Enterprise (AL)

Head Coach: Willie Fells

A ton of new faces for the Enterprise girls program, but one very important constant … Evelyn Holmes-Smith. Evelyn is already a 2x State Champ and is one of the most talented 16U’s in the country. She was a Fargo All American this past summer and has already demonstrated that she has the tenacity to compete with anyone in the country - much less Alabama. Coach Fells couldn’t have asked for a better foundation on which to build a program. That said - for Enterprise to rise through the ranks and compete with the best programs in the state they will need to add more hammers … you can’t win team titles with just one (no matter how good she is).

“We are excited about the opportunity to grow our girls program here at EHS. We will have the most girls we have had in history this year. With Evelyn Holmes Smith, Fargo all American, leading the way we feel we will be able to now compete at the state level. We are hosting our very first Queen of the South girls tournament in 2022. The excitement around girl wrestling at EHS is growing fast.”

— 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.

Northwest (TN)

Head Coach: Chris Bedell (entering 5th year)

Staff: Levi Mueller, Blake Spink, Xavier Nylen

The Vikings finished outside the top 20 in 2A a season ago, but with returning State Qualifiers Ethan Cunningham and and Kevin Shaw they will look to be looking to break into the top 20 in 2023. Cunningham and Shaw both qualified as sophomores and each will look to climb onto the podium this season. This is a young squad that should only get better as the season progresses. Kelloen Corkrean, Derek Garis, and Roldon Timothy each competed in the post-season in 2022 and will be expected to punch their ticket this season. If the Vikings can put five through to the state tournament - they have a good shot of breaking into the top 20.

Keep an eye on Kenneth Sincere Puryear, Cade Steiner, Joshua Caleb Green, Scot Baumgartner, and John Patrick Goodings as they will look to break into the lineup and make some noise as well. Add in Henry Williams at 160 and the Vikings should be solid up top (especially from 182-285) … the key will continuing to development the bottom part of their lineup.

“This will be a different team than in the past 5 years. We had a group of boys that are driven work horses and have something to prove.”

— Coach Bedell

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.

Smiths Station (AL)

Head Coach: Tommy Sanders (2008-present at Smiths Station)

Staff: Murray Zogg, Robert Peterson, Eric Basnett

The Panthers lose their two hammers up top in State Champions Kyle Watson (220) and Steven Flagg (285) as well as State Placer Kyle Fontenot who was 3rd at 145. But with four State Qualifiers returning from 2022, this team should be back in the mix for a top 5 finish again in 2023. State Qualifiers Eli Sanders, Timothy Luttrell, Wylie Shomaker, and Lance Peterson will lead the way as well as Robert Sanborn who should fill in at 195. Peterson won the South section at 182 last season and should be the Panthers best shot to climb high on the podium in 2023.

Jaden Sanford, Richard Munguia, and Bryson McDonald all have post-season experience and should solidify a good lower part of the lineup with Sanders, Luttrell, and Dustin Dunbar. From 106-138 the Panthers should be very good. They will also be good up top with Shomaker, Sanborn, Peterson - the key will be from 145-182 (with Shomaker anchoring one of those spots). Look for Andrew Bryant, AJ Williams, Nathaniel Jarmon, Eric Short, Kylan Pace and Kenneth Doster to be in the mix for the other spots. Keep an eye on Ken Felder and Marshal Culbertson as well. The Panthers have the pieces in place to be in the mix, but will need everyone to step up and help fill the void left by Watson, Flagg, and Fontenot.

“We return 9 starters from last year’s team that finished 5th at state. Seven of those starters are state qualifiers so we will have some experience throughout our lineup. Our expectations are to become a physical team that improves weekly.”

— Coach Sanders

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.