By Erik Harris
PINSON – Fresh off a first-place finish at the Hayden Duels, the Pinson Valley wrestling team looks to defend its Jefferson County Wrestling Championship for the fourth year in a row this weekend.
The Indians, coached by Gene Richardson, are led by a pair of defending state champions and a 172-pound linebacker-turned-grappler.
Senior Deon Gregory made the 2014 All-Tribune Football team as a linebacker in the fall, and hopes to tackle his way to a state wrestling championship in the winter.
Fellow senior Jonathan Duke is off to a 27-2 start following his state championship climb. Hank Turner took home the gold as a sophomore and has posted a 37-1 mark in his junior year.
Pinson Valley squeezed past Athens 37-36 in the final match at Hayden on Saturday. The win gave Richardson and the Indians a first-place finish in the tournament. Athens came in second and Hayden finished third.
“This is the start of a new year, so this is the one we wanted to win and let’s build off of it,” Richardson said.
The Indians will visit Hewitt-Trussville on Thursday night before heading to Gardendale on Friday and Saturday to defend their Jefferson County championship.
“That’s pretty high up on our kids’ goals is to win county for the fourth year in a row,” Richardson said.