Shades Valley (AL)

Head Coach: Martin Blankenship (entering 21st year of coaching)

Staff: Robert Nelson, Robert Fravel

Shades Valley welcomes the return of Coach Martin Blankenship. Blankenship returns after a few years away, but with a team that returns quite a few wrestlers that competed in the 2022 post-season including State Qualifier Malique Steele. David Barclay and Briley Brooks both return and should help solidify the bottom part of the lineup with Senior Peter Cruz and 8th-grader Alexander Boone.

Keep an eye on Ashton Benson, Amir Higgs, and Trevor Hendricks through the middle of the lineup, but the Mounties strength will likely come up top as they build around Steele (who could compete at 195). Christion Clark returns at 285, but may have to hold off Cedric McIntyre, and Carlos Ford to keep that spot on the lineup. Look for Camarius Wiley, Julian Maddox, and Carterrius Ford to fill in around Steele from 182-220.

“I was the coach here for four years and with the help of Frankie McKeown (Homewood), began to build this program back to respectability. During the three years away helping coach my son’s team (Gardendale), Shades Valley has has three coaches. I am hoping to return some stability to the program, as well as restoring their respectability. We only had a couple of clinics this summer, so this first year will be a good measuring stick for future seasons. We are slowly building our numbers up as the season approaches and we hop to keep most of them through the season.”

— Coach Blankenship

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.

Mountain Brook (AL)

Head Coach: Justin Ransom (entering 11th season)

Staff: Andrew Scofield, Will Davis, Joe Webb

The Spartans finished 10th in a combined 5A-6A in 2022. With the split of 5A and 6A teams for 22-23 … Mountain Brook should be in the hunt for a top 5 finish in 6A in 2023. Mountain Brook do lose several of their hammers including State Placers Gray Ortis and Woody Fipps as well as State Qualifiers Harrison England, Will Robinson, and Michael Lorino. Coach Ransom returns a core group of 5 that will be called on to lead the Spartans this season. Stuart Andrews and William Courtenay each claimed a spot on the podium in 2022 and will look to challenge for the top spot in 2023. Stephen Springfield, Nathan McCain, and Coleman Bates qualified a season ago and each will look to take a spot on the podium this season.

Whether Mountain Brook challenges for a spot in the top 3 could come down to how well the Douglas Johnson, Bill Bradford, Jude Smith, Allen Baker, and Daniel Ellis continue to develop and whether they can punch their ticket to the big dance this season. A few others to keep an eye on include Wyatt Chavez and Davis Smith down low and Jack Windle and Carter Colvin up top (between 170-195). Mountain Brook will be in the hunt - but whether they climb to the top or not will depend on how well they compete as a team.

“We are excited to see the program culture and buy in continuing to grow. We have over 50 wrestlers on the roster with significant depth and competition at every weight class. We lost 5 wrestlers from last years team that anchored the middle weights for us, however we started 8 underclassmen wrestlers on a team that made the state dual semi-finals. With another year of experience and a busy off-season, we expect those guys to step up to make this years team even stronger from top to bottom. We are returning 9 starters and 6 state qualifiers to give us experience, while several upcoming/returning wrestlers are challenging for their opportunity to contribute and make their mark. We have lofty goals for this season and every wrestler is continuing to set a higher standard for success for Mountain Brook Wrestling.”

— Coach Ransom

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.

Weaver (AL)

Head Coach: Andy Fulmer (entering 20th season)

Staff: Justin Brown

The Champs are back and ready to defend their title from a season ago. Weaver got the most from their hammers a year ago and topped Ohatchee by a point to take the 1A-4A title … look for a similar battle this season. Weaver loses State Champion Devin Anderson and State Placer Cameron Thornton, but otherwise return the bulk of their lineup. JD Johannson claimed the 160 lb. title a year ago and he is joined by State Placers Dalton Fink and Anthony Usry as well as State Qualifiers Brandon Joliff and Hayden Ransom.

The run to a title was very much a team effort last year … and if Weaver is going to defend it will be a team effort again in 2023. Johannson and company will lead the way, but Coach Fulmer will need Leo Mondragon, Gianluca Torres, Quinn Sani, Caden Thornton, and Kaden Gaines to come up big if they are going to repeat. Keep an eye on Hunter Hise, Richard Knowlton, and Chris Thornton … they will look to play an important role this year as well.

“We are excited about the 2022-2023 season. Our kids have worked hard in the weight room and on the mat this off season. We have a great group of kids and a competitive room. We have 3 returning senior starters and several under class men that will have the opportunity to be big contributors for us this season. The kids know that we will not sneak up on anybody after last year’s results. We will continue to put our head down and work each day to be better than we were the previous. Our kids are ready for the opportunity to defend our state championship and know the expectation of competing at a high level on a daily basis.”

— Coach Fulmer

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.