By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Sports Editor

HOOVER – The Spain Park wrestling team was able to edge out the Mountain Brook Spartans in a thrilling senior-night matchup on Wednesday, Jan. 9.

The Jaguars were able to claim a four-point victory over the area rival to pick up a 40-36 victory on a night that forfeits played a difference in the final score with the Jaguars being beneficiaries of three forfeits for 18 points, while Mountain Brook was only able to get one forfeit win for six points.

Overall, the match was very even throughout the different weight classes, but after receiving a forfeit in the 106-pound weight class, Spain Park was able to also pick up a win in the 113-pound division.

Fishcer Harrison was able to take down Mountain Brook’s Harrison England with a pin to pick up six more points for the Jaguars.

The Spartans then got 12 points of their own in both the 120 and 126 pound weight classes behind Coleman Bates and Gray Ortis. Bates received Mountain Brooks’ lone forfeit win, while Ortis was able to pick up a pin against Gabe Maddox.

Spain Park, however, followed that up with 10 consecutive points in the next two weight classes. Caelon March was able to grab a 13-4 major-decision victory in the 132-pound division, while Jakc Rivers picked up a pin in the 138-pound match by making quick work of Andrew Kelly.

Mountain Brook then followed that up with two pins in the next two weight classes for 12 more points. George McMinn did so in the 145-pound division against Chase Tilashalski, while John Townsend did so in the 152-pound matchup against Carson Ray.

In the 160-pound weight class, Spain Park’s Brandon Fortenberry was able to pick up a quick pin against William Henderson, while Mountain Brook’s John McKimmon then grabbed a 7-2 decision win in the 170-pound weight class.

The Spartans followed that up with a pin from Jack Higgins against Andrew Moses in the 182-pound weight class.

That was followed by forfeit wins in favor of Spain Park in two of the last three weight classes, including Dillon Heatherly in the 195-pound division and Jaxon Bast in the 285-pound division.

Mountain Brook’s Mason Brint took the 220-pound weight class with a tight 3-1 decision against Zach McPeters.

Even without the forfeits, Jaxon Bast is one of the Jags’ best wrestlers, which would have still given Spain Park a strong advantage.