T.J. Edwards wins state title for James Clemens wrestling
TJ Edwards (in blue suit) wrestles in the title match (Record Photo/ Lindsay Vaught)
HUNTSVILLE- James Clemens senior wrestler T.J. Edwards completed a stellar weekend of wrestling to claim the state title at 182 pounds Saturday afternoon at the 2015 AHSAA State Wrestling Tournament.
Edwards won two matches handily on Friday, one by pin and one by tech fall.
He faced sophomore Nicholas Mobley of Thompson for the state title. Mobley was 56-18 for the season and Edwards was 49-3.
Edwards wasted little time gaining the advantage, he went up 5-0 on a takedown. But Mobley countered strong and Edwards scrambled to avoid a pin. In the second fall Edwards scored with another takedown and held a 16-3 lead. When Edwards went up 18-3 with 1:05 left in the third fall the match was ended on a tech fall and the state title was his.
“After the first takedown I thought I just got to wrestle my match. I tried to work some cradles but that didn’t work so I got a leg and did a superman and did that two or three times,” Edwards said.
The only concern for onlookers was that Edwards had to take two medical breaks in the match. First for blood on his lip then to clear a cramped stomach.
“He cross-faced me and cut my lip. I just had to suck my lip up and not let it effect the match. That wasn’t going to stop me. My stomach was cramping real bad.”
For first year coach George Cruz it is special because it is his first title.
“We’re proud of TJ and all the guys who placed,” Cruz said.
Other James Clemens wrestlers who placed were Colt Williams 4th, Isaac Schaefer 4th, and Spencer Davis 4th.
“It feels unbelievable. Second one for our school. I didn’t think I would be that dominant in the tournament. Only 3 points were scored on me the whole tournament,” Edwards said.
He suffered a shoulder injury last year and was shut down before the state tournament. As a freshman and sophomore he made the state tournament in lower weight classifications.
Edwards has accepted an academic and athletic scholarship to St. Catharine College in Kentucky and will continue to wrestle in college.
Bob Jones was shut out at the tournament. They sent five wrestlers and none won a match going 0-10.
