Freshman Helps Jasper end 52-year wrestling Championship drought as Vikings win 5A Duals title

By Josh Bean | For the AHSAA

Photos by Deana Russell

      BIRMINGHAM – After 13 individual matches in the in Friday’s Class 5A Wrestling Duals championship match, Tallassee High School clung to a 33-32 lead over Jasper with only the 120-pound matchup remaining.
     That made the meeting between Jasper freshman Kortez Samuels and Tallassee’s Brady Adams into a winner-take-all affair.

     Samuels (28-2) scored five quick points in the opening seconds and pinned Adams in the second period, clinching the 5A Duals title for the Vikings. Jasper won 38-33 at Bill Harris Arena at the Birmingham Crossplex.
      “I knew we were down one point, and I had to give my team my best,” Samuels said.
      Otis said he had confidence in Samuels, despite his 120-pounder being a freshman. “We knew with the pressure, he’d be able to handle it,” Otis said.
      Jasper captured its first wrestling title since winning the traditional state tournament in 1971, when the school was known as Walker County and all schools were in a single tournament with no classifications.
      “Wrestling at Jasper, aka Walker, wasn’t great for a long time,” Otis said. “The last few years, we’ve been competitive. I’m just extremely proud.”

      Jasper led 32-23 after 11 matches, but Tallassee’s Rutland Phillips won by pin at 108 pounds and Mason Nelson earned a major win to give the Tigers a 33-32 lead. Samuels’ pin then won it for the Vikings.
      Three other Jasper wrestlers joined Samuels with pinfall wins – Antonio Nash (132 pounds), Carter Reed (160 pounds) and Colin Langley (285 pounds).
      Tallassee, coached by John Mask, got consecutive pin victories by Ethan Jones (138 pounds, Land Bell (145 pounds) and Christian McCary (152 pounds).
    In the consolation match, Gulf Shores scored back-to-back pinfall victories by Hayden Cook at 113 pounds and Noah Guthrie at 120 pounds to earn a 37-27 victory over Hayden to take third place. Gulf Shores got four pins in the last five matches to rally for the win.

      For Hayden, coached by Samuel Crane, Bentley Briscoe (152 pounds) and Harley Briscoe (106 pounds) earned pinfall wins.
      Jasper’s victory gave Walker County two champions Friday. Dora won the 1A-4A duals crown earlier in the day. Huntsville also won the 7A championship and Mountain Brook captured the 6A title.

2023 AHSAA WRESTLING DUALS FINALS

CLASS 7A
7A DUALS FINALS
Huntsville (28-0) 59, Smiths Station (22-4) 6
7A DUALS CONSOLATION
Thompson (25-10) 62, Enterprise (22-4) 3

CLASS 6A
6A DUALS FINALS
Mountain Brook (14-4) 32, Mortimer Jordan (31-3) 27
6A DUALS CONSOLATION
Hartselle (17-2) 36, Wetumpka (14-3) 35

CLASS 5A
5A DUALS FINALS
Jasper (24-5) 38, Tallassee (23-1) 33
5A DUALS CONSOLATION
Gulf Shores (27-2) 37, Hayden (30-3) 27

CLASS 1A/4A
1A/4A DUALS FINALS
Dora (33-2) 39, Ranburne (23-3) 31
1A/4A DUALS CONSOLATION
Saint James (18-3) 36, New Hope (13-2) 30 

