Piedmont, AL – Jolliff, Andrews figure out opponents that had beaten them earlier this season, lead Weaver to second-place finish as five starters rest.
By Joe Medley
One of the beauties in wrestling is figuring out an opponent.
Weaver’s Brandon Jolliff figured out Dora’s Korian Pryor in Saturday’s Piedmont Dogfight 217-pound final, and it helped the two-time defending Class 1A-4A state champion and newly minted state duals champion Bearcats to another good day this season.
Jolliff was one of Weaver’s two weight-class winners on the day, and the Bearcats finished second place to Dora after the two-day Dogfight.
Dora led the 15-team field with 166.5 points, and Weaver finished with 144.
The Bearcats have finished first or second in every tournament this season. A week out from clinching the program’s first state duals title and staring at the conventional postseason ahead, Weaver took second in Piedmont despite resting five starters.
Cael Fulmer, Haiden Hise, Dylan Brown and Christopher and Caden Thornton had the weekend off.
“We gave some younger guys an opportunity to wrestle in a couple of weight classes,” Weaver coach Andy Fulmer said. “We got three that we rested because they were a little banged up from state duals and just the season in general.
“It was a good weekend. We got out with a little bit of hardware, got some starters some rest this weekend and left with no injuries.”
Led by Zack Buchanan’s runner-up finish in the 177-pound class, Ranburne scored 124 points to finish third.
Cleburne County’s Austen Mayfield won the 146-pound division and took most valuable wrestler, two weeks after winning MVW in Cleburne County’s Rumble in the Jungle.
Weaver’s weight-class winners included Jolliff and Peyton Andrews (115). Fulmer hopped to his feet and, with a big smile and congratulated Andrews for his pin of New Hope’s Cameron Sharp.
“That kid was tough last year,” Fulmer said. “We hadn’t seen him, but he was really tough last year, and we’re down a major decision, and he keeps wrestling, and keeps wrestling, and keeps wrestling and fights through.”
Andrews pinned Sharp at 3:00.
“It was just me playing defense on the cradles and trying to make sure I could spin around it,” Andrews said. “When I figured out he’s kind of loose on the cradle, I used that and spun around and got him.”
Figuring it out was a theme Saturday, and Jolliff (39-2) beat the only wrestler to beat him this season.
“I really don’t know how I pulled it off,” Jolliff said. “I guess it was sheer determination and just wanting to get 0-2 out of the way.
“It was just stay out of his under-hooks, go for legs. He leaves his legs wide open.”
Jolliff has beaten Pryor’s twin brother, Kesean Pryor, who won the 287-pound class Saturday. Jolliff’s victory over Korion Pryor was all about patience.
“He lost to him the first two times because he got impatient and wrestled his (Pryor’s) style,” Fulmer said. “He wrestled the way Coach (JustIn) Brown and I have been wanting him to wrestle and finally had some positive results from it.
“Hopefully, that’ll carry over into the next couple of weeks, in preparation for super sectionals and, hopefully, the state tournament as well.”
Fulmer said he expects to have his full roster healthy for the biggest tournaments this season.
“We should be healthy and get back on weight and fix some stuff technique wise,” he said. “From just keep getting after it and pounding on each other, hopefully, we’ll have some good results and make a push for another title.”
Champions we know
MYLES BAILEY: Piedmont’s Myles Bailey (57-4) won the 108-pound division, pinning Deshler’s Jaxon Jeffreys at 3:54.
“I just went out there open-minded, wanting to win it, and I went out there and gave it my all,” Bailey said. “I just believed in myself
“Whenever you believe in yourself, you win the match.”
MASON HAHM: White Plains’ Mason Hahm took an 8-2 decision against Montgomery Catholic’s Andrew Gueret in the 122-pound final, improving to 30-0 on the season.
After finished second at state last year, he hopes to break through this year ”really bad.”
“I feel pretty good about it,” he said. “In the offseason, I was dealing with my labrum being torn, so I tried to heal up from that.”
AUSTEN MAYFIELD. Cleburne County’s Austen Mayfield pinned Prattville Christian’s Brody Pugh at 1:14 of the 146-pound championship final.
“Him being a top-ranked guy at 150, I was kind of expecting, I don’t want to saw a better match, but a little longer in the match,” Mayfield said. “I was trying to be a little bit conservative.
“I had not a really good shot attempt, kind of reset and went for the firemen’s. I hooked my arm from the front. From there, I could really just feel the strength difference.”
Piedmont Dogfight
TEAM SCORES
Dora 166.5, Weaver 144, Ranburne 124, New Hope 123, Montgomery Catholic 112.5, Prattville Christian 112, Cleburne County 95, Wellborn 90.5, Piedmont 87, Cherokee County 80, Deshler 69.5, Madison County 62.5, White Plains 53, West End 26, Saks 14.
CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
108: Piedmont’s Myles Bailey (57-4) def. Deshler’s Jaxon Jeffreys (22-4), Fall 3:54
115: Weaver’s Peyton Andrews (38-12) def. New Hope’s Cameron Sharp (18-3), Fall 3:00
122: White Plains’ Mason Hahm (30-0) def. Montgomery Catholic’s Andrew Gueret (30-9), Dec 8-2
128: Dora’s Jayden Rouse (34-1) def. New Hope’s Adrian Waugh (25-1), MD 22-11
134: Cherokee County’s Kurtis Soles (30-2) def. Prattville Christian’s Brysen Pugh (32-5), Dec 12-7
140: Montgomery Catholic’s James Andrew Ingalls (25-6) def. Madison County’s Nathan Cox (34-7), Dec 12-11
146: Cleburne County’s Austen Mayfield (45-1) def. Prattville Christian’s Brody Pugh (26-7), Fall 1:14
152: Cherokee County’s Andrew Young (28-4) def. Prattville Christian’s Matthew Post (19-9), Fall 3:17
159: Cherokee County’s David Herrick (18-0) def. Piedmont’s Caleb Tidwell (37-8), Dec 9-3
167: Dora’s John Hart (13-9) def. Wellborn’s Dylan Murdaugh (28-23), Dec 6-3
177: New Hope’s Layton Pohl (22-2) def. Ranburne’s Zack Buchanan (25-2), Fall 2:34
192: Deshler’s Ross Mills (40-4) def. Dora’s Cameron Richardson (38-10), Dec 3-2
217: Weaver’s Brandon Jolliff (39-2) def. Dora’s Korion Pryor (35-11), Dec 8-4
287: Dora’s Kesean Pryor (36-13) def. Prattville Christian’s Aidan Cockrell (26-2), Dec 4-2
The annual Piedmont Dogfight wrestling tournament played out Friday and Saturday at Piedmont High School. Check out the awards and action!
Photos by Joe Medley
