Alabama 7A State Semifinals
Thompson downs Smiths Station 41-33
It was over when … say what you will, but in reality it was over when Latona took a forfeit at 145 to put Thompson up 31-0. It wasn’t officially over until Carson Freeman pined Wylie Shoemaker at 170.
Thompson jumped out to a commanding 31-0 lead and never looked back. Kyle Fontenot and Ayden Rice each got falls at 152 and 160 to narrow the lead to 31-12, but Thompson didn’t even use returning State Champ Will Garrett or State Runner-up Thomas Giere. Carson Freeman shut the door on any comeback at 170 with a fall of Shoemaker making the lead 37-12 and with 5 matches remaining it was done. Lance Peterson, Kyle Watson, and Steven Flagg each added wins (and falls) to the final score, but it wouldn’t be enough and Thompson advanced 41-33.
Vestavia Hills wins crucial toss up matches to down Hewitt 31-21
It was over when … Clay Johnston battled Lucas Reaves to a 2-1 decision loss at 152 … the final was in doubt until that moment, but Hewitt needed a fall from Reaves that wasn’t likely to happen. In reality it was probably over when Carson Farris and Andrew Sullivan won close hard fought matches at 132 and 138 to put Vestavia up 28-12 with 4 matches remaining.
Exceptional dual between two outstanding teams. I missed the early action, but was able to watch more than half of the dual through NFHS. Luke Golden got a huge fall of Austin Wilbanks with about 40 seconds remaining (in a match that was 10-9) to start the dual and if you were a Vestavia fan you had to feel like it was deja vu all over again (as Yogi Berra would say). John Edwards got a fall for Vestavia to tie it at 6 before Hunter Jones got a major at 195 … Chris Hawkins downed Lane Whisenhunt 11-4 (who was in for Andrew Sykes) and Hewitt took a 12-6 lead after the first 4 matches. Mitch Taylor got a 9-1 major over Zack Chatman at 295 to narrow the lead to 12-10 as we turned the corner to where the rubber would meet the road. Where Hewitt had won some crucial matches in their earlier meeting.
Stone Phillips topped Clark Box again 4-2 to put Vestavia on top 13-12. Cale Tucker (who was missing the first time around) stepped in at 113 and got a very important 4-0 decision of Bradley Hastings to increase Vestavia’s lead 15-12. Chris Weaver, who did not wrestle for Hewitt in the first meeting, trailed Mac Chandler 10-2 at 120 when Weaver hit a lateral drop that nearly brought down the gym. Chandler was able to fight off his back to get an escape and a takedown to get the win 13-7 … it was close, but as Cole Hunt says “horseshoes and hand grenades” … meaning close doesn’t mean anything. Zach Flurry rebounded from his loss to Dalton Zimmerman the last time out with a tough 4-2 win and the momentum had swung to Vestavia … the Rebels led 22-12 with 5 matches remaining.
Still if Hewitt could get the last 4 they would have a shot and both Delvecchio Alston and Thomas Shaffer had gotten wins in the last meeting - so we were far from finished. Carson Farris stayed in good position throughout his match with Alston and got a reversal in the second and a takedown in the 3rd to take a 5-0 win. Andrew Sullivan and Thomas Shaffer was the match as we came to the close … Shaffer got up 5-1 in the 1st and added another 4 points in the 2nd to take a commanding 9-3 lead into the 3rd. Sullivan got an escape and then 3 takedowns and a 3 point nearfall to outscore Shaffer 11-2 in the 3rd and get the win 14-11 … essentially sealing it for Vestavia. Logan Reaves got a quick 1st period fall of Will Hunton at 145 and the dual would come down to Lucas Reaves vs. Clay Johnston … once Johnston was able to keep it within a decision (a 2-1 loss) the dual was over. Harris Mitchell beat Andrew Shelton 2-1 in a great match, but one that did not have implications on the dual.
