Huntsville, AL – Bearcats hold slim lead over Ashville in 1A-4A after first day of state wrestling tournament; includes highlights for all area teams that were active Thursday
Defending Class 1A-4A state champion Weaver holds a slim lead after the first day of the state wrestling tournament. The Bearcats have 42 points, and second-place Ashville stands at 41.5. Ashville edged Weaver to win the 1A-4A North Super Sectional last weekend. Dora is third at 37.5. The 1A-4A weight-class brackets are down to championship semifinals. Weaver’s Caden Thornton (160), J.D. Johannson (170) and Anthony Usry (182) advanced to championship semifinals.
Dalton Fink (106), Haiden Hise (113), Gianluca Torres (138), Dashawn Kirby Barnes (145), Hunter Hise (152), Brandon Joliff (195) and Hayden Ransom (220) remain alive in the consolation bracket. “Not a bad day,” Weaver coach Andrew Fulmer said. “Tough matches today. We lost a couple we shouldn’t have, but overall pleased with our kids. They battled. “We got three in semifinals and the other seven are battling in consolations tomorrow.” Ashville has four in championship semifinals and eight in consos. Ashville’s Nick Williamson (145), Tyler Ebner (152), Layden Olson (220) and Mason Wilson (285) advanced to championship semifinals. Owen Burns (106), Owen Meads (113), Jaden Harris (132), Gavin Hare (138), Bryan Hampton (160), Travis Smith (170), Brady Thrash (182) and Trevor Horsley (195) remain alive in the consolation brackets.
Head-to-head, Thornton beat Hampton in the 160 quarterfinals. Haiden Hise and Meads are due to square off in the 113 consos Friday. With a win apiece, Fink and Burns would meet in the 106 consos. “They will have some tough draws like we do in certain matches,” Fulmer said. “We draw them head to head a couple of times, so that will be big.” Elsewhere at the Von Braun center, Oxford stands 14h in 6A with nine points. There were no 5A matches Thursday. The state tournament concludes Saturday. Here are highlights for other coverage-area teams:
Class 1A-4A
WHITE PLAINS— Tanner Jarrell reached the 113 semifinals with a pin of Ashville’s Owen Meads. Mason Hahm reached the 120 semifinals by technical fall over Wellborn’s Ahmad Noel, and Luke Campbell beat Montgomery Catholic’s Jake Dean by major decision to reach the 182 semifinals.
Tanner Stephens (126) and remains alive in the consolation bracket.
SAKS — Tristan Garrett reached the 106 semifinals with an 8-5 decision over Weaver’s Fink, and Trent Hopkins got through to the 113 semifinals with a pin of St. Jame’s Luke Robbins.
Truth Thurman (126), Triumph Thurman (138), John Bussey (152) and Ramond Pearson (220) wrestle on in the consos.
RANBURNE — Carson Hall pinned Corner’s Brandon Murphree in the 285 quarterfinals.
Carter Driver (106), Braden Driver (126), Miles Williamson (145), John Lexin Campbell (152), Curtis Daniel (160), Zack Buchanan (170) and Zaden Benefield (220) wrestle on in the consos.
CLEBURNE COUNTY — Austen Mayfield pinned Alabama School for the Blind’s Daymion Winfrey to make the 138 semifinals and Bryton Clay pinned Beulah’s Bronson Dubose to reach the 182 semis.
Jackson Letson (120) and Noah Morgan (132) remain alive in the consos.
OHATCHEE — Briley Carter (106) pinned Ashville’s Owen Burns, and Matthew King (152) pinned Madison County’s Mykell Buchanan to reach the semifinals.
Jaxon Tuiolosega (120) and Cody Freer (182) are alive in the consolation brackets.
WELLBORN — Andrew Salter pinned Dora’s Camerson Gosha to make the 220 semifinals.
In consolation brackets, Ahmad Noel (220), Noah Screws (138) and Dylan Murdaugh (182) wrestle on.
PLEASANT VALLEY — Zeke Curvin pinned St. James’ A.J. Alozie to reach the 195 semifinals.
Baron House (132) and Connor Crump (285) remain alive in consolation brackets,
PIEDMONT — ChrisJon Gurley took a 6-3 decision over Saks’ Ramond Pearson to advance to the 220 semifinals.
Izak Duke (126) and Caleb Tidwell (145) wrestle on in consolation brackets.
Class 6A
OXFORD — Garrett Howell (152) won a 3-0 decision over Mountain Brook’s Coleman Bates to make the 152 semifinals.
Karlise Hubbard (106), Xavier Deramus (220) and Caleb Tinner (285) wrestle on in consolation brackets.
2023 AHSAA state wrestling tournament
Thursday-Saturday
Von Braun Center, Huntsville
Thursday’s results
CLASS 1A-4A
Team scores: 1. Weaver 42, 2. Ashville 41.5, 3. Dora 37.5, 4. New Hope 33, 5. Deshler 31.5, 6. White Plains 27, 7. Saks 25, 8. Montevallo 24, 8. Prattville Christian 24, 10. Madison County 23.5, 11. Ranburne 22, 12. Montgomery Catholic 21, 13. Cleburne County 20, 13. Ohatchee 20, 13. St. John Paul II 20, 16. Oak Grove 19.5, 17. St. James 19, 18. T.R. Miller 18, 19. American Christian 17, 20. Orange Beach 12, 21. Reeltown 11, 21. Wellborn 11, 23. Alabama School for the Blind 10, 23. Pleasant Valley 10, 25. Bayside Academy 9, 25. Cherokee County 9, 25. Houston Academy 9, 28. Westminster Christian 8.5, 29. Escambia County 7, 30. Piedmont 7, 31. Susan Moore 4. (Bayshore Christian, Beulah, Corner, Fultondale, Northside Methodist, Satsuma and W.S. Neal did not score)
CLASS 5A
No matches Thursday.
CLASS 6A
Team results: 1. McAdory 74.5, 2. Mortimer Jordan 62, 3. Hartselle 56, 4. Mountain Brook 46, 5. Homewood 43.5, 6. Gardendale 42, 7. Wetumpka 36, 8. Athens 32, 9. Fort Payne 24, 10. Pike Road 23, 11. Pelham 22, 12. Spanish Fort 18, 13. Center Point 11, 14. Baldwin County 9, 14. Decatur 9, 14. Hazel Green 9, 14. Oxford 9, 14. Robertsdale 9, 14. Russell County 9, 20. Stanhope Elmore 8, 21. Benjamin Russell 7, 21. Pell City 7, 23. Clay-Chalkville 6, 23. Mae Jemison 6. (Buckhorn, Gadsden City, Helena, Muscle Shoals, Paul Bryant, Pinson Valley and Shades Valley did not score). [read more sports stories…]
