Bruder vows to return after loss in championship match

Seth Bruder braces for a charge from Davis Perry in action from the championship match (Record Photo/Lindsay Vaught)

HUNTSVILLE- A long journey ended for James Clemens sophomore Seth Bruder in a 16-6 points defeat Saturday afternoon at the AHSAA Wrestling Tournament. He fell to undefeated and defending state champion Davis Perry, a senior from Hewitt Trussville.

Bruder defeated two higher ranked opponents just to get to the championship match. He qualified as a #4 seed and defeated #1 seed Coleman Reeves of Oak Mountain then Austin Phillips of Smiths Station.

“Not a lot of people have seen him especially down south,” said James Clemens Wrestling Coach George Cruz. “He didn’t qualify last year so he’s come a long way in his first state tournament. Seth has a great arsenal and great technique. He’s peaking at the right time. Two years and we have had kids wrestling for a championship both years.”

Bruder came in with a record of 45-14.

“We had 10 kids come down to support him. We had a little bit of a down year. We took 8 to sectionals and 3 qualified,” Cruz added.

Isaac Shaefer and Spencer Davis also qualified but neither advanced to the second day.

Bruder stays around 180 said his father and assistant coach John Bruder. He came up through youth wrestling in Madison starting at seven years old.

Bruder had a tall task , literally, against Perry. Perry had a two to three inch height advantage.

“He’s one of the best wrestlers in the state,” Cruz said.

Cruz with Bruder

Perry scored with several takedowns, an escape, and had a hammerlock on Bruder.

“It shows me I still have a lot to improve on but I have the potential to win a state championship next year,” Bruder said after the match. “I am going to work in the offseason to get stronger and work on my technique. I am determined to get back next year.”

In other action Bob Jones had three wrestlers advance to second day action. Daishun Mitchell (120) and Ben Rogers (285) finished fourth. Dominic Davis won two matches Saturday morning to claim a third place at 220.