E.A. Sports Today

Duals champs

Weaver’s glorious wrestling program achieves a first, defeating St. John Paul II then St. James to win Class 1A-4A state duals title.

Weaver receives its trophy after winning the program’s first state duals championship Friday at Birmingham CrossPlex. (Submitted photo)

By East Alabama Sports Today

BIRMINGHAM — Weaver’s wrestling program and glory are old friends, but even the Bearcats can achieve a first.

Weaver beat St. John Paul II 66-16 then St. James 42-23 in Friday’s Class 1A-4A state duals semifinals and finals to clinch the program’s first state duals title at Birmingham CrossPlex.

The Bearcats add a duals-format title to 11 conventional state titles, including 2022 and 2023.

Weaver’s duals state titles came hours after Weaver’s girls’ program finished off a fifth-place finish at state. The Class 3A Bearcats finished behind four Class 7A schools … champion Daphne, Central-Phenix City, Enterprise and Thompson. Weaver had 154 points, three behind Thompson.

The girls’ state tournament does not have classification-based divisions.

“Unreal,” Weaver coach Andy Fulmer said. “Really proud of our kids. Girls wrestled well these past two days. Boys wrestled tough and show so much grit and heart.

“This group of kids is scrappy and love each other so much. Really glad I’m a Bearcat. These kids are special.”

Weight-class winners against St. James included Gabriel Snyder (132), Dylan Brown (140), Gianluca Torres (146), Caden Thornton (159), Christopher Thornton (167), Brandon Jolliff (217), Cael Fulmer (108), Haiden Hise (122) and Dalton Fink (128).

Weaver’s weight-class winners against St.John Paul II were Fink (128), Snyder (132), Brown (140), Caden Thornton (159), Hunter Hise (177), Zachary Hooks (192), Jolliff (217), Caden Green (287), Fulmer (108) and Haiden Hise (122).

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