A Fan's Guide to the Alabama 5A-6A State Tournament
Welcome to SEWrestle’s Fan’s Guide to the Alabama 5A-6A State Tournament. For those of you unfamiliar with the Fan’s Guide … here are a few things to know. First, I don’t believe in making predictions … happy to leave that to others. Anything can happen on the mat and these wrestlers must win multiple matches to earn a title … so don’t jump to the conclusion that the favorite is my prediction for the champ. Second, the Fan’s Guide is simply designed to give the average fan an idea of the bracket and who are some of the best wrestlers to keep an eye on. This is determined by a number of different things including how they placed at the sectional tournament, how they performed at past state tournaments, etc. Third, if you have never heard the term “darkhorse” before … it is usually identified as someone “flying under the radar” that could surprise some people (for the purpose of the Fan’s Guide it will always be a wrestler that finished 3rd or lower at their sectional tournament). I don’t necessarily believe the darkhorse will win it all, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they found a way high onto the podium.
I hope you enjoy the state tournament and best of luck to everyone competing.
106 lbs.
Favorite: Preston Jones (Alexandria)
Contenders:
Trae Peeler (Pelham)
Caleb Wright (Mortimer Jordan)
Noah Guthrie (Gulf Shores)
Demarcus Powe (Gardendale)
Darkhorse: Jaxon Unger (Athens)
Best first round matchup: Jaxon Unger (Athens) vs. Nick Sykes (Shelby County)
What to Expect: Jones comes is as the favorite after taking home the North Section title and entering with a 47-1 win record (no losses to anyone in Alabama). He beat Wright, Silva, Powe, etc. last week on his way to the title … but he has yet to face either Miller or Guthrie (which are on his side of the bracket) and hasn’t faced Peeler yet this season either. Peeler and Wright only faced each other once this season (in December) and Peeler won on a DQ … if Wright can beat Sykes (who he hasn’t faced) or Unger (who he has beaten twice) this season then a Peeler vs. Wright semi could be outstanding. No reason to think we won’t see the section champs face-off in the finals, but their paths aren’t easy.
113 lbs.
Favorite: Brodie Christmas (Mortimer Jordan)
Contenders:
Roman Lozada (Elmore County)
Erius Clark (Moody)
John Duncan (Pike Road)
William Miller (McAdory)
Darkhorse: Jaxon Ivey (Arab)
Best first round matchup: Cole Snyder (Scottsboro) vs. Dathan Butt (Gulf Shores)
What to Expect: Not often do you have a #2 from a section come in as the favorite, but that is the case here with Brodie Christmas (returning 106 lb. Champ). Christmas was leading Clark 6-1 when he was called for a slam and Clark was unable to continue. That puts Christmas on the same side as South Section Champ Lozada and makes for a wide open bottom side of the bracket. Lozada and Duncan have gone back and forth this season with Lozada getting the last win in the South Section Finals. Duncan hasn’t wrestled either Samples or Clark, but he could be the favorite to emerge from the bottom side. Christmas only has 4 losses on the season and one came to Clark last weekend on the slam. He hasn’t lost to anyone in the bracket and will be tough to beat this weekend as he tries to make it #2.
120 lbs.
Favorite: Will Anderson (Athens)
Contenders:
Chad Strickland (Wetumpka)
Graham Miner (Homewood)
John Stewart (Scottsboro)
Darkhorse: Cruz Rainwater (Mortimer Jordan)
Best first round matchup: Robert Medolla (Elberta) vs. Cabe Dunn (Arab)
What to Expect: Anderson is a returning champ, is 28-1 on the season and won the North with a 5-1 decision of Stewart. Anderson’s only loss this season came to Tennessee State Champ Caleb Uhorchuk in December - he has beaten Strickland as well as Miner, Stewart, and others in the field. The pack is chasing him, but no one has shown they can breakthrough just yet … will that happen this weekend? Strickland has just 2 losses on the season (to Anderson and to Hudson Waldrop up at 126). He won the South and has to be the favorite to come out of the top side (although he hasn’t faced Stewart yet this season). Keep an eye on Cruz Rainwater … Mortimer Jordan will be in the team race and Rainwater could surprise (he has some losses on the season, but also some good wins … including one over Landon Keith who he has in the first round).
