Ryan Stenger is James Clemens first State Champion
Ryan Stenger is congratulated by James Clemens Assistant Wrestling Justin Loudon Record photo by Lindsay Vaught
HUNTSVILLE- Ryan Stenger had one chance at redemption, one chance to go out a champion. It was all he needed.
The James Clemens senior entered Saturday’s match against Vestavia Hills’ Dalton Campbell unbeaten at 47-0 this season. He was in this position last year and lost by a point in a tough match while slowed by a shoulder injury.
Wrestling in the 220 pound classification and giving up about six inches in height, Stenger fought to a scoreless first fall. He fell behind 1-0 after 2 falls and had to stop briefly after getting thrown awkwardly on his left shoulder. But doubts never crept into his mind.
“I got thrown and my shoulder started acting up. You have to fight for every point,” a drenched Stenger said after the match. “When you get behind you can’t dwell on it or you will lose the big matches.”
Stenger came back strong and dominated the match scoring on a reversal takedown to take a 2-1 lead. With time running out, all he needed to do was stay in position.
But he almost had to go into overtime. Just as time ran out the referee said Stenger had let his opponent up and awarded a point to tie the match.
A tense conference ensued between the referees.
That is when James Clemens wrestling Coach Joel Loudon’s experience as a referee made a big difference.
After talking to both coaches a decision was made. Stenger, ready to keep wrestling, was declared the winner with a swift hand raise by a referee.
“He almost let him up too early,” Loudon said. “The referee awarded Campbell one point for an escape but I pointed out that the opponent has to face him and Ryan has to be charged with loss of control to get an escape and one point but that clearly wasn’t the case so they took that back off.”
With the championship secure the celebrating from both the James Clemens and Bob Jones sections began.
“It feels like redemption from that tough loss last year by one point to win this year by one point,” Stenger said. “My opponent was certainly good enough to be state champion.”
Perhaps next year Campbell may get that championship but Stenger will have moved on to college by then. Stenger is headed to UNA next year where he will enjoy being a retired state wrestling champion.
“I’ve had a long career, 14 years, what a way to top it off with the best fans possible,” Stenger said.
“When I got that last call I knew I am the first state champion from James Clemens. It’s been a great year with great coaches that pushed me to get a state championship. It means the world to me that my friends at Bob Jones were here to root me on. They are like brothers.”
