Nine qualify for state wrestling championships at Bob Jones
MADISON- A robe autographed by pro wrestler Ric Flair hangs in the office of Bob Jones Wrestling Coach Matt Sweatman. Will a state championship also hang in his office?
The team came out of sectionals full of confidence finishing second to Vestavia Hills and qualifying nine for the ASHAA Wrestling Championships starting Friday and concluding Saturday at Propst Arena Von Braun Center in Huntsville.
“We thought we could get 7 for sure and we had a chance to get 3 more and we were able to get two more so we were very pleased with that,” Sweatman said.
Bob Jones is well represented in the lower weight classes with one at every classification from 106 to 138.
Leading the way is #1 seed Daishun Mitchell at 132 pounds.
“We expect to see Daishun in the finals,” Sweatman said. “There were six in his weight class at sectional all with experience at the state tournament and he won three matches so it was very impressive what he did to win that weight class which is the hardest weight class in the state. He has to take it one match at a time but if he brings it he can be a state champion.”
Mitchell placed fourth in the state last year.
There is Zaderian Toney at 113 pounds a #2 seed.
Sweatman said that the Toney brothers Zaderian (113 pounds and Zaevian 106) have the potential to make a run at a championship match. Zaderian qualified for state last year but didn’t make it to Saturday.
Another wrestler going in as a #2 seed is Harold Gilmore at 195 pounds. It will be his first trip to state.
Sweatman said any of the other wrestlers going has the ability to win their way to the championship matches that start at 1:30 on Saturday.
Parker Snyder at 120 is going to state for the second straight year. Jordan Whalen qualified at 126. Abe Alrefai at 138 is a bit of a surprise qualifier but is a #3 seed and Sweatman likes his chances.
Alrefai has been a starter all year, one of 10 sophomores on Sweatman’s first string.
George Fancovich at 170 and Seth Dupree at 220 round out the qualifiers. Dupree went last year but didn’t make it to Saturday.
Weighin is 9 am Friday and the quarterfinals start after that. Two wins gets a wrestler to Saturday which is the goal.
“We have a lot of favorable matchups in the first two rounds and the first round should be in our favor,” Sweatman said.
Bob Jones last state champion was Griffin Ridgeway in 2014.