126 lbs.
Favorite: Hudson Waldrop (McAdory)
Contenders:
Clinton Stewart (Scottsboro)
Noah Smith (Wetumpka)
Andrew Maxwell (Athens)
Jax Cyrus (Ft Payne)
Darkhorse: Hanif Muhammad (Homewood)
Best first round matchup: Andrew Maxwell (Athens) vs. Caleb Mooney (Shelby County)
What to Expect: Waldrop has wrestled great all season and after taking the South title with ease - he is the favorite. Waldrop was on fire as he put up 69 points in 4 matches including a dominating 18-2 tech fall of Noah Smith in the finals. Waldrop does have a few losses on the season - so he isn’t unbeatable, but no one looks better entering Huntsville than he does. Stewart won the North in almost as equally an impressive way as Waldrop won the south. Stewart had 4 falls and just one entered the 2nd period. He pinned Cyrus in the finals in just over a minute. It looks like Waldrop vs. Stewart in the finals, but they both need to take care of business first. They haven’t wrestled this season and that could be a finals match to keep an eye on.
132 lbs.
Favorite: Daishon Powe (Gardendale)
Contenders:
Gabe Warren (Spanish Fort)
Sam Sutton (Homewood)
Lincoln Bryant (Hartselle)
Cole Blalock (Ft Payne)
Darkhorse: William Duncan (Pike Road)
Best first round matchup: William Duncan (Pike Road) vs. Kage Mcissic (Mortimer Jordan)
What to Expect: Simply an outstanding weight from top to bottom. Daishon Powe enters unbeaten at 46-0 and handled the North will little problem. He pinned Lincoln Bryant in the 2nd period after leading 4-2 … with 2 takedowns. Gabe Warren looked great on his way to the South Title and downed Sam Sutton 7-4 in the finals. Most importantly that puts Sutton and Powe on the same side of the bracket … Powe beat Sutton in early January, but will likely have to do it again if he is going to make the finals. Warren has just two losses on the season - one to Georgia Runner-up Tyler Lamon of Valdosta and one to Jon Michael Turis of Grissom. He hasn’t face Powe this season, but wins over Sutton, Land Bell, and others shows he has the ability to take care of the top side (of note - he hasn’t face Bryant this season).
138 lbs.
Favorite: Cory Land (Moody)
Contenders:
Isaiah Powe (Gardendale)
Noah Schilleci (Pelham)
Coleman Bates (Mountain Brook)
Darkhorse: Cooper Brooks (Jasper)
Best first round matchup: Thomas Rackler (Scottsboro) vs. Joe Galvan (Homewood)
What to Expect: If I had a dollar for everyone that DM’d me to tell me that Powe was going to beat Land this weekend … I’d be wealthy. No doubt their match last weekend was close - perhaps closer than many expected. Personally I wasn’t surprised. I watched both of these hammers compete at Super 32 in the fall and knew that each has a ton of talent (and that Powe has the type of style that can beat Land). For those of you that missed last weekend’s action … Land won 14-7 in a match that was definitely closer than the final score would lead you to believe. Two penalty points for Land and a 5 point move basically puts it even at 7. That said - that is what you expect from Cory … Powe in on a shot and Cory finds a way to come out on top and has Powe on his back to end the first period. No one else in the weight is very close to these two, but the battle for 3rd between Schilleci, Bates, etc. will be be fun to watch. Truth is … everyone seems to think that because Land was pushed by Powe - that Powe will breakthrough this weekend (and I’m not saying he won’t), but until it happens I will go with Land. If you are a casual fan - watch this one - it will be outstanding.
145 lbs.
Favorite: Brady Campbell (Opelika)
Contenders:
Bryce Wanagat (Pelham)
Trent Gilham (Springville)
Josh Roe (Arab)
Darkhorse: Christion Griggs (McAdory)
Best first round matchup: Christion Griggs (McAdory) vs. Michael Howell (Oxford)
What to Expect: Pikcing a favorite here is exceptionally difficult. Each of the top 3 could make a case - although Wanagat makes less of a case after losing to Campbell 4-3 in last weekend’s South final. Putting Wanagat and Gilham on the same side - means (for me) that the path to a title is easier for Campbell (and as a result is the favorite). Plus Campbell has wins over both Wanagat and Gilham (interestingly he hasn’t wrestled either Howell or Roe this season). There are a ton of other contenders including Whetstone, Roe, Venn, Reaves, etc. but the top 3 look to be slightly ahead of the pack chasing them. Watch for a fireworks semi between Wanagat and Gilham with the winner getting a super tough frosh in Brady Campbell.
