E.A. Sports Today

Sectional finals

Weaver, Ranburne finish second in their respective Class 1A-4A Super Sectionals; 15 area wrestlers win sectional titles, 66 qualify for state

By East Alabama Sports Today

BIRMINGHAM — Defending state wrestling champion Weaver will return to the state tournament in force.

The Bearcats took second in the Class 1A-4A division of the AHSAA North Super Sectional, which concluded Saturday at Birmingham CrossPlex, and qualified 10 wrestlers for next week’s state tournament in Huntsville.

Two-time state champion J.D. Johannson won in the 170-pound weight class in Birmingham. Dalton Fink (106) and Anthony Usry (182) took second.

The  Bearcats got third-place finishes from Gianluca Torres (138), DaShawn Kirby Barnes (145), Brandon Joliff (195) and Hayden Ransom (220).

Also qualifying for state were Haiden Hise (sixth, 113), Hunter Hise (sixth, 152) and Caden Thornton (fourth, 160).

“I feel good,” Weaver coach Andy Fulmer said. “We had 10 that qualified, and all 10 were in automatically after last night. Three others were in consolations, and two of those three were one match away. We almost had 12.”

Weaver won the 1A-4A state title in 2022, edging Ohatchee by one point.

Realignment moved Weaver from south to north for this year, and the Bearcats finished second to Ashville at this weekend’s North Super Sectional, 214.5-204. 

Down 24 after Friday, Weaver gained ground Saturday.

Weaver qualified seven wrestlers for state last year and won coming out of what was considered to be the weaker super sectional. A year later, the Bearcats got 10 wrestlers through despite a roster that includes nine junior-high and junior-varsity kids.

“We have an even number (this year) and don’t have a big gap in our lineup,” Fulmer said. “We scored more points in the North than we did last year, winning it in the South.”

As for other area teams of note:

— Ohatchee tied Deshler for seventh with 104 points. Briley Carter won the 106 division, and Matthew King won in 152. Other state qualifiers included Jaxon Tuiolosega (sixth, 120) and Cody Freer (sixth, 182). 

— White Plains was ninth at 103.5. Tanner Jarrell won the 113 division, and Mason Hahm took first in 120. Other state qualifiers: Tanner Stephens (sixth, 126) and Luke Campbell (third, 182).

— Pleasant Valley edged Piedmont 71.5-70 for 11th place with three state qualifiers: Baron House (third, 132); Zeke Curvin (second, 195); and Connor Crump (second, 285).

— Piedmont had three state qualifiers: Izak Duke (third, 126), Caleb Tidwell (fourth, 145); and ChrisJon Gurley (second, 220).

1A-4A South Super Sectional

Ranburne took second with 173.5 points. St. James won with 182.5. Saks (148) was third, Cleburne County (142) fourth, Wellborn (79) 12th. 

State qualifiers from area teams:

— For Ranburne, Curtis Daniel took the top podium spot in 160, and Zack Buchanan won 170. Carson Hall continued his dominance in 285 with a first-place finish. Hall improved to 46-0 after being extended to full time for only the second time this season in his title match.

Other state qualifiers for the Bulldogs: Carter Driver (third, 106), Braden Driver (sixth, 126), Miles Williamson (sixth, 145), John Lexin Caldwell (sixth, 152), Zaden Benefield (sixth, 220)

— For Saks, Trent Hopkins took first in 113, and Ramond Pearson was first in 220.

Other state qualifiers for the Wildcats: Tristen Garrett (fourth, 106); Truth Thurman (third, 126); Triumph Thurman (sixth, 138); and John Bussey (fourth, 152).

— Cleburne County’s Austen Mayfield won the 132 division, and Bryton Clay took first in 182.

Other state qualifiers for the Tigers: Jackson Letson (sixth, 120); and Noah Morgan (sixth, 132).

— Andrew Salter led Wellborn with a second-place finish in 120.

Other state qualifiers for the Panthers: Ahmad Noel (fourth, 120); Noah Screws (fourth, 138); and Dylan Murdaugh (sixth, 182).

6A North Super Sectional

Oxford finished ninth with 67 points. Winner Mortimer Jordan had 220.

Calhoun County tournament most valuable wrestler Garrett Howell took fourth in 152, and Caleb Tinner was second in 285.

Other state qualifiers for Oxford: Karlise Hubbard (sixth, 106); and Xavier Deramus (sixth, 220).

Class 5A North Super Sectional

Calhoun County champion Alexandria took sixth with 84.5 points, and Southside was seventh with 82.5. Lincoln (68.5) took ninth.

Jasper (170) edged second-place Scottsboro (165) to win.

— Preston Jones won the 120 division to lead Alexandria. Joseph Lomax (fourth, 138) was the Valley Cubs’ other state qualifier. 

— Southside’s state qualifiers: Thomas Norris (fourth, 106); Colyn Finley (third, 126); Peyton Adams (fourth, 132); and Logan Lacharite (fourth, 152).

— Lincoln’s Jamichael Finley took runnerup in 132. 

The Golden Bears’ other state qualifiers: Rhett Walters (fourth, 182); and Braxton Harmon (fourth, 220).

Class 1A-4A North

Team scores (top 15): Ashville 214.5, Weaver 204, Dora 146, New Hope 126, St. John Paul II 116.5, Corner 114, Deshler 104, Ohatchee 104, White Plains 103.5, Madison County 100, Madison County 100, Pleasant Valley 71.5, Piedmont 70, Cherokee County 60, Fultondale 53, Wilson 33.

