By Alex Headley
The Pinson Valley High School wrestling team won the annual Dora Duals wrestling tournament today, defeating eight other teams from around Jefferson County. The Indians won it all and were undefeated for the tournament, beating Weaver High School 40-30 in the final round. The first annual Dora Duals was a nine team round robin match at Dora High School.
“We had to wrestle all eight other teams,” Gene Richardson, the team’s head coach said. “We went undefeated all day.”
At Dora, the Indians beat Clay-Chalkville 56-19, St
. Clair County 48-29, Dora 63-6, Sumiton Christian 64-0, JB Pennington 75-0, Fultondale 64-18, and finally Weaver 40-30.
The Indians are currently 22-3 in the season with losses to Scottsboro, Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain High Schools.
“Scottsboro was kind of our measuring stick,” Richardson said. “Now, we know where we have to be for the season.”
The team will be attending a match at Buckhorn High School on Dec. 22 and then head to the Hayden Duals tournament after the holiday break.
According to Richardson, the team has several standout wrestlers this year. Hank Turner is currently 28-1 in the 126 pound weight class.
“He is quite good and will make some noise this year,” Richardson said of Turner. “We are a bit of a young team this year, but we made it to county last year and we have made Top 4 every meet.”
Seventeen-year-old Patrick Tinney, 106 pounds, is 19-3 at the moment and the team’s heavyweight. Junior Barrett Crossley, 285 pounds, is 20-3.