Orange Beach (AL)

Head Coach: Bo Bailey (1st year at Orange Beach; 7th overall)

Staff: Tony Morales

Orange Beach returns everyone from year two of the program and a new coaching staff that includes former Auburn Head Coach Bo Bailey and Tony Morales. Shayd Arboneaux finished 4th at 120 a year ago as a junior and will be back hunting the top step in 2023. Shayd and fellow senior Houston Bryant will also be counted on to lead a fairly young squad into the 2022-23 season. Keep an eye on Gabe Walker, Hayden Scelson, and JW Colley. Both Scelson and Walker wrestled in the South Section a year ago and will look to punch their ticket to the state tournament this year.

“Orange Beach is looking for a break out season in 1-4A in year 3 of the program. New HC Bo Bailey (multiple final four finishes in 7A and 6A) and Assistant Coach Tony Morales (3 time state champ and King University wrestler) have spent the off season recruiting and developing the new culture for OB Wrestling. Led by senior and returning state placer Shayd Arboneaux at 132 this squad will be anchored by several seniors looking to leave their mark on this young program. What this team lacks in experience they will made up with hard work in the off season. The program has high expectations as they are looking to announce themselves immediately in 1-4A power rankings.”

— Coach Bailey

NOTE: All mentions of placers and qualifiers in the body are based on the 2021-22 season. If a wrestler placed higher or lower in a previous year it is not captured above.

Arab (AL)

Head Coach: Kyle Routon (entering year 3 at Arab)

Staff: Klay Cranford, Keith Henderson, Hayden Henderson, Scott Cleland, Stephan Dasaro

One of the best programs in Alabama - regardless of class. Arab finished 2nd a season ago and despite losing some hammers to graduation should be back in the mix for a 5A team title in 2023. The Knights lose State Placer Caleb Roe, State Placers Kaden King, Jonathan Pugh, and Mohamed Al-khawlani as well as State Qualifiers Cabe Dunn, Austin Silva, and Jackson Harris. Most teams would take a huge step back after losing so much firepower … that is not the case with the Knights. Arab has an exceptionally deep program and the expectation is that the next in line will step up and fill that spot.

State Placers Joshua Roe and Patrick Lawler return and both will be hunting the top step. They will also be called on to lead the team as a whole. Roe and Lawler will be joined by Grant Bagwell, Braxton Johnson, Jonas Brown, Andrew Williamson, and State Qualifier Logan Silva to form the middle of the Arab lineup. Down low, Arab turns to returning State Qualifiers Colby Silva and Jaxon Ivey, but this also a strength of the Knights and Coach Routon will look to Carson Stillwell, Kadin Walker, Caden Hilyer, and Jacob Culler to step up and make some noise. Joel Gray, Landon Erie, Justin Latham, Braxton Johnson, Jonas Brown, Landon Schwarze, and Tyler Noblitt will look to claim a spot in the lineup from 126/132 through 152. Lawler and Roe kickoff the top and the final four weights should be a strength for Arab - especially given the move-in of 5A-6A State Champion Will Caneer who will take one of those spots from 195-285. Graydom Isom, Conner Knighton, Brody Enochs, Noah Smith, and Chase Terry will look to lockdown one of the others spots. Arab will be in the hunt for another title in 2023 - there is no doubt.

“The expectation here is to always be highly competitive and I don’t see why we can’t be again this year. We graduated a lot of seniors but I think we’ve got some guys that are ready for their turn. They’ve worked their tales off all off season in the weight room and wrestling room. I look forward to getting our guys from football weight to wrestling weight and seeing how our lineup will shake out.”

— Coach Routon

NOTE: All mentions of placers and qualifiers in the body are based on the 2021-22 season. If a wrestler placed higher or lower in a previous year it is not captured above.

Russell County (AL)

Head Coach: Eric Chamberlain (Year 5)

Staff: Terry Long, Frank Saunders, Chris Moore

Russell County makes the move to 6A in the re-designed Alabama classification in 2022-23. The team finished 38th in a combined 5A-6A last year, but with the split to separate classes and the return of both Avery Boyette and Owen Elledge - the Warriors are looking to push into a top 15 finish in 2023. Coach Chamberlain not only returns 2022 State Qualifiers Boyette and Elledge, but also returns a ton of others with post-season experience.

Jaivan Bracey, Julian Anthony, Dan Bulens, Michael Williams, and Devin Neal all return and each will look to take that next step and punch their ticket to Huntsville this season. Keep an eye on Bracey’s young brother Ah’Mir Bracey who could fit into the Warrior lineup and make some noise down at 106. Another name to watch is Senior Keshaun Paulk who could make an impact at 195 for the Warriors as well. With the return of Boyette and Elledge - Russell County will be better in 2022-23, but how high they climb as a team likely come down to how well the rest of the lineup comes together around them.

“We are looking at having the best dual team our school has had since 2005 with a complete lineup and experienced wrestlers at every weight class. 11 weight classes have a wrestler that has competed at least 3 years or more. Avery Boyette and Owen Elledge are both competitive to earn a State Title at their respective weight classes.”

— Coach Chamberlain

NOTE: All mentions of placers and qualifiers in the body are based on the 2021-22 season. If a wrestler placed higher or lower in a previous year it is not captured above.