E.A. Sports Today

Jackets fall short

Gardendale ends Oxford’s reign as Class 6A State Duals kings, finally solves Yellow Jackets in third attempt
 
BIRMINGHAM – For the first time in the four-year history of the tournament, Oxford came home from the State Wrestling Duals championship in second place.
 
The third time was the charm for Gardendale as the Rockets downed the Yellow Jackets 40-26 to erase two years of frustration and snap the Yellow Jackets’ three-year hold on the Class 6A Wrestling Duals tournament championship.

Oxford beat Gardendale 42-27 for the title in 2019 and 30-23 in 2018. This time, the Rockets (16-5) started fast and never let up on the way to their convincing win.
 
Derrick Orvik posted an 11-0 major decision in the opening 182-pound match and Matt Franks followed with a pin at 195 to get the Rockets started. Gardendale then won four matches in a row (106, 113, 120, 126) to take a commanding lead.
 
A major decision by Chase Hicks (132) and pins by Jakob Chisolm (138) and Kendrick Young (145) kept a glimmer of hope for the Jackets (19-14). Gardendale clinched it with Russ Boackle’s pin at 152.

CLASS 1A-5A
Arab 45, Ranburne 28

The Knights (36-2) fell behind early in the bigger weight divisions that opened the match, but the little guys got them on track for the program’s third 1A-5A duals title in four years. Arab won in 2017 and 2018, but Scottsboro won in 2019.
 
The Bulldogs (16-5) jumped out to a quick 19-0 lead winning the 182, 195, 220 and 285, Arab dominated the lighter weights winning seven of the next eight matches. Cabe Dunn and Jacob Holland got the streak going at 106 and 113 pounds with pins in just 33 and 13 seconds.
 
Spencer Jordan (160) closed out Ranburne’s first appearance in the Duals finals with a pin in just 47 seconds.

CLASS 7A
Thompson 41, Vestavia Hills 24
 
Thompson was making its third appearance in four years, also winning the title in 2019 and finishing as runner-up in 2018. Vestavia Hills won the first 7A duals crown in 2017 and was making its second appearance in the duals’ four-year history.
 
Vestavia Hills’ Dawson Ray turned in the fastest win with a pin just 34 seconds into his 285-pound match. Rebels teammate Jacob Gammill started the match with a pin at 1:55 in the 182-pound match. Thompson rallied to win nine matches with Michael Jackson (195) and Wilson Kennedy (138) wining by fall.

The AHSAA state wrestling playoffs get underway with Super Sectional competition at Bill Harris Arena and Montgomery’s Garrett Coliseum Feb. 7-8. The State Championships will be at Huntsville’s Von Braun Center Feb. 13-15.
 
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH RESULTS
CLASS 6A
Gardendale 40, Oxford 26
106: Daishun Powe (G) pinned Zachary Follett, 4:39. 
113: Isaiah Powe (G) pinned Kaleb Shelton, 3:23.
120: Melton Powe (G) pinned Preston Smith, 2:15.
126: Brody Scoggin (G) dec. Michael Howell, 7-6.
132: Chase Hicks (O) maj. dec. Luis Sanchez,10-2.
138: Jakob Chisolm (O) pinned Devyn Scoggins, 1:13. 
145: Kendrick Young (O) pinned Vincent Ziegler, 4:10.
152: Russ Boackle (G) pinned Jaydon Thomas, 1:27.
160: Carson Kim (G) dec. Reed Hill, 14-8.
170: Tristen Latham (O) dec. Kenndy Wyatt, SV-1 14-12.
182: Derrick Orvik (G) maj. dec. Mason Blackwell, 11-0.
195: Matt Franks (G) pinned Chanceton Holifield, 2:28.
220: Octavius Adair (O) maj. dec. Jeremy Simpson, 11-3.
285: Kobe Shumaker (O) dec. Riley Dunn, 13-11.

CLASS 1A-5A
Arab 45, Ranburne 28
106: Cade Dunn (A) pinned Braden Driver, 0:33.
113:Jacob Holland (A) pinned Nate Merrill, 0:13.
120: Austin Silva (A) tech. fall over Brent Lovvorn,16-1.
126: Zack Buchanan (R) dec, Dakoda Long, 6-3.
132: Johsua Roe (A) pinned John Lexin Caldwell, 5:56.
138:Patrick Lawler (A) pinned Hunter Hollis, 5:21.
145: Kaden King (A) pinned Jared McGinnis, 2:39.
152: Michael Myslinski (A) pinned Rya Van Pelt, 2:39.
160: Spencer Jordan (R) pinned Caleb Roe, 0:47.
170: Ryan Morelan (A) maj. dec. Damon Calhoun, 21-10.
182: Jeremiah McCord (R) pinned Christian Eaton, 3:56.
195: Christian Smith (R) dec. Sam Atchley, 6-2.
220: Carson Hall (R) maj. dec. Xander Shipp,10-2.
285: Ben Buchanan (R) pinned Skylar Rodgers, 1:58.
 
CLASS 7A
Thompson 41, Vestavia Hills 24
106:  Blaise Albarado (T) dec. Zach Flurry, SV-1 10-8.
113:  Yanni Vines (T) maj. dec. Hasting Roberts,15-5.
120: Christopher Hays (VH) dec. Cory Jones, 5-3. 
126: James Latona (T) tech. fall over Bryant Segars, 19-4.
132: Emmanuel Oliver (T) maj. dec. Leighton Reese, 13-4.
138: Wilson Kennedy (T) pinned Luke Maluff, 2:23.
145: Jack Lamey (VH) maj. dec. Will Garrett, 10-0.
152: Will Miller (T) maj. dec. Chandler Merrill, 10-2.
160: Ashunti Perry (T) dec. John Edwards, 9-3.
170: Sam Willoughby (VH) tech. fall over William Browder, 18-1.
182: Jacob Gammill (VH) pinned Carson Freeman, 1:55.
195: Michael Jackson (T) pinned Trey Saunders, 5:50.
220: Alex Ward (T) pinned Bryce Littleton, 2:15.
285:Dawson Ray (VH) pinned Tucker Hutson, 0:34.

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