FROM STAFF REPORTS

The 2013 high school wrestling season is under way for several area high schools. Be sure to check back with Shelbycountyreporter.com for updates on duals, matches and tournaments throughout the season. The following is a roundup of results from several of the programs within Shelby County:

Dec. 4

Spain Park split a pair of matches at the Over the Mountain Duals at Pelham

The Jags opened with a 42-28 win over Clay Chalkville. Unfortunately, in the second part of the duals the Jaguars fell to Oak Mountain by a score of, 46-24. In the Oak Mountain match, Marcus Jackson (160-pound weight class) with two pins.  Johnathan Mote (220-pound class) also went undefeated for the Jags with a pin and a forfeit.

Dec. 6

Pelham wrestling hosts Panther Classic

The Pelham wrestling team’s season has begun, and the Panthers are already working towards the state championship. PHS hosted the Panther Classic Dec. 6-7.

In the Panther Classic, several Panther wrestlers brought home valuable points. In the 106-pound weight class, Matthew Payne placed eighth, taking three team points for the tournament. Wade Thomas came in sixth in the 126-pound weight class, nabbing 29 points in eight matches.

Dexter Tanner took fifth place in the 132-pound weight class, going 6-4 and racking up 31 points for the Panthers. Teammate Braxton Hyatt went 5-7, capturing 14 points for the Panthers. Emilio Elliott grabbed a third place finish in the 145-pound class, taking 37 points. Hasaan Hawthorne was one of two Pelham wrestlers to capture first in their respective weight class, taking the 152-pound weight class and 47 points for the Panthers. Ian Schlosser wrestled in the 160-pound class, managing to bring home a sixth place finish and 29 valuable team points.

Cade Scott represented Pelham in the 170-pound class, capturing ninth place and taking 25 points along the way. Karl Nagel managed an eighth place finish in the 182-pound weight class, grabbing 30 points for Pelham.

John Brito-Cuevas won the other weight class title for the Panthers, capturing first place in the 220-pound weight class. Brito-Cuevas won five straight matches, culminating in the title round against Calera’s Justin Calhoun. Brito-Cuevas won the match over Calhoun by decision.

Kenny Hoover took part in the 285-pound class, bringing home a fifth-place finish and 13 team points.

Spain Park wrestling finishes fourth at Gardendale Invitational

The Spain Park Jaguars’ Wrestling Team competed in the Gardendale Invitaional Dec. 6-7.  The Jags finished fourth in team standings with 135.5 points.  First was Pinson Valley with 177, second Oxford 150, and third Mortimer Jordan 147.  The Jags were led by Leon Strong (152), the tournament champion, with two tech falls and two pins.  Six other Jags medalled in the event; in second place was Deric Grayson (145-pound class) with two pins and a decision; Marcus Jackson (160) with a decision and a major decision; and Kevin McClure (195) with two pins and a major decision.  Winning third place at their weights were Elijah Krukowski (138) with three pins and one decision; Eric Russell (145) with four pins; and Dillon Osborne (152) with a pin and three decisions.

Dec. 12

The Spain Park Jaguars Wrestling Team travelled to Saint Clair County to compete in a quad-match.  The Jags opened with a 42-27 win over Leeds.  Spain Park won a close one against Saint Clair County 37-36, but lost their last match to Southside Gadsden 38-33.  Undefeated wrestlers for the Jags were Marcus Jackson (160) with a pin, a forfeit, a decision, and a major decision in an exhibition match; Manny Allan (182) with a pin and a decision; Perry Young (182) with a pin; Kevin McClure (195) with two pins and a decision; and Johnathan Mote (220) with a pin, a decision, and a forfeit.  At 285, Zach Williams had the fastest pin of the evening in 0:07.

Dec. 13

Panthers place at Spartan Invitational

In the Spartan Invitational held at Mountain Brook Dec. 13-14, Matthew Payne took sixth in the 106-pound class, Wade Thomas nabbed a seventh in the 126-pound class with 17 points, while Dillon Turner finished sixth in the 138-pound content.

Hassan Hawthorne took third in the 152-pound class, taking home 41 valuable team points, while Ian Schlosser took eighth in the 160-pound class. Cade Scott, Brito-Cuevas and Kenny Hoover each finished eighth, sixth and fourth, respectively.

The lone winner was Emilio Elliott, who took home the 145-pound weight class victory.