AHSAA Wrestling Duals Finals

Class 6A Championship Match
Mountain Brook (14-4) 32, Mortimer Jordan (31-3) 27
106 pounds: Wyatt Chavez, Mountain Brook dec. Amonte Fleming, Mortimer Jordan, Mag. Dec 10-2.
113 pounds: Caleb Wright, Mortimer Jordan dec. Stephen Springfield, Mountain Brook, 9-4.
120 pounds: Aiden Morris, Mortimer Jordan dec. Christopher Brown, Mountain Brook, 6-2.
126 pounds: Brodie Christmas, Mortimer Jordan dec. Douglas Johnson, Mountain Brook, 7-6.
132 pounds: Cruz Rainwater, Mortimer Jordan pinned Bill Bradford, Mountain Brook, Fall 1:14.
138 pounds: Nathan McCain, Mountain Brook dec. John Leon, Mortimer Jordan, 5-3.
145 pounds: Caden Todoroff, Mortimer Jordan pinned Stuart Andrews, Mountain Brook, Fall 1:34.
152 pounds: Jacob Horton, Mortimer Jordan dec. Coleman Bates, Mountain Brook, 4-2.
160 pounds: Judd Smith, Mountain Brook dec. Gavin Friese, Mortimer Jordan, 8-2.
170 pounds: Conner Horton, Mortimer Jordan dec. Sam Carroll, Mountain Brook, 7-3.
182 pounds: Jack Windle, Mountain Brook dec. Weston Tossie, Mortimer Jordan, 13-1 maj. dec.
195 pounds: Allen Baker, Mountain Brook pinned Terrence Bowie, Mortimer Jordan, Fall 2:59
220 pounds: William Courtenay, Mountain Brook pinned Jacob Anderson, Mortimer Jordan, Fall 1:00. 
285 pounds: Malik Barfield, Mortimer Jordan vs. Daniel Ellis, Mountain Brook

Class 6A Championship Consolation Match
Hartselle (17-2) 36, Wetumpka (14-3) 35 
106 pounds: Jacob Doshier, Hartselle pinned Eli Walsh, Wetumpka, Fall 0:56.
113 pounds: Ramon Lozada, Wetumpka) dec. Jackson Schutt Hartselle, 7-0.
120 pounds: Roman McWilliams, Wetumpka dec. Ethan Thorne, Hartselle, Tech Fall 16-0
126 pounds: Gage Roberts, Hartselle pinned Troy Watson Wetumpka),  Fall 0:52.
132 pounds: Lincoln Bryant, Hartselle won by forfeit
138 pounds: Tyler Mann, Wetumpka dec. Ethan England, Hartselle, 5-1
145 pounds: Chad Strickland, Wetumpka won by forfeit
152 pounds: Payton Roberts, Hartselle dec. Zach Crostwait, Wetumpka, 8-5.
160 pounds: Gage Ownby, Hartselle pinned Melvin Owens, Wetumpka, Fall 3:50.
170 pounds: Andrii Tymchenko, Hartselle pinned Eduardo Roblero, Wetumpka), Fall 1:58.
182 pounds: Jameson Falciani, Hartselle dec. Kaleb Robinson, Wetumpka, 8-1.
195 pounds: Jason Henegar, Wetumpka pinned Sam Ashley, Hartselle, Fall 2:31.
220 pounds: Christian Preston, Wetumpka pinned Brian Holt, Hartselle, Fall 1:52.
285 pounds: Willie Cox, Wetumpka pinned Brayden Huckabee, Hartselle, Fall 2:45. 

Class 5A Championship Match
Jasper (24-5) 38, Tallassee (23-1) 33 
106 pounds: Rutland Phillips, Tallassee pinned Leo Garcia, Jasper, Fall 1:18.
113 pounds: Mason Nelson, Tallassee dec. Ethan Cummings, Jasper, Maj. dec 9-0.
120 pounds: Kortez Samuels, Jasper pinned Brady Adams, Tallassee, Fall 2:33.
126 pounds: Ethan Caldwell, Jasper dec. Avery Brantley, Tallassee, Maj dec 15-4.
132 pounds: Antonio Nash, Jasper pinned Mason Ledbetter, Tallassee, Fall 0:48.
138 pounds: Ethan Jones, Tallassee pinned David Baradell, Jasper, Fall 4:57.
145 pounds: Land Bell, Tallassee pinned Jaylen Martinez, Jasper, Fall 4:25.
152 pounds: Christian McCary, Tallassee pinned Garrett Caldwell, Jasper, Fall 1:26.

160 pounds: Carter Reed, Jasper pinned Tra`Mel McCoy, Tallassee, Fall 3:08.

170 pounds: Luke Horsley, Jasper dec. Joseph Hooks, Tallassee, 12-7.

182 pounds: Caden Griffith, Tallassee) dec. Tyson Phillips, Jasper, Tech Fall, 17-2.
195 pounds: Jamie Burnam (Jasper) dec. Nolan Addeo, Tallassee, Maj dec 11-0.
220 pounds: Cole Carter, Jasper dec. Jude Rogers, Tallassee, 7-0.

