By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

The Spain Park High School wrestling team will have to wait another year to try to take possession of the prestigious bowling ball following a 64-12 loss to rival Hoover in the Battle for the Ball on Jan. 27 at Hoover High School.

Hoover retained possession of the bowling ball, which was introduced into the rivalry in honor of former Berry High School wrestling coach Duke Chimento. Chimento, who loved bowling, spent more than 30 years as a wrestling coach at Phillips and Berry.

Three Jaguars won their individual matches against the Buccaneers.

Spain Park’s Tommy Bostany earned a 4-1 decision over Ty Graham of Hoover in the 119-pound match. The Jaguars’ Blake Daniel earned a 12-8 decision over Matt Wilcoxen of Hoover in the 160-pound match.

Kameron Ricks of Spain Park earned the lone pin for the Jaguars as he pinned the Buccaneers’ J.D. Fuller in 1:52 in the 215-pound match.

Ten Spain Park wrestlers dropped their individual matches against Hoover in the Battle for the Ball.

Jackson Cotney of Spain Park was pinned by Hoover’s Payton Garlington in 23 seconds in the 103-pound match. The Jaguars’ Conner Whatley dropped a 12-3 major decision to Hoover’s Sam Avery in the 125-pound match.

Conrad Hathcoat of Spain Park was pinned by Tyler Garlington of Hoover in 3:30 in the 135-pound match. Spain Park’s Marcus Jackson was pinned by Hoover’s Parker Grissom in 2:52 in the 145-pound match.

The Jaguars’ Alex Potts was pinned by Rush Hall of Hoover in 1:19 in the 152-pound match. Alec Hudson of Spain Park was pinned by Luke Umphrey of Hoover in 26 seconds in the 171-pound match.

Spain Park’s Mo Mills was pinned by Hoover’s Teryence Glaze in 5:28 in the 189-pound match. Spain Park heavyweight Martin Canales was pinned by Eddie Foster of Hoover in 1:55.

Dillon Osborne of Spain Park was pinned by Hoover’s Jacob Thomas in 3:18 in a 152-pound exhibition match. The Jaguars’ Conner Tinney was pinned by Austin Vansword of Hoover in 1:34 in a 152-pound exhibition match.

During his career, Chimento had three state runner-up teams and several individual champion wrestlers. Chimento wrestled at Auburn University under well-known coach Swede Umbach.