Elite Wrestlers Named All-Americans At Disney World

ORLANDO, FLA.- More than a dozen wrestlers from the Bob Jones wrestling program took the trip of a lifetime when they packed up and headed to Orlando, Fla. for the AAU Scholastic Duals held at Walt Disney World. In all, 18 wrestlers represented the Patriots at the five-day competition, plus a recent graduate of the Patriots’ program, Gabe Pittman, who had to wrestle under the banner of exhibition due to an unforeseen circumstances of not having a team to wrestle for.

Pittman, along with four of the Patriots’ athletes, received All-American honors for their performances held at the Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports, which included action on 29 mats set up in the host site.

“Everyone knows we lost 12 out of 14 starters off last year’s team, which brought our first state title and state runner-up in wrestling at