State of the Program - John Carroll (AL) - Boys
Coaching Staff:
Dr Coach TJ Zito, Jr (4yrs)
Dr. Coach Wendy Zito
State Qualifiers over the last 9 years
2023 Recap:
18th at the 5A Traditional State Tournament
Individuals:
Alex Plaia - SQ at 145
Sequoah Hicks - SQ at 120
Jay Zito - SQ at 126
Graduated:
2023-2024
Returners (Grade):
120 Caiden Gaines
126 Sequoah Hicks
132 Jay Zito
138 Gill Leffell
144 Bobby O'Farrell
157 Jimmy McMillan
165 Alex Plaia
190 Charlie Boone
Keep an eye on:
Multiple underclassmen have signed up to fill in lower weight classes (106, 113) and for 215lbs, 285 lbs. There will be new faces this year working to fill out all 14 weight classes for the first time since the reboot of 2018.
Senior Gill Leffell was new last season but will break the starting lineup at 138lbs this year. Gill has attended off-season club wrestling and participated in the Deep South Nationals Duals on Team Alabama Elite Gold.
Sophomore Caiden Gaines returns, moving up to 120lbs. Caiden had many key pins late in the season, including placing 4th in the Oxford-Mississippi Charger Classic. Gaines almost qualified for the 5a state tournament last year, falling in the consolation semis.
Full Quote from Coach Zito:
JC returns eight starters, three of whom are state qualifiers, and all had winning records last season. This is the most experience that has returned since the program rebooted in 2018 after a 15-year layoff in 2003. 2023-2024 will be the last season for Dr. Coach TJ Zito and Dr. Coach Wendy to head the program.
The team will be captained by Jay Zito (12th) 132 lbs and Jimmy McMillan 157 lbs (11th). Jay Zito was a founding member of the reboot team in 2018, a four-year starter, and a two-time state qualifier. Jimmy McMillan is a three-year starter, and just narrowly missed last year's state tournament falling in the super sectional consolation semis.
Both Jay and Jimmy have participated and competed throughout the offseason, with each placing in multiple off-season tournaments. Highlights include Jay Zito placing 3rd at 132lbs in Alabama State Freestyle Championships and Jimmy McMillan placing 3rd at the Battle of Bama 160lbs. Both wrestlers participated with Team Alabama Elite Gold at this year's Deep South National Team Duals tournament.
Last season, Jay Zito at 126lbs went undefeated through the regular season, placing 1st at the Leeds Matt Tice Invitational, 1st at the Oxford-Mississippi Charger Classic, and 2nd place in 5a South Super Sectionals. Jimmy McMillan, at 160lbs, placed 1st at the Oxford-Missippi Charger Classic and recorded over 30 wins last season.
Returning state qualifiers Sequoah Hicks (126lbs) and Alex Plaia (165lbs) are dual sport athletes playing football. Both had multiple tournament placements last season, including Sequoah Hicks 1st place victory in Oxford, Mississippi Charger Classic, where he was named most valuable wrestler. Sequoah Hicks also placed 3rd in 5a super sectionals south division at 120lbs. Alex Plaia placed 2nd last season at the Leeds Matt Tice Invitational and 4th place at the 5a super sectionals south division at 145lbs.
SEWrestle NOTE: The program has steadily improved since it returned in 2018. Coach Zito has made a positive impact on the program that now includes three returning State Qualifiers. Rising Senior Jay Zito won matches last year in Huntsville and should be the leader of the squad. Alex Plaia and Sequoah Hicks both qualified a year ago and will look to do so again in 2024. John Carroll could finish with 3 state placers, but the trio will need to continue to make gains in order for that to happen. Keep an eye Jimmy McMillan, Caiden Gaines, Gill Leffell and others … JC should be at some weights, but how high the team climbs will ultimately come down to the continued development of the rest of the squad.