brewer won the 149 lb. class and Leonard LeBlanc won the 165 lb. class, even after losing his first match. Taylor Marberi captured the 197 lb. championship. Big James Brenowitz was the winner in the 235 lb. class, pinning all four of his opponents.

MMI will go back on the mats this weekend to compete in the Fourth Annual Tropical Smoothie Classic in Gainesville, Fla. The event is hosted by the University of Florida and Santa Fe Community College. Scheduled to participate are Auburn, Florida State, University of South Florida, University of Central Florida, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Florida Gulf Coast University.