Calhoun County, AL – Alexandria, Weaver girls both finish second in Thanksgiving Eve tournaments
The Alexandria wrestling team was a late entry into the Clint McCall Duals and the Valley Cubs darned near won it all.
The Valley Cubs had planned to practice Wednesday anyway, but coach Frank Hartzog figured you couldn’t beat live competition. They went 3-1 in the round-robin tournament and lost to Russell County 38-37 in what amounted to the championship match.
“I think it gave us a starting point of reference where we’re at and where we could be, and it opened the eyes of some of the kids where they should be to help the team,” Hartzog said. “It’s always good to be humbled so you buy into working hard.
“There’s no replacement for hard work. I think it was a good eye-opener and gives us hope that we have potential. We just have to buy into working hard.”
The Cubs fell behind 33-13 and won three straight weight classes to get within two. Latrez Turner and Hudson Hartzog scored pins to keep them in it, but Russell County won by tech fall at 120 to seal the victory. Preston Jones scored a pin in the final bout to bring the final margin.
“It was a winnable dual; we’ve got a lot of work to do,” Hartzog said. “We had some kids step up. It was a good day.”
The Valley Cubs also beat McAdory, Oxford and White Plains. Oxford went 2-2 with wins over White Plains and McAdory. White Plains went 0-4.
Clint McCall Duals
| TEAMS | ALEXAND | McADORY | OXFORD | RUSSELL | WH PLAINS |
| Alexandria (3-1) | — | 48-34 | 45-36 | 37-38 | 51-24 |
| McAdory (1-3) | 34-48 | — | 31-42 | 35-42 | 48-42 |
| Oxford (2-2) | 36-45 | 42-31 | — | 33-48 | 54-30 |
| Russell Co. (4-0) | 38-37 | 42-35 | 48-33 | — | 50-29 |
| White Plains (0-4) | 24-51 | 42-48 | 30-54 | 29-50 | — |
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
RUSSELL COUNTY 38, ALEXANDRIA 37
132: Julian Anthony (R) pinned Ethan Maxwell, 2:31
138: Davonte Smith (R) pinned Tristan Page, 3:10
145: Amorea Green (A) pinned Keon Leverette, 0:35
152: Owen Allege (R) pinned Jackson New, 0:43
160: Kaden Deline (A) maj. dec. over Jamir Nelson, 10-2
170: Keandre Leverette (R) dec. Aiden Christopher, 7-4
182: Jabias Robinson (R) pinned Dawson Knight, 1:58
195: Stacy Jenkins (A) dec. Jordan Robinson, 8-3
220: Avery Boyette (R) pinned Dean Boxley, 0:51
285: Latrez Turner (A) pinned Keshaun Paulk, 4:30
106: Hudson Hartzog (A) pinned Ryan Forvour, 0:18
113: Jonathan Santos (A) won by forfeit
120: Jaivan Bracey (R) tech fall over Bryson Tatiano, 16-1 (3:38)
126: Preston Jones (A) pinned Levi Davis, 0:43
Hewitt Grappling Girls Invitational
TRUSSVILLE – Lena Johannson (138) and Trinity Carter (152) won individual titles and three other Weaver wrestlers placed in the top four as the Lady Bearcats finished second in the Hewitt Grappling Girls Invitational wrestling tournament.
The Lady Bearcats scored 118.5 points. Daphne won the team title with 159 points.
Johannson won the 138 crown with a 17-1 technical fall over Kimber Alford of Daphne. Carter pinned Arab’s Autumn Boutwell in 52 seconds. Both champions are 7-0.
Weaver’s Mariah Johannson finished third in 120, Kallie Mayfield finished third in 126 and Haylei Hooks was fourth in 165. Piedmont’s Anabelle Hilburn finished fourth in 235 and Southside’s Brianna Mercer was fourth in 132.
HEWITT GRAPPLING GIRLS INVITATIONAL
TEAM SCORES: Daphne 159, Weaver 118.5, Arab 111, Sparkman 110, Brookwood 84, Thompson 78, Auburn 73, Enterprise 70, Mae Jemison 51, Bob Jones 32, Vestavia Hills 28, Prattville 27, Piedmont 26, Hewitt-Trussville 20, Northridge 20, Northside Methodist 20, Oak Mountain 19, Southside-Gadsden 15, Chelsea 12, Madison County 11, Hazel Green 7.
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES
100: Erin Clarkson (Auburn) dec. Alanah Girard (Daphne), 8-7.
107: Madily Rodgers (Arab) pinned McKenzie Nguyen (Daphne), 3:01.
114: Jenna MacDonald (Daphne) pinned Janiah Wilson (Mae Jemison), 2:38.
120: Evelyn Holmes-Smith (Enterprise) pinned Maggie Whitaker (Arab), 0:23.
126: Carly Thomas (Bob Jones) dec. Elizabeth Rosentiel (Northridge), 3-0.
132: Kalyse Hill (Daphne) maj. dec. over Haley Pate (Brookwood), 13-2.
138: Lena Johannson (Weaver) tech fall over Kimber Alford (Daphne), 17-1.
145: Akerah Artis (Sparkman) pinned Estella Islas (Thompson), 1:53.
152: Trinity Carter (Weaver) pinned Autumn Boutwell (Arab), 0:52
165: MacKenzie Schulta (Enterprise) dec. Kaylee Holder (Daphne), 7-3.
185: Joy Hawkins (Sparkman) pinned Molly Eaton (Brookwood), 1:23.
235: Aliza Wix-Amaya (Sparkman) pinned Niya Turner (Arab), 1:17.
Cover photo of Weaver’s Lena Johansson by Jimmy Smith.
