By Erik Harris, sports editor
BIRMINGHAM — First-year Hewitt-Trussville head coach Chris Pike led his boys to a third-place finish on Saturday.
Pike saw one of his wrestlers claim an individual title and two more garner runner-up outings in their respective weight classes, as the Huskies finished with 150 team points in the Class 7A state wrestling championships in Birmingham’s Bill Harris Arena. Vestavia Hills went on to claim its 16th team title — a state record — followed by runner-up Thompson.
Hewitt-Trussville, Spain Park and Huntsville round out the top five. See the final team scores below.
- Vestavia Hills 277.5
- Thompson 240.5
- Hewitt-Trussville 150
- Spain Park 147.5
- Huntsville 144
As a team, the Huskies worked into the championship round at 138, 152 and 195 pounds.
In the 195-pound final, Hewitt’s Hunter Jones (30-0) got a takedown in the final 30 seconds – lifting his opponent off the ground – to earn a 4-3 victory over Hoover’s Dawson Rye (20-6) to complete an undefeated season. Jones, a sophomore, also worked a 7-6 decision over Andrew Sykes, of Vestavia Hills, in the semifinals Saturday morning.
Logan Reaves (29-4) advanced into the 138-pound finals with a pin of Wilson Kennedy, of Thompson, in the semifinals. The Trussville junior went on to lose a 1-0 decision to Huntsville’s Aander Fields (33-3) in the 138-pound finals.
At 152, Lucas Reaves (34-5) notched a finals berth with a 7-4 decision over Tuscaloosa County’s Elijah Brantley in the semifinals Saturday. He later dropped a 5-0 decision to Thompson’s Will Garrett (35-1) in the championship bout.
Also for Hewitt-Trussville, Chris Waver placed fourth at 113, Andrew Shelton placed fourth at 160, Dalton Zimmerman placed fifth at 120, Seth Hall placed sixth at 132 and Chris Hawkins placed sixth at 220.