John Carroll Catholic Girls (AL)

Head Coach: Wendy Zito

Girls wrestling has made leaps and bounds over the last few years in Alabama and schools like John Carroll have done the same. The AHSAA recently identified girls wrestling as an emerging sport and it looks as if it is well on its way to being sanctioned in the near future. School like John Carroll are building their rosters and getting girls involved and that will pay huge dividends once the sport is sanctioned. Coach Zito will look to Ava Koch and Kealy Deason to lead the way this season. Both have experience and should set the tone for a bunch of new faces. Keep an eye on Kourtney Bufford who makes the move over from basketball.

“Many new wrestlers will join JC’s girls’ teams that will certify on the girls’ roster. The goal is to fill the roster, and in the preseason, currently, they have seven weight classes filled. Head coach Dr. Wendy Zito is the new head of the Alabama Girls Wrestling Alliance. She has been working on the mats crossing over from coaching dance. Dr. Coach Zito was the first female AHSAA card-carrying coach to sit the chair solo at Girls’ State.”

— Coach Zito

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.

Enterprise (AL)

Head Coach: Willie Fells

Enterprise climbed into the top 10 in 7A a season ago … and expect that upward trend to continue this season under first year head coach Willie Fells. The Cats lose State Runner-up Zac McFarland, but return everyone else. This is a young squad with a ton of upside. State Runner-up Cody Kirk, State Placer Grier Hunt, and State Qualifier Kameron Stiffler all made noise as freshmen a season ago. Samuel Lynon, also a returning State Qualifier, and Antonio Jasso each return and might be the only two seniors on the squad. Keep an eye on sophomore Kody Sigmon as well as rising freshmen Kaemon Smith and Lemuel Lynon. Enterprise should be in the hunt for a South Section title this season and should be back in the running for a top 5 finish in 7A. This is a young and talented group - not only keep an eye on them in 2023, but in years to come.

“South Alabama wrestling and the wiregrass area wrestling is growing at a alarming rate. We are excited to be apart of this growth. EHS brought wrestling back in 2018 Matt Pipkins built a program that in a short amount of time now feel that they are competing at a state level. With a New head coach and 4 returning state qualifiers we are excited about the growth of our program and the 2022-23 season. EHS expectations are high, We feel we will compete at a high level in our region and our sectionals leading up to States. A regional or sectional championship would be the first in its program history.”

— Coach Fells

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.

Wetumpka (AL)

Head Coach: Josh Highland

Wetumpka finished 11th in 2022 - expect that to change in 2023. Wetumpka is loaded from top to bottom and in the new look 6A they should be in the hunt for a top 3-5 finish (they have all of the pieces to make a serious run at the title, but Mortimer Jordan, McAdory, Gardendale and a few others still stand in their way). The Indians return all of their point-getters from last season and add 2x State Placer Ramon Lozada from Elmore County. Chad Strickland, Noah Smith, Willie Cox, and Christian Preston each made the podium last season and each has all of the tools to take the top spot this season. Add in 2x State Placer Ramon Lozada and State Qualifiers Roman McWilliams and Kaleb Robinson and this is a team that can compete with anyone in the state.

Wetumpka will be especially tough from 113-132 where Strickland, Smith, McWilliams, and Lozada could get them 24 points in a dual. Preston and Cox will hold down the top part of the lineup … so that leaves the middle (138-182) … and that is where Wetumpka will either be in the hunt or not. Tyler Mann, Zach Crosthwait, Brantley Woodall, and Melvin Owens will be called on to make an impact … if they do then the sky is the limit for Wetumpka in a very competitive 6A. Keep an eye on Peyton Dickey, Caleb Robinson, Americus Bartee, Ethan Blake, and Ethan Bailey … each will have their opportunity to make an impact in 22-23 as well.

“We have a very solid wrestling room for this upcoming wrestling season. We have everyone coming back from the previous year with a few additions. I expect to have a really good season and make a run for a state title.”

— Coach Highland

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.