Championship matches
106: Briley Carter (Ohatchee) maj. dec. Dalton Fink (Weaver), 11-3
113: Tanner Jarrell (White Plains) pinned Benjamin Santy (St. John Paul II), 3:59
120: Mason Hahm (White Plains) pinned Jayden Rouse (Dora), 1:37
126: Marcus Wright (Westminster Christian) pinned Nathan Cox (Madison County), 1:51
132: Damon Clayton (Dora) maj. dec. Camden Hamric (Susan Moore), 9-0
138: David Herrick (Cherokee County) dec. Brooks Balentine (Deshler), 7-0
145: Jack Von Eschenbach (St. John Paul II) dec. Nick Williamson (Ashville), 9-7
152: Matthew King (Ohatchee) pinned Tyler Ebner (Ashville), 5:22
160: Devon Jeffreys (Deshler) dec. Ricky Toney (New Hope), 9-4
170: J.D. Johannson (Weaver) pinned Layton Pohl (New Hope), 3:15
182: Jonathan Foster (Dora) pinned Anthony Usry (Weaver), 5:43
195: Mason Ellis (Madison County) pinned Zeke Curvin (Pleasant Valley), 2:56
220: Layden Olson (Ashville) dec. ChrisJohn Gurley (Piedmont), 2-0
285: Mason Wilson (Ashville) pinned Connor Crump (Pleasant Valley), 1:59 

Area qualifiers for state
WEAVER: Haiden Hise (113), Gianluca Torres (138), DeShawn Kirby Barnes (145), Hunter Hise (152), Caden Thornton (160), Brandon Jolliff (195), Hayden Ransom (220).
OHATCHEE: Jaxon Tuiolosega (120), Cody Freer (182).
WHITE PLAINS: Tanner Stevens (126), Luke Campbell (182).
PLEASANT VALLEY: Baron House (132).
PIEDMONT: Izak Duke (126), Caleb Tidwell (145).
CHEROKEE COUNTY: Kurtis Soles (132), Joe Rayborn (152).

Class 1A-4A South

Team scores (top 15): St. James 182.5, Ranburne 173.5, Saks 148, Cleburne County 142, Prattville Christian 129, Montgomery Catholic 117, American Christian 115, ASB 98, W.S. Neal 93.5, Oak Grove 89.5, Montevallo 89, Wellborn 79, Orange Beach 77, Escambia County 76.5, Reeltown 73.5.

Championship matches
106: David Hill (Oak Grove) tech fall Drake Wood (Reeltown), 17-1 (2:15)
113: Trent Hopkins (Saks) maj. dec. Harry Grant (Beulah), 8-0
120: Braylen Corley (St. James) dec. Brysen Pugh (Prattville Christian), 8-6
126: Fisher Deason (American Christian) dec. Logan Hartson (St. James), 9-8
132: Shayd Arboneaux (Orange Beach) dec. Joseph Rodriguez (Montgomery Catholic), 8-5
138: Austen Mayfield (Cleburne County) dec. Daymon Winfrey (ASB), 7-2
145: Gavin Monk (Montevallo) dec. Nick Brawdy (Satsuma), 8-7
152: Nydariun Jones (ASB) pinned Jake Huff (St. James), 3:36
160: Curtis Daniel (Ranburne) pinned Caleb Mullenix (American Christian), 1:34
170: Zack Buchanan (Ranburne) dec. Andrew Gil (Houston Academy), 4-0
182: Bryton Clay (Cleburne County) pinned Jake Dean (Montgomery Catholic), 1:49
195: Ansel Stinnett (American Christian) over Chase Sterling (Orange Beach), med. forfeit
220: Ramond Pearson (Saks) pinned Andrew Salter (Wellborn), 3:07
285: Carson Hall (Ranburne) dec. Aidan Cockrell (Prattville Christian), 5-0

Area qualifiers for state
RANBURNE: Carter Driver (106), Braden Driver (126), Miles Williamson (145), John Lexin Caldwell (152), Caden Benefield (220).
SAKS: Tristen Garrett (106), Truth Thurman (126), Triumph Thurman (138), John Bussey (152).
CLEBURNE COUNTY: Jackson Letson (120), Noah Morgan (132).
ASB: Ricky Weaver (120), Christopher Weaver (170).
WELLBORN: Ahmad Noel (120), Noah Screws (138), Dylan Murdaugh (182).

Class 5A North

Team scores (top 10): Jasper 196, Scottsboro 178, Arab 174.5, Hayden 151.5, Moody 116.5, Southside-Gadsden 85.5, Alexandria 84.5, St. Clair County 77.5, Lincoln 71.5, East Limestone 71.

Championship matches
120: Preston Jones (Alexandria) pinned Erius Clark (Moody), 2:59
132: Ethan Caldwell (Jasper) pinned Jamichael Finley (Lincoln), 2:23

Area qualifiers for state
SOUTHSIDE: Thomas Norris (106), Colin Finley (126), Peyton Adams (132), Logan Lacharite (152)
ALEXANDRIA: Joseph Lomax (138)
LINCOLN: Rhett Walters (182), Braxton Harmon (220)

Class 6A North

Team scores (top 10): Mortimer Jordan 220, Gardendale 214.5, Hartselle 178, Fort Payne 136, Pell City 126.5, Athens 123, Mae Jemison 100, Clay Chalkville 79.5, Oxford 67, Hazel Green 53.

Championship matches
285: Gage Beyke (Gardendale) pinned Caleb Tinner (Oxford), 5:29
Oxford qualifiers for state: Karlise Hubbard (106), Garrett Howell (152), Xavier Deramus (220).

Cover photo: Weaver wrestlers celebrate their second-place finish at the AHSAA Class 1A-4A North Super Sectional on Saturday in Birmingham.

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