Going for gold
- Updated: February 15, 2019
8 Calhoun, Cleburne county wrestlers going to state titles Saturday; here are title matches in Class 1A-5A and 6A
By East Alabama Sports Today
HUNTSVILLE — Eight wrestlers from Calhoun and Cleburne counties, including Alexandria senior Christian Knop’s bid at state history, will be vying for individual state championships Saturday during the final day of the AHSAA Wrestling Championships at the VonBraun Center.
Knop will be looking to become the state’s first four-time undefeated state champion when he faces Corner sophomore Cole Fuller in the Class 1A-5A 195-pound final.Knop is currently 70-0 and has a 234-match winning streak.If he wins Saturday, he will graduate with the third-longest winning streak in the nation, one shy of No. 2 all-time.
Teammates Fletcher Swindall and Jaden New also have state championship matches. New’s match will be an all-Calhoun County affair as he faces Weaver’s Cody Souder for the 132-pound title. Fletcher faces Jackson Howard of St. James in the 126-pound final.
“That’s awesome,” Alexandria coach Frank Hartzog said. “I’m just hoping we continue the trend of going 3-for-3 (in finals).”
Cleburne County’s Zachary Williamson faces Rashad Clark of Moody in the 152-pound final.
Oxford has three finalists in the Class 6A championships — Landon Burrage (126), Jakob Chisolm (145) and Reed Hill (152).
The Yellow Jackets also are chasing a third straight team title. They are currently in fourth place in a tight 6A race, 18 points behind leader Benjamin Russell. Only 3.5 points separate the top three teams.
NOTES: A total of 21 area wrestlers are guaranteed spots in the top six of their respective weight classes … Piedmont’s Logan Smith has the most pins so far (4). Weaver’s Caleb Allison has the fastest total time among the 24 wrestlers with three pins (2:17) … Benjamin Russell’s Ryan Spradley (6A 160) and Wetumpka’s Mason Blackwell (6A 170) are both 15thseeds wrestling in championship matches … Thompson leads 7A with a record 151.5 points. The Warriors’ Gabe Hixenbaugh (138) will be looking to become the seventh wrestler to win five state titles. … McAdory’s Steve Bell (90-0) can set the state single-season victory record and tie the national mark if wins at 132.
TEAM SCORES
Class 1A-5A Top 15: Moody 132.5, Arab 127, Scottsboro 115, Alexandria 87.5, St. James 82, Southside 73.5, Mortimer Jordan 68, Elmore County 65, Hayden 59.5, Ranburne 59.5, Tallassee 57, Dora 56, Jasper 55, Weaver 54, St. John Paul II 45..
Class 6A Top 10: Benjamin Russell 128, McAdory 126, Wetumpka 124.5, Oxford 110, Clay-Chalkville 93, Gulf Shores 81, Gardendale 78, Helena 78.
AHSAA Wrestling Championships
Saturday’s Championship Matches
CLASS 1A/5A Finals
106 pounds: Cory Land, Moody (46-0), Fr. vs. Jacob Holland, Arab (69-5), So.
113 pounds: Parker Dodd, Moody (58-10), So. vs. Jackson Elder, American Christian (33-1), Sr.
120 pounds: Jacob Dease, Southside-Gadsden (58-5), So. vs. Will Jefcoat, Moody (34-4), Sr.
126 pounds: Jackson Howard, Saint James (41-2), Sr. vs. Fletcher Swindall, Alexandria, (62-1), Sr.
132 pounds: Cody Souder, Weaver (64-10), So. vs. Jaden New, Alexandria (65-2), Fr.
138 pounds: Garrett McClendon, Arab (66-7), Sr. vs. Evan Vieira, New Hope (35-5), Jr.
145 pounds: Zeke Smotherman, Madison County (30-4), Jr. vs. Sage Hughes, Moody (65-7), Sr.
152 pounds: Rashad Clark, Moody (65-2), Sr. vs. Zachary Williamson, Cleburne County (44-3), Jr.
160 pounds: Colby Hallmark, Hayden (58-4), Sr. vs. Jayson Spencer, St. John Paul II Catholic (38-2), Sr.
170 pounds: Gerrard McCarron, St. John Paul II Catholic (35-2), Sr. vs. Damian Ramirez, Scottsboro (37-3), Sr.
182 pounds: Kolton Clark, Scottsboro (35-1), Sr. vs. Andy Baker, Tallassee (24-1), Sr.
195 pounds: Cole Fuller, Corner (48-6) So. vs. Christian Knop, Alexandria (70-0), Sr.
220 pounds: Caleb Anderson, Scottsboro (31-6), Sr. vs. Skyler Mizzell, St. Clair County (58-4), Sr.
285 pounds: Michael Barnes, Mortimer Jordan (39-5) Sr. vs. Ronny Henderson, Dora (45-6), Jr.
CLASS 6A Finals
106 pounds: Blake Isbell, Pell City (45-10), Jr. vs. Xander McWilliams, Wetumpka (67-4), So.
113 pounds: Tyrique Simms, Mae Jemison (29-12), So. vs. Michael Moran, Helena (45-6), Jr.
120 pounds: Gabriel Warren, Spanish Fort (73-7), Fr. vs. Kyler Adams, Wetumpka (64-3, So.
126 pounds: Landon Burrage, Oxford (51-10), Sr. vs. Will Miller, Helena (49-6), So.
132 pounds: Robert Graham, Benjamin Russell (45-14) vs. Steven Bell, McAdory (90-0), Sr.
138 pounds: Deacon Cowart, Athens (33-5), Sr. vs. Blake Crocker, Pinson Valley (26-13), Jr.
145 pounds: Desmond Pearson, Mae Jemison (38-2), Jr. vs. Jakob Chisolm, Oxford (58-4), So.
152 pounds: Reed Hill, Oxford (58-3), Jr. vs. Sason Coker, Benjamin Russell (63-8), Jr.
160 pounds: Tracy Reed, Pinson Valley (28-5), Jr. vs. Ryan Spradley, Benjamin Russell (64-10), Sr.
170 pounds: Hezekiah Hunter, Benjamin Russell (42-9), Jr. vs. Mason Blackwell, Wetumpka (71-2), So.
182 pounds: Noah Barclay, Wetumpka (54-3), Sr. vs. Turner Black, McAdory (89-1), Sr.
195 pounds: A.J. Talton, Clay-Chalkville (45-1), Sr. vs. Braiden Williams, Baldwin County (44-1), Sr.
220 pounds: Carlos Figueroa, Homewood (43-0), Sr. vs. Damien Lawry, Benjamin Russell (41-3), Jr.
285 pounds: Jack Jones, Clay-Chalkville (43-1), Sr. vs. Curtis Norris, Benjamin Russell (38-7), Jr.
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