Huntsville, AL – Weaver must ‘control what we can control’ to make it back-to-back state wrestling titles; 10 area wrestlers get through to championship finals
Defending Class 1A-4A state champion Weaver widened its lead over Ashville after the second day of the state wrestling tournament. The Bearcats entered Friday’s action a half a point better than Ashville, which edged Weaver to finish first in last week’s North Super Sectional, but finished the day at 97. Ashville stands in second place at 84.5 Championship and consolation finals are Saturday in Huntsville’s Von Braun Center. Weaver ended an 18-year state-championship drought last year, winning the program’s 10th by edging Calhoun County rival Ohatchee by one point. The Bearcats hope to go back to back for the first time since winning four years in a row twice, from 1996-99 and 2001-04. “We just have to finish strong tomorrow, just have to control what we can control,” Weaver coach Andy Fulmer said.
J.D. Johannson is through to the 170-pound championship final, and Anthony Usry made it to the 182 championship final. Johannson will face New Hope’s Layton Pohl, and Usry eyes Dora’s Jonathan Foster. Dalton Fink entered the day in the 106 consolation bracket and fought his way to the consolation final, pinning Ashville’s Owen Burns in the third round. Fink will battle Saks’ Tristen Garrett in the consolation final. In the 160 division, Caden Thornton lost his championship semifinal to Deshler’s Devon Jeffreys but won the consolation semifinal, pinning Bayshore Christian’s Caleb Heger. Thornton faces Dora’s Delvin Taylor on Saturday. There are no head-to-head possibilities between Weaver and Ashville.
Ashville will have three wrestlers active Saturday. Layden Olson is through to the 220 championship final. Brady Thrash (182) and Mason Wilson (285) will wrestle in consolation finals. With Dora in third with 82.5 points, the Bearcats’ two head-to-head matches with Dora could be key. Here’s a breakdown of other coverage-area teams and wrestlers through Friday’s matches:
Class 1A-4A
OHATCHEE — Briley Carter (106) won his championship semifinal, beating Saks’ Tristan Garrett 9-2 in overtime, and Matthew King (152) took a 7-4 decision over Escambia County’s Elijah Thomas to reach the championship finals. Jaxon Tuiolosega (120) made it to the consolation finals.
RANBURNE — Carson Hall was the day’s lone survivor, pinning T.R. Miller’s Markel Nicholson to reach the championship finals.
SAKS — Trent Hopkins won his 113 championship semifinal, an 8-1 decision over St. John Paul II’s Benjamin Santy. Tristan Garrett reached the 106 consolation finals.
WHITE PLAINS — Tanner Jarrell (113) and Mason Hahm (120) will wrestle for state championships Saturday. Jarrell pinned Oak Grove’s Aiden Sumner in the semifinals, and Hahm beat Deshler’s Devin Pennington in a tiebreaker.
CLEBURNE COUNTY — Austen Mayfield (138) reached the championship finals, beating Deshler’s Brooks Balentine in a major decision in the semifinals. Bryton Clay advanced to the 182 consolation finals.
PLEASANT VALLEY — Baron House got through to the final day in the 132 consolation bracket.
WELLBORN — Andrew Salter advanced to the 220 consolation final.
PIEDMONT — ChrisJon Gurley will wrestle Salter in the 220 consolation final.
Class 5A
ALEXANDRIA — Preston Jones won in sudden victory over Gulf Shores’ Noah Guthrie to advance to the 120 championship final.
LINCOLN — Jamichael Finley advanced to the 132 consolation final.
SOUTHSIDE — Thomas Norris (106) and Peyton Adams (132) reached consolation finals.
Class 6A
OXFORD — Garrett Howell (152) and Caleb Tinner (285) will wrestle in consolation finals Saturday.
2023 AHSAA state wrestling tournament
Thursday-Saturday
Von Braun Center, Huntsville [read more…]
