Bob Jones sends 13 wrestlers to state tournament

Bob Jones wrestling team state qualifiers contributed photo

Talk about good timing. Just two weeks after a disappointing showing at the Dick Clem Invitational, Bob Jones wrestlers stepped up with some of their best performances of the season at the Class 6A, Section 4 qualifying tournament held Saturday Feb. 9 at Grissom High School.

Four wrestlers, Griffin Ridgeway, Jesse Webster, Micah Hatley, and Melvin Gibbons won their weight divisions and will be #1 seeds at the AHSAA State Wrestling Championships starting Thursday, Feb. 14 at Propst Arena at the Von Braun Center.

Four other wrestlers finished second in their weight divisions and will go in as #2 seeds. They are Shane Brasher, Collin Olivier, Blake Rogers, and Alex Maxwell.

All are veterans of last year’s state championships.

Making their first trip to state are Preston Adams, Hasan Alrefai, Chris Gomes, and Levi Hickson.

“We kind of stubbed our toe at the Clem Invitational and we learned from it,” Bob Jones coach Jason Edwards said. “I thought our kids came out at Grissom and fought very, very hard. You’ve got to do it again at state. We’re excited.”

Edwards is hoping he will have some state champions in the group.

“Do we have guys that can contend for a state championship, absolutely,” Edwards said. “To win a state championship you have to be good and some luck go your way too. Melvin is one of the favorites for a title. He’s one of the top three in the state. Micah and Jesse are in the mix. All of our top seeds have an easier road to the finals.”

The last time a Bob Jones wrestler won a state championship was Tyler Ratliff in 2011.  Anthony Bruno also won a title in 2008.

2010 was also the last time Bob Jones as a team won the 6A team state championship.

Overall, Bob Jones will send wrestlers to the state tournament in 13 of the 14 weight classifications. Last year 11 Bob Jones wresters qualified for state. Thirteen qualifiers tie the 2010 and 2011 teams for sending the most to state.

Ryan Stenger was one of those 11 last year and will be back this year representing James Clemens High School. He came up short in the championship match last year but is a favorite to bring home a title this year in the 220 pound classification.

At the Section 4 qualifying meet last Saturday, Bob Jones won with 201 points, followed by Grissom (180.5), Buckhorn (112), James Clemens (112), Huntsville (91),  Sparkman (90.5) and Lee (21).

James Clemens had six wrestlers qualify for state including three who won first place in their weight classification at the Section 4 meet. The #1 seeds are Austin Clark, Landon Edwards, and Ryan Stenger. All three made the state tournament last year as Bob Jones wrestlers.