152 lbs.
Favorite: Jaden New (Alexandria)
Contenders:
Cole Sykes (Shelby County)
Ryan Summerlin (Moody)
Woody Fipps (Mountain Brook)
Patrick Lawler (Arab)
Darkhorse: Vincent Zeigler (Gardendale)
Best first round matchup: Vincent Zeigler (Gardendale) vs. Jordan Cottrell (Homewood)
What to Expect: Like Cory Land, Jaden New will be going for his 4th title this weekend. And also like Land - there are whispers about how New is “vulnerable” and that Summerlin or Sykes are poised to beat him. It is true that Summerlin has wrestled New tough this season - most recently losing 3-1 in the North finals. But in reality only one of the two will even get a shot at stopping Jaden … because Summerlin and Sykes are on the same side of the bracket. Sykes beat Summerlin in their only meeting this season and seems to have the edge (but that was 3 weeks ago … so take it for what it is worth). Sykes only loss this season is to Gilham and to be fair he has beaten most of the names on the top side of the bracket. But I will say it again … and this echoes Cole Hunt of Cass (3x Georgia State Champ) - when I said Gorman was close to beating him at the Knockout earlier this year … “close only counts in horseshoes and handgrenades” and he isn’t wrong. So being close to beating New is great, but until it happens we will go with the 3x State Champ to take another one back to Alexandria. Don’t be surprised if the backside battles for spots on the podium have a huge bearing on who claims the team title.
160 lbs.
Favorite: Gray Ortis (Mountain Brook)
Contenders:
Melton Powe (Gardendale)
Connor Russo (Stanhope Elmore)
Oliver Howard (Decatur)
Darkhorse: Preston Reed (Jasper)
Best first round matchup: Christian McCrary (Tallassee) vs. Dawson Williams (Ft Payne)
What to Expect: Ortis and Powe have looked dominant all season … no reason to expect anything different this weekend. Powe’s only loss was to Ortis about a month ago in the Region duals … otherwise he has handled the 160’s including Harris Mitchell of Vestavia, Ethan Lassare of Daphne as well as many of the top in 5A-6A (Howard, Johnson, etc.) He hasn’t wrestled Russo - so a potential semi there could be interesting. Ortis comes in 55-1 with his only loss coming to South Carolina standout David Hunsberger at the Hook Em Holiday Clash in Georgia in December. This, at least on paper, looks like a rematch from earlier in the season. The battle on the backside will be very competitive with team points being on the line.
170 lbs.
Favorite: Keenan Wyatt (Gardendale)
Contenders:
Aiden Knight (McAdory)
Luke Jasper (Mortimer Jordan)
David Latimer (Robertsdale)
Darkhorse: Evan Scrivner (St Clair County)
Best first round matchup: Will Robinson (Mountain Brook) vs. Evan Scrivner (St Clair County)
What to Expect: Wyatt finished 3rd last year in a super tough 152 lb. bracket … this year he comes in unbeaten at 49-0 and has beaten Luke Jasper, Aiden Knight, and much of the pack that is chasing him. The path won’t be easy, but he has already demonstrated this season that he is the favorite. The top side with Knight, Jasper, Justin Yunke, Moises Sanchez, etc. is going to be a grind. Knight only has 3 losses on the season - twice to Wyatt and once to Louisiana State Champ Rocco Horvath of Brother Martin. That said - his only matchup with Luke Jasper ended as an injury default win for Knight … so that is a possible semi to watch. Don’t sleep on Yunke, Sanchez, Latimer, McDonald, and Evan Scrivner … each will be in the hunt for a spot on the podium. Expect some battles on the backside.
182 lbs.
