By Joshua Huff, sports editor
HUNTSVILLE — Though the outright 2020 state wrestling championships failed to return to teams within The Trussville Tribune coverage area, multiple local wrestlers earned top three nods throughout the tournament this past weekend.
Overall, Thompson claimed the crown in Class 7A, while Gardendale took home first in Class 6A and Arab embraced the title of the best team in Class 1A-5A.
In Class 7A, Thompson earned its vaunted three-peat after holding off Vestavia Hills, 166.5 to 153.5. Huntsville, Hoover and Mountain Brook rounded out the top five. Hewitt-Trussville finished in eighth place with a score of 38.
In Class 6A, Gardendale claimed its first title since 1975. The Rockets finished with a score of 175.5 points, which was 41 points more than second place Benjamin Russell. Oxford, McAdory and Weptumpka rounded out the top five. Clay-Chalkville finished the event in 16th place, and Pinson Valley claimed 24th.
In Class 5A, Arab dominated the field. After stumbling in 2019, which halted a six-year championship run, the Knights returned to the pinnacle of Class 6A with a score of 189.5, which was a 74.5-point difference from second-place finisher Jasper. Ranburne, Alexandria and Southside rounded out the top five.
Hunter Jones with the win over Bob Jones in the Consolation Finals! Great job Hunter! pic.twitter.com/5YSFg9BqAz
— HT Athletics (@HewittAthletics) February 15, 2020
Moody, the reigning Class 1-5A state champion, finished in seventh place; Springville recorded a 29th place finish, Center Point finished in 31st and Leeds placed in 38th.
Despite its seventh place finish, Moody managed to send two wrestlers to the top of the podium. Cory Land placed in first in the 120-pound division. Land (56-0) defeated Satsuma’s William Walker in the championship match. Ryan Summerlin (43-0) finished in first in the 132-pound division with a victory of Arab’s Joshua Roe.
In the 138-pound division of Class 1-5A, Springville’s Trent Gilham (62-4) claimed third place after defeating Susan Moore’s Jose Calderon. Remaining in Class 1-5A, Center Point’s Demaria Jones (37-4) took home third with a victory over Elmore County’s Matt Brown.
Clay-Chalkville’s Izziah Williams managed to snag a second-place nod in the Class 6A 285-pound division after falling to Opelika’s Michael Dawson in the first-place match.
In Class 7A, Hewitt-Trussville’s Logan Reaves snagged a second-place finish in the 138-pound division despite falling to Mountain Brook’s Gray Ortis in the first-place match. In the 160-pound division, Hewitt-Trussville’s Hunter Jones finished in third place with a victory over Bob Jone’s Chris Congress.