Pisgah (NC)

Head Coach: Ryan Gibson (entering 16th season)

Staff: Gage Norris, David Bryson, Josh Rickman

Pisgah finished 16th in 3A a year ago. They do lose State Qualifiers Alex Almaraz and Noah Sepulveda - but this team has several hammers returning and should be in the hunt for a top 10 finish in 2023. Both Kane Bryson and Xander Hill made the podium a year ago as underclassmen and both return hunting that top step this season. This is a team that remains very young and should continue to develop as the season goes along. Bryson is just a sophomore and Hill is a junior … and that is what the team looks like up and down the lineup. Bryson, Turner Robb, Grayson Reece, and Tyson Silver should hold down the bottom part of the lineup (and all are just sophomores). Clay Hatton, JP Chapman, and Jason McClellan will look to make some noise from 126 to 152.

We could see Hill at 152 or 182 and that probably depends on where he is needed to begin the season. He is joined in the 152-170 weights by Cameron King and freshman Landon Pope. Up top Coach Gibson will look for Tytus Bridges and Eli Frizzell to make some noise. Bridges nearly qualified last year as a sophomore and will certainly be looking to punch his ticket this season.

“The team has worked really hard through the Spring, Summer, and Fall traveling around and wrestling tournaments, doing workouts, and attending/holding camps and clinics. We were very young last season in the majority of our weight classes, so the team knew that hard work was needed in order for us to grow. The coaching staff is excited to see just how much growth has happened with the work put in.”

— Coach Gibson

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.

Gardendale (AL)

Head Coach: Brian Brasseal (8 years)

Staff: Michael Collins, Taylor Houchins, Russ Boackle, Ashton Quattlebuam

The Rockets have developed into one of the premier programs … not just in 5A-6A, but in Alabama as a whole. Last year, the Rockets were derailed a bit by things outside their control, but don’t be fooled into thinking that this year’s team can’t be back hunting for the title again. They do lose some hammers in Melton Powe, Kennedy Wyatt, and Keenan Wyatt - each of which is wrestling in college now. They also lose Brody Scoggins and Vincent Zeigler and must have some new faces step up if they are going to knock off McAdory, Mortimer Jordan, or the other top teams for 6A title.

The Rockets are led by a pair of Powe’s … Daishun and Isaiah make-up a exciting duo to watch and each will be back looking for a title in 2023. They are also joined by younger brother Damarcus Powe (a state placer at 106) as well as State Qualifier Gage Beyke. The Powe’s plus Beyke will lead the way, but whether Gardendale claims another title or not will likely come down to the continued development of the rest of the lineup … and a young lineup at that. Keep an eye on Triston Buckelew, Crue Powe and Isaac Jones down low as well as Jacob Towery, Jackson Attaway and Mason McDaniel. They, along with Damarcus Powe, should make-up the first four weights of the Rocket lienup. Braden Pickle, Ashton Wise, Broc Righter, Peyton Glass, Steven Hollis, Connor Howell, Parker Howell, Eric Peek, Nathan Smith, and Dominic Soriano will look to secure a spot in the middle around the two Rocket hammers in Isaiah and Daishun Powe. The top of the lineup features Brady Brooks, Sammy Sanchez, Christian Higgins, Jackson Stanford, CJ Donaldson, Paul Brasseal, Sean Thomas, Cody Wood, Ian Fricke, Michael Lowery, Matthew Edwards and Jake Bryan … each will look to take a varsity spot from 170-220 before the Rockets finish up top with Beyke. The key for the Rockets will from 170-220 … if they can support the Powe’s down low and Beyke up top - this is a team that could be back in the hunt for the title.

“We will be young, but I have big expectations for each individual.”

— Coach Brasseal

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.

Jasper (AL)

Head Coach: Tripp Otis (8th at Jasper; 11th overall)

Staff: Hezzie Morgan, Chris Goetz, Kalton Roye

The Jasper Vikings finished 6th in a combined 5A-6A a year ago and with the split into two classes … the Vikings should be in the hunt for the top spot in 5A this season. The Vikings lose State Placer Preston Reed and State Qualifier Moises Sanchez, but return the majority of their team including State Champ Cole Carter. Carter is joined by State Placers Colin Langley, Cooper Brooks, and Ethan Caldwell. All four will look to claim the top step this February. The strength of the Vikings lineup is up top with 2022 State Qualifier Jamie Burnham joining Carter and Langley … making 182-285 particularly tough for any other team.

The Vikings are also strong from 120-145 with State Qualifier Antonio Nash joining Caldwell and Brooks. If the Vikings can get Garrett Caldwell and JJ Martinez to make some noise at from 145 to 160 - this team will be tough with very few holes in the lineup. Keep an eye on freshman 106 Kortez Samuels … he could play an important role in how high the Vikings climb this season as well.

“We are excited for this upcoming season and the opportunity to compete in the new 5A classification. We return a state champion and 3 other placers while filling in the rest of our line up with some extremely tough competitors. We are looking forward to competing for a state title with this group and showing off all the hard work from this past off-season.”

— Coach Otis

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.