Birmingham, AL – Weaver’s Johannson wins third straight state girls title; Lady Bearcats finish third as team, collect state hardware for first time; Ranburne comes up short in Duals final
By Al Muskewitz
Lena Johannson’s tools were feeling rubbery because of the weight she cut, but she got some really good advice during the day that paved the way for her to win another title. The Weaver sophomore won her third straight girls state championship Friday when she made quick work of Thompson’s Aenaya Vines in the 138 final of the State Girls Wrestling Tournament at the Bill Harris Arena.
Johannson won the title match in 37 seconds, completing her season with a 26-0 record and 29-match winning streak. “Throughout the last couple years I’ve had a lot of adversity because of injuries,” she explained, “so, this is the first complete season I’ve had since seventh grade and I’ve gotten to wrestle every single match and I’m so thankful for that. “Going to yesterday I overcut. I over-thought it and I was way too light for that and felt really horrible yesterday, if I’m being honest; just in every way possible I felt bad. Every single match my legs and my arms felt like Jell-o and I remember telling our assistant coach (Justin Brown) and he like don’t think about that, think about being a three-timer.”
The pin in the finals was her fourth of the tournament and third in less than a minute. She moved into the second round with a bye, then won in 41 seconds, 12 seconds, 2:59 and, finally, 37 seconds. “She was just very dominant in every position this week,” Weaver coach Andy Fulmer said. “Great on her feet, lot of movement, just was in control and when she got on top … she just suffocates you on top. She’s just a hammer.”
Two of her Weaver teammates finished second. Mariah Johannson was pinned in 1:18 by a double Fargo All-American in the 120 final and Ali Anderson was pinned in 1:41 in the 114 final. “They wrestled really well this weekend and had tough draws in the finals,” Fulmer said. Weaver finished third as a team with 128.5 points, behind champion Sparkman (191) and Daphne (180). Other local teams represented included Piedmont (19th), ASB (28th), Lincoln (32nd), Wellborn (T-41), Cleburne County (47th) and Southside (T-50). [read more …]