285 pounds: Colin Langley, Jasper pinned Corbin Grover, Tallassee, Fall 1:40.

Class 5A Consolation Match
Gulf Shores (27-2) 37, Hayden (30-3) 27 
106 pounds: Harley Briscoe, Hayden pinned Abel Brantley, Gulf Shores, Fall 1:40.
113 pounds: Hayden Cook, Gulf Shores pinned Ashton Bunn, Hayden, Fall 2:44.
120 pounds: Noah Guthrie, Gulf Shores pinned Hudson Best, Hayden, Fall 5:30.
126 pounds: Dathan Butt, Gulf Shores dec. John Kelly, Hayden, Maj dec 11-1.
132 pounds: Ethan Sharkey, Gulf Shores dec. Tanner Vodosia, Hayden, 10-8.

138 pounds: Evan Phillips, Hayden dec. Taylor Cheek, Gulf Shores, Maj dec 12-2.

145 pounds: Stephen Nelson, Hayden dec. Charles Knight, Gulf Shores, 9-8.
152 pounds: Bentley Briscoe, Hayden pinned Miles Stoufflet, Gulf Shores, Fall 0:35.
160 pounds: Isaac O`Rear, Hayden dec. Cotton Crowell, Gulf Shores, 7-1.

170 pounds: Grant McGill, Hayden dec. Nicholas Carris, Gulf Shores. Tech Fall, 15-0.
182 pounds: Landon Everett, Gulf Shores dec. Deion Dubuisson, Hayden, 6-3. 
195 pounds: Griffen Price, Hayden vs. Lucas Salcedo, Gulf Shores
220 pounds: Jackson Russ, Gulf Shores won by forfeit 
285 pounds: Sam Schepker, Gulf Shores won by forfeit

Class 7A Championship Match
Huntsville (28-0) 59, Smiths Station (22-4) 6
106 pounds: Kiyan Simon, Huntsville dec. Eli Sanders, Smiths Station, Maj Dec 17-4.
113 pounds: Wallace Blue, Huntsville pinned Dustin Dunbar, Smiths Station, Fall 4:20.
120 pounds: Timothy Luttrell, Smiths Station dec. Jack Carter, Huntsville, 6-0.
126 pounds: Joseph Sowell, Huntsville dec. Jaden Sanford, Smiths Station, 6-1.
132 pounds: Yanik Simon, Huntsville pinned Craig Harris, Smiths Station, Fall 1:57.
138 pounds: Jake Ciccolrella, Huntsville dec. Bryson McDonald, Smiths Ststion, MAJ Dec 16-6.

145 pounds: Brock Fields, Huntsville pinned Andrew Bryant, Smiths Station, Fall 1:18.
152 pounds: Noah Gross, Huntsville pinned Al Williams, Smiths Station, Fall 0:30.
160 pounds: John McKinney, Huntsville pinned Nathaniel Jarmon, Smiths Station, Fall 1:48.
170 pounds: Kylan Pace, Smiths Station dec. Daniel Bennett, Huntsville, 12-6.
182 pounds: Dalton Wood, Huntsville pinned Erik Short, Smiths Station, Fall 2:00.
195 pounds: Griffin McKinney, Huntsville dec. Robert Sanborn, Smiths Station,TB-1 6-4.
220 pounds: Todd Whitmire, Huntsville dec. Lance Peterson, Smiths Station, 5-2.
285 pounds: Bradley Wilburn, Huntsville pinned Ken Felder, Smiths Station, Fall 0:43.

