Arab (AL)

Head Coach: Kyle Routon (entering year 3 at Arab)

Staff: Klay Cranford, Keith Henderson, Hayden Henderson, Scott Cleland, Stephan Dasaro

One of the best programs in Alabama - regardless of class. Arab finished 2nd a season ago and despite losing some hammers to graduation should be back in the mix for a 5A team title in 2023. The Knights lose State Placer Caleb Roe, State Placers Kaden King, Jonathan Pugh, and Mohamed Al-khawlani as well as State Qualifiers Cabe Dunn, Austin Silva, and Jackson Harris. Most teams would take a huge step back after losing so much firepower … that is not the case with the Knights. Arab has an exceptionally deep program and the expectation is that the next in line will step up and fill that spot.

State Placers Joshua Roe and Patrick Lawler return and both will be hunting the top step. They will also be called on to lead the team as a whole. Roe and Lawler will be joined by Grant Bagwell, Braxton Johnson, Jonas Brown, Andrew Williamson, and State Qualifier Logan Silva to form the middle of the Arab lineup. Down low, Arab turns to returning State Qualifiers Colby Silva and Jaxon Ivey, but this also a strength of the Knights and Coach Routon will look to Carson Stillwell, Kadin Walker, Caden Hilyer, and Jacob Culler to step up and make some noise. Joel Gray, Landon Erie, Justin Latham, Braxton Johnson, Jonas Brown, Landon Schwarze, and Tyler Noblitt will look to claim a spot in the lineup from 126/132 through 152. Lawler and Roe kickoff the top and the final four weights should be a strength for Arab - especially given the move-in of 5A-6A State Champion Will Caneer who will take one of those spots from 195-285. Graydom Isom, Conner Knighton, Brody Enochs, Noah Smith, and Chase Terry will look to lockdown one of the others spots. Arab will be in the hunt for another title in 2023 - there is no doubt.

“The expectation here is to always be highly competitive and I don’t see why we can’t be again this year. We graduated a lot of seniors but I think we’ve got some guys that are ready for their turn. They’ve worked their tales off all off season in the weight room and wrestling room. I look forward to getting our guys from football weight to wrestling weight and seeing how our lineup will shake out.”

— Coach Routon

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.

East Henderson (NC)

Head Coach: Ray Ford (year 2)

Staff: Cory Rose, Michael Patterson, Cody Anderson, Mike Wexler

East Henderson climbed into the 3A top 30 a year ago. We didn’t get a roster from Coach Ford, but if the Eagles return everyone that is expected they have a shot to climb into the top 20 in 2023. State Placer Tucker Marshall has graduated (according to trackwrestling), but they return sophomore hammer (and 2022 State Qualifier) Gunner Marshall as well as a host of others that could punch their ticket to the big dance this season. Keep an eye on Brady Mathis, Wyatt Nabors, Mason Maybin, and Marcus McCarson … all four won matches at the West Region tournament a season ago and (if they all return) each will be looking to take that next step in 2023.

“East Henderson has been working extremely hard this off season trying to get better. Last year we were a young team that only graduated 3 seniors. Most of the team is coming back and looking to build on that success. In the off season we have been practicing in our club and hitting up tournaments all spring and summer. Our Coaches and I are looking to get more wrestlers qualified for state and make the podium. We believe that past success will lead to future success for years to come.”

— Coach Ford

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.

May River (SC)

Head Coach: Coach Powell (6 years at May River; 10th overall)

Staff: Coach Bonneville, Coach Walker, Coach Cataldo, Coach Gio

Over the last handful of years, May River has developed into one of the best programs in South Carolina. They have finished 2nd to Eastside in consecutive seasons and the Eagles should be the obstacle again in 2022-23. The Sharks return a quartet that can compete with anyone. Emilio Mendoza, Isaiah Wysong, and Santiago Rueda will be extremely tough from 126-145 with former State Champ Gabriel Juarez slated to be the key for the Sharks in the upper-middleweights from 160-182. Those four will give May River a ton of points and will keep them in the hunt … but for the Sharks to overtake Eastside and keep the other 4A teams at bay they will need others to step up and make some noise.

Keep an eye on Kaiden McCallum and Walter Briones - both of which should fit into the lineup down low around Mendoza, Wysong, and Rueda. Finding a 106 and 113 to step in and be a force will be important. Keep an eye out for Marcus Foulk at the bottom of the Sharks lineup this season. Coach Powell will look to Corey Faulk, Jose Echiverria, Will Mauro, and Billy Hall up top. This is a solid squad - there are a few holes to fill, but if Coach Powell and his staff can get some new faces to step up with an established core group of Rueda, Juarez, and company … this is a team that should, once again, be back in the mix at the end of the year.

“The May river shark wrestling team enters year 7 of the program after finishing state runner-ups in back to back seasons before losing to state power Eastside high school both seasons. We return 5 state qualifies with 4 of the being all state wrestlers in previous seasons and 2 of them state champions. We have had a really solid off season as we have a group of wrestlers who lack experience but have been putting in work on the mat and weight room during the summer and off season. We have some holes to fill but we hope our leaders step up and continue to help lead our young wrestlers. We have some very solid teams in our region and lower state this year so we have our work cut out for us this season. We have to be ready to go to war everyday. ”

— Coach Powell

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.