State of the Program ... Hewitt-Trussville (AL)
Hewitt-Trussville (AL)
Head Coach: Chris Pike (entering 3rd year at Hewitt-Trussville; 20 years overall)
Staff: Brad Hettich, Scott Robertson, Jared Box, Scott Hastings, Matt Ryan, Doug Benton, Roy Mitros
The Huskies ran with Thompson and Vestavia a year ago, but came up just short and finished 3rd in a very tough 7A. This is a program that has demonstrated the ability to compete with anyone … but in 2022-23 they will need to do it with a much younger group. The Huskies put 7 on the podium in 2022, but lose 4 including State Champ Lucas Reaves, State Runner-up Logan Reaves, and Placers Dalton Zimmerman and Andrew Shelton. They also lose a quartet of seniors in Alton Lucas, Thomas Shaffer, Luke Golden, and Colby Little that were key parts of the Huskies lineup.
The cupboard is far from bare with the return of State Champ Hunter Jones, State Placers Clark Box and Chris Hawkins as well as State Qualifiers Bradley Hastings, Delvecchio Alston, and Cameron Cantwell. In some states and, perhaps other classifications in Alabama, 3 placers and 3 qualifiers would put you in the hunt … but that’s not necessarily the case in Alabama 7A - where every weight counts a great deal. It doesn’t mean the Huskies won’t be in the thick of the race, but for them to challenge for the title they will need some new faces to step up. Keep an eye on Alec Nelson, Riley Hulwi, and Jack Bessee to make some noise at the bottom of the Husky lineup and for Jacob Triplett, John Paul Davidson, Tucker Rudick, and Will Rivers to do so throughout the middle. The strength of this lineup is down low with Box and Hastings (106-120) and then up top with Alston, Cantwell, Jones, and Hawkins (152-220). Keep an eye on Zach Chatman to fill in at 220 or 285 (wherever we don’t see Hawkins).
“We lost 8 starters and 12 seniors from last years team. We obviously have some very good wrestlers to replace. This years team will be significantly younger but they have worked very hard and we will maintain high expectations for them to replace them and maintain the standard the previous seniors set for the program.”
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.