State of the Program ... Pelham (AL)
Pelham (AL)
Head Coach: Bill Strickland (entering 5th season)
Staff: Adam Lewis, Dillon Turner, Michael John Harris, Brian Loftus
The Panthers finished 14th in a very tough 5A-6A traditional state tournament a year ago. With the split of 5A and 6A - the Panthers make the move to 6A with 4 of the top 5 teams a season ago. State Champion Bryce Wanagat as well as State Qualifiers Stone Peerson and Zander Terry have graduated, but the Panthers return 3 that competed in Huntsville in 2022. State Placer Noah Schilleci leads the way after taking 5th at 138 - he is joined by State Qualifiers Trae Peeler and Thomas Peerson - both of whom won matches in Huntsville as well.
The Panthers will look Schilleci, Peeler, and Peerson to make the podium in 2023, but for the Panthers to be in the hunt for a top 5 finish they will need a few others to step up and punch their tickets. Coach Strickland has a ton of talent ready to make their mark this season … the big question is … which of these hammers are ready to do it in 2022-2023? Walt Calvert, Tanner McCarthy, and Cash Tatum all have post-season experience and will be expected to make that next step this season. Keep an eye on Nicholas Bamberg as well as freshmen Malachi Dahlen, Benji Augsburger, and Sam Powell to step in down low for the Panthers. Brayden Patterson and Drew Martin could help through the middle and Cohen Lee, Brodie Martin, and Jackson Davenport could lock down spots up top for the Panthers. Probably the biggest return for the Panthers is 2x State Runner-up Seth Branham who missed last season. This team should be tough from top to bottom … there is a ton of potential - the question now is who makes it happen this season?
“This is the most experienced group from top to bottom and most kids we’ve had in the program since I came to Pelham. We will have about 12 weight classes filled with guys who have varsity experience and 9 guys who have qualified for state before. We’re coming off back to back years with two different individual state champions and four years in a row with a state finalist but are looking to start making some noise on a team level. We’ve had a solid summer and are looking to roll that into the season and put Pelham at the top of some team leaderboards.”
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.