Class 7A Consolation Match
Thompson (25-10) 68, Enterprise (22-4) 3 
106 pounds: Will Arkinson, Thompson pinned Karter Stiffler, Enterprise, Fall 0:25.
113 pounds: Caleb Gray-Lowe, Thompson dec. Paxton Hanshaw, Enterrose, Maj. Dec 14-2.
120 pounds: Thomas Giere, Thompson dec. Kameron Stiffler, Enterprise, Maj. Dec 10-2.
126 pounds: Grier Hunt, Enterprise dec. Jordan Weltzin, Thompson, 2-0.
132 pounds: Kiowa Vines, Thompson pinned Samuel Bright, Enterprise, Fall 4:23.
138 pounds: Nick Dempsey, Thompson pinned Konner Galvez, Enterprise, Fall 0:46.
145 pounds: Parker Edmondson, Thompson pinned Kaemon Smith, Enterprise, Fall 1:45.
152 pounds: Devin Stone, Thompson dec. Cody Kirk, Enterprse, TB-1 7-4.
160 pounds: Paxton Miller, Thompson pinned Samuel Lynon, Enterprise, Fall 4:21.
170 pounds: Carson Freeman, Thompson dec. Kody Sigmon, Enterprise, Maj Dec 15-1. 
182 pounds: Nathan Black, Thompson pinned Brandon Bethea, Enterprise, Fall 1:19.
195 pounds: Barron Criddle, Thompson dec. Marcus Holder, Enterprise, Tech Fall 16-0.
220 pounds: Avery Clark, Thompson pinned Xavier Henderson, Enterprise, Fall 1:32.
285 pounds: Dylan Marquess, Thompson won by forfeit

Class 1A/4A Championship Match
Dora (33-2) 39, Ranburne (23-3) 31 
106 pounds: Carter Driver, Ranburne pinned Nigel Bailey, Dora, Fall 0:30.
113 pounds: Hunter Hulsey, Ranburne dec. Jamell Saxton, Dora, Maj dec 12-0.
120 pounds: Brody Horner, Ranburne pinned Dracen Stewart, Dora, Fall 1:41.
126 pounds: Jayden Rouse, Dora pinned Braden Driver, Ranburne, Fall 4:33.

132 pounds: Peyton Hallman, Dora dec. Cash Ward, Ranburne. Maj dec. 16-9.
138 pounds: Damon Clayton, Dora dec. Brent Lovvorn, Ranburne, Maj dec. 9-0.
145 pounds: Connor Roberts, Dora pinned Miles Williamson, Ranburne, Fall 3:10.
152 pounds:  John Lexin Caldwell, Ranburne pinned Ashton Gilmore-Smith, Dora, Fall 1:34.

160 pounds:  Delvin Taylor, Dora dec. Curtis Daniel, Ranburne, Maj 13-5.
170 pounds:  Zack Buchanan, Ranburne dec. Aiden Richardson, Dora, Dec 8-3.
182 pounds:  Jonathan Foster, Dora pinned Lane Lipham, Ranburne, Fall 0:33.
195 pounds:  Cameron Richardson, Dora pinned Isaac Calvert, Ranburne, Fall 3:34.
220 pounds:  Camerson Gosha, Dora dec. Zaden Benefield, Ranburne, Dec 5-2.

285 pounds: Carson Hall, Ranburne pinned Grady Goodwin, Dora, Fall 0:54

Class 1A/4A Consolation Match
Saint James (18-3) 36, New Hope (13-2) 30 
106 pounds: Noah Raines, St James dec. Christian Beckwith, New Hope, 11-4.

113 pounds: Cameron Sharp, New Hope dec. Luke Robbins, St James, 7-1.

120 pounds: Adrian Waugh, New Hope pinned Andrew Shalayda, St James, Fall 0:34.
126 pounds: Braylen Corley, St James pinned Charles Haywood, New Hope, Fall 2:35.
132 pounds: Logan Hartson, St. James pinned Ethan Hunter, New Hope, Fall 0:44.
138 pounds: Miles Zukowski, St. James pinned Hunter Welch, New Hope, Fall 2:39.
145 pounds: Emmett Rasmussen, St. James  dec. Taft Dempsey, New Hope. 14-7.
152 pounds: Cody Lenhardt, New Hope won by forfeit
160 pounds: Ricky Toney, New Hope dec. Jake Huff, St James, 12-5.

170 pounds: Layton Pohl, New Hope wins forfeit
182 pounds: Pruitt Conner, St James dec. Danny Fuell, New Hope, 9-4.
195 pounds: Brooks Bacheler, St James dec. Jaydon Smitherman, New Hope, 4-3.
220 pounds: A.J. Alozie, St. James wins forfeit
285 pounds: Stephen Walls, New Hope pinned Jake Streeton, St James, Fall 1:14.