State Wrap up: Episode 7: The Ironmen from Alabama and Florida
One of the first things I look at when a state tournament finishes is … who was able to bounce back and fight their way back through to make the podium. If there is one attribute that epitomizes wrestling or wrestlers it is perseverance. And there are few better pieces of evidence than the ability to pick yourself up and fight back to make the podium when your goal was to win it all.
Each of the wrestlers below lost their first match and fought back to find a spot on the podium. Because each bracket is different (especially in Alabama 5A-6A) - being an “Ironman” or “Ironwoman” might be different from bracket to bracket. I like the term Ironman or Ironwoman because I think it captures in a single word what it takes - not only physical ability and determination, but also mental as well as psychological strength to battle back.
In Florida and Alabama 7A and 1A-4A - there were 16-man brackets and each places top 6. So to make the podium after losing your 1st round match you would need to win at least 3 in a row to make the podium (4 in a row to make top 4).
In Alabama 5A-6A - there were 32-man brackets and they placed top 8 … so to make the podium in Alabama 5A-6A you would need to win a minimum of 4 matches in a row to make the podium - 5 matches to make top 6 and 6 matches to make top 4. Just one wrestler lost in the 1st round and made the top 8 … none that lost that early made top 4 or top 6.
Congrats to each of the wrestlers below for finding a way to pick themselves up and fight back through the “backside”.
NOTE: South Carolina had 6-man brackets - too small to recognize an “Ironman” or “Ironwoman”.
Alabama
Andrew Allen (Prattville Christian) - 1A-4A 160 6th
Hayden Bradford (Huntsville) - 7A 285 6th
Zeke Curvin (Pleasant Valley) - 1A-4A 170 3rd
Malachi Goble (Ohatchee) - 1A-4A 138 6th
Baron House (Pleasant Valley) - 1A-4A 106 3rd
Jake Huff (St James) - 1A-4A 138 5th
Trace McCaleb (Benjamin Russell) - 5A-6A 220 8th
Ian McGowan (Cleburne County) - 1A-4A 126 6th
Max Morrow (Huntsville) - 7A 126 6th
Keane Robb (Sparkman) - 7A 170 6th
Joseph Soto (Central Phenix City) - 7A 106 6th
John Turner (Foley) - 7A 220 4th
Anthony Usry (Weaver) - 1A-4A 145 3rd
Billy Vercher (American Christian Academy) - 1A-4A 220 4th
Gavin Wright (Cleburne County) - 1A-4A 182 5th
Florida
Richard Albert (Cape Coral) - 2A 106 6th
Luis Bellon (Mater Lakes) - 1A 132 6th
Jackson Brockett (Boone) - 3A 182 6th
Davis Deal (Winter Springs) - 2A 145 6th
Maks Dimarov (East Lake) - 3A 182 5th
Bryce Dodge (Flagler Palm Coast) - 3A 170 5th
Sam Fleming (Hernando) - 1A 285 5th
Corey Gallivan (Miami Palmetto) - 3A 120 6th
Joe Gallo (Springstead) - 2A 138 5th
Emil Ganim (Florida High) - 1A 138 6th
Connor Hueck (Miami Southridge) - 2A 120 6th
Brayden Johnson (Newsome) - 3A 113 6th
Kobe Litov (East Lake) - 3A 120 5th
Elijah Ortiz (Palm Beach Gardens) - 3A 126 6th
Joe Santana (Jesuit) - 2A 182 6th
Tyler Savastano (Jensen Beach) - 1A 132 5th
Fletcher Small (Harmony) - 2A 138 4th
Seth Suvak (Colonial) - 3A 195 5th
Isaiah Wilson (Wakulla) - 1A 126 6th