Favorite: Caleb Roe (Arab)
Contenders:
Kennedy Wyatt (Gardendale)
Savian Graham (McAdory)
Kaleb Johnstone (Chelsea)
Darkhorse: Keeshon Siaosi (Gulf Shores)
Best first round matchup: Keeshon Siaosi (Gulf Shores) vs. Sean Arrington (Clay Chalkville)
What to Expect: Roe is the returning 170 lb. State Champ and already has two wins over Savian Graham this season (as well as a 6-2 win over Wyatt in the North Section Final last weekend). Roe is the definite favorite, but he has wrestled some close matches this season … so whoever gets the opportunity will need to make the most of their chances if they are going to knock him off. Wyatt vs. Graham looks like the semi on the top side … Wyatt has beaten Graham in each of their 4 meetings this year. Keep an eye on McFall, Johnstone, Burnam, and others to be in the hunt as well.
195 lbs.
Favorite: Cole Carter (Jasper)
Contenders:
Kolby Clark (Scottsboro)
Jonathan Pugh (Arab)
Jack Pritchard (Opelika)
Zander Terry (Pelham)
Darkhorse: Matthew Vazquez (Clay Chalkville)
Best first round matchup: Jimmie Reed (Mortimer Jordan) vs. Michael Lorino (Mountain Brook)
What to Expect: Carter’s two losses this year came to defending 195 lb. 7A State Champ Hunter Jones (and the last one by the slimmest of margins). Carter has already beaten Clark, Pugh, and Pritchard this year and as a result he is the favorite. Two of Carter’s wins over Pugh (including this past weekend) have come by medical forfeit (yet Pugh wrestled in matches before and after in the same tournament) … after losing by decision earlier in the year is Arab looking to surprise Carter in the finals or will he medically forfeit again? Pugh has a tough road with Terry and Vazquez sharing the quarter and Pritchard sharing the bottom side (but keep in mind he has beaten all 3 this year). Vazquez is not your typical 7th out of a section and is certainly one to keep an eye on.
220 lbs.
Favorite: Will Caneer (Buckhorn)
Contenders:
Avery Boyette (Russell County)
Jaxon Hudgins (McAdory)
Lake Gurley (Mortimer Jordan)
Darkhorse: Charlie Hollis (Gulf Shores)
Best first round matchup: Logan Hall (St Clair County) vs. Charlie Hollis (Gulf Shores)
What to Expect: Caneer comes in unbeaten and on a roll after pinning Warren, Chappell, and Gurley in the North Sectional tournament last weekend. He is the favorite coming, but the pack chasing him will be fun to watch. He has beaten Al-Khawlani, Chappell, Gurley, Hollis, etc. but he hasn’t wrestled Boyette, Hudgins and few others. Caneer has dominated, but it is something to note … especially if he gets a tough Hudgins in the semis and Boyette in the finals. Boyette cannot look ahead to a possible finals match because he has a tough road on the top side. He has a loss to Logan Hall this season (in overtime) a few weeks back, but looks to be wrestling great after a solid weekend in the South section. This is an interesting weight … I could definitely see both of the section champs in the finals, but it also wouldn’t surprise me to see just one or neither there as well (the difference between these 220’s isn’t significant … whoever has the best weekend will likely be standing on top of the podium when all is said and done).
285 lbs.
Favorite: Caleb Foster (Stanhope Elmore)
Contenders:
Willie Cox (Wetumpka)
Jayden Joseph (Northridge)
Jerrod Harden (Southside, Gadsden)
Hunter Claborn (Decatur)
Darkhorse: Jackson Harris (Arab)
Best first round matchup: Tanner Stogner (Shelby County) vs. Caleb Tinner (Oxford)
What to Expect: Foster comes in unbeaten and won the South section with falls of Williams and Stogner and a 5-0 decision over Willie Cox. He hasn’t wrestled many in the top 10, but he hasn’t lost and has wins over Cox, Stogner, etc. He hasn’t even wrestled Joseph this year - who finished 3rd in his section. Joseph vs. Claborn in the quarters with a semi vs. Foster should be outstanding. I wouldn’t be surprised if any of the three emerge from the top side. Harden piled up falls in the North, but he could get a tough Willie Cox in the semis on the bottom side. The two haven’t met this year, but that will be a matchup to watch (if it comes to fruition … don’t sleep on Cromer). This weight looks more wide open than one might expect because many of these 285’s haven’t crossed paths yet this season.