Cubs win first at last
- Updated: December 20, 2015
Alexandria gets high finishes from some unexpected places and won their invitational for program’s first title
Three of Alexandria’s four champions Saturday display their medals after the Valley Cub Invitational (from left) Fletcher Swindall, Christian Knop and Judson Cash (not pictured Lane Trapp). (Photos courtesy of Curtis Knop)
By East Alabama Sports Today
Alexandria got high finishes from some unexpected places and won the first tournament title in its program history Saturday when the Valley Cubs took their own invitational.
The Valley Cubs scored 194 points, 24 ahead of runner-up Cleburne County. Among the other Calhoun County teams in the field, Saks was third and Ohatchee was fifth.
“No. 1, it’s the first tournament we’ve won so that’s nice to put together,” Cubs coach Frank Hartzog said. “I think the kids felt good about it. They seemed real happy or they should be. It’s a good confidence builder to bring home a first place trophy.
“We had the potential to win last year and things didn’t go our way. So, it’s nice to know even when things aren’t going our way we have a shot.”
If there was a damper on the Cubs’ day it was losing junior Gannon Womack for the season at 138. Womack had just returned to the mat from a hip injury when he suffered another hip injury in his championship match with Saks’ Andrew Kilgore.
The Valley Cubs produced four champions, perhaps none as unexpected as Judson Cash’s title at 152. The junior won his first varsity tournament when he pinned Spain Park’s Jacob Sharpe.
Lane Trapp returned to the mat for the first time since the Golden Bear Invitational at Lincoln and won at 113 without much difficulty. Fletcher Swindall won at 120 and Christian Knop remained undefeated when he won at 170.
Other notable performances for the Cubs included first-year wrestler Michael Beason’s third-place finish in 195 wrestling at 182 and senior Phillip Gaddy’s second-place finished at 182 wrestling at 167.
“He made a move some of the older guys hadn’t hit yet,” Hartzog said of Beason.
Complete results from the championship round are listed below.
Weaver goes 4-1 in Fort Payne
FORT PAYNE – Weaver suffered a rare dual match defeat, but still won four matches in the Fort Payne Duals Saturday.
The Bearcats defeated Gadsden City (78-0); Ridgeland, Ga. (54-30); Cedartown, Ga. (51-30); and host Fort Payne (51-30). They lost to Grissom, 54-30.
“Overall, it was a good day,” Weaver coach Andy Fulmer said. “Most teams, including us, did not have a full team. I believe everybody is beat up and banged up right now and just trying to get through the grind of the season.
“My veteran guys continue to keep us in every match and our inexperienced guys are getting better every time they take the mat.”
Nick Souder, Collin Allison, Caleb Allison and Chase Rodgers all went 5-0. Matt Elston went 4-1.
Wellborn ninth in Hamer Invitational
MOODY – Wellborn had three wrestlers place fourth in their respective weight classes and the Panthers finished ninth as a team at the Austin Hamer Invitational.
Sammy Cotton (113), Matthew Lindsey (132) and Zachery Chandler (195) all finished fourth individually.
Oxford eighth in Hewitt/Blalock Invitational
TRUSSVILLE – Oxford placed five wrestlers in the top four of their respective weight classes and the Yellow Jackets finished eighth in the Hewitt/Blalock Invitational.
Wesley Slick was the highest Yellow Jacket finisher, coming in third at 120. Landon Burrage (113), Clay Houston (126), Quintez Pearson (145) and Jermaine Taylor (182) were all fourth-place finishers.
VALLEY CUB INVITATIONAL
Team scores: Alexandria 194, Cleburne County 170, Saks 155.5, Spain Park 121, Ohatchee 90, Lincoln 45, Madison County 0.
106 Results
Championship Match: Jack Rivers (Spain Park) 12-3, Fr. def. Dylan Turner (Cleburne County) 9-4, So. (9-5).
Consolation Match: Reed Hill (Ohatchee) 2-1, 8th. pinned Lucas Isbell (Lincoln) 6-5, 7th.
113 Results
Championship Match: Lane Trapp (Alexandria) 8-0, Sr. def. Gavin Pudlick (Spain Park) 6-3, Fr. (5-0).
Consolation Match: Matthew Williamson (Cleburne County) 7-6, 7th. pinned Peyton Marrs (Ohatchee) 2-2, 7th.
120 Results
Championship Match: Fletcher Swindall (Alexandria) 16-1, Fr. def. Austin Turner (Cleburne County) 7-6, Sr. (For.).
Consolation Match: Emmanuel Thuo (Spain Park) 9-8, So. def. Thomas Brown (Saks) 8-7, So. (5-1).
126 Results
Championship Match: Preston Jarrell (Cleburne County) 9-3, So. def. Mathew Schmaltz (Alexandria) 13-5. (2-0).
Consolation Match: Harrison Shaull (Spain Park) 7-4, Fr. pinned Trenton Brown (Saks) 3-9, 7th.
132 Results
Championship Match: Zac Williamson (Cleburne County) 9-3, 8th. pinned Jeffrey Finley (Saks) 7-5.
Consolation Match: Dakota Medders (Alexandria) 0-1, So. (Bye).
138 Results
Championship Match: Andrew Kilgore (Saks) 13-1, So. def. Gannon Womack (Alexandria) 2-1, Jr. (Inj. 0:00).
Consolation Match: Jake Harrison (Spain Park) 11-11, Fr. pinned Braxton Marbury (Lincoln) 7-4, Jr.
145 Results
Championship Match: Jonathan Oliphant (Saks) 13-2, Jr. pinned Jude Graziono (Ohatchee) 2-1, So.
Consolation Match: Ashton Nichols (Spain Park) 6-6, Fr. def. Hunter Beason (Cleburne County) 2-2. (3-1).
152 Results
Championship Match: Judson Cash (Alexandria) 12-4, Jr. pinned Jacob Sharpe (Spain Park) 8-11, Fr.
Consolation Match: Tanner Henderson (Ohatchee) 1-1, Jr. pinned Katie Threatt (Lincoln) 2-4, 8th.
160 Results
Championship Match: Taylor Brown (Saks) 12-2, Sr. def. Hayden Pitts (Ohatchee) 1-1, Jr. (7-2).
Consolation Match: Cody Barnette (Cleburne County) 4-9, pinned over Randall Purdy (Alexandria) 7-12, 8th.
170 Results
Championship Match: Christian Knop (Alexandria) 17-0, Fr. pinned Noah Beam (Cleburne County) 10-5, Sr.
Consolation Match: Devontae Garrett (Saks) 1-1, pinned Michael Sheffield (Cleburne County) 0-2.
182 Results
Championship Match: Sam Pate (Cleburne County) 11-4, Jr. def. Phillip Gaddy (Alexandria) 8-8, Sr. (7-0).
Consolation Match: Dawson Wells (Saks) 6-6, So. pinned Brandon Rogers (Cleburne County) 0-2.
195 Results
Championship Match: Ethen Handy (Saks) 10-4, Sr. pinned Christian Seale (Cleburne County) 5-7, 8th.
Consolation Match: Michael Beason (Alexandria) 5-11, So. def. Wes Salter (Cleburne County) 1-2. (6-0).
220 Results
Championship Match: Caleb Montgomery (Ohatchee) 2-0, Jr. pinned Jack McCormick (Alexandria) 11-4, So.
Consolation Match: Travis Bell (Cleburne County) 7-6, Sr. def. Ryan Campbell (Spain Park) 1-2, So. (9-4).
285 Results
Championship Match: Zabian Smith (Lincoln) 9-1, Sr. pinned Daniel Longoria (Alexandria) 10-3, Sr.
Consolation Match: Jordan Brooks (Saks) 11-5, So. pinned Trent Pate (Cleburne County) 4-12, 8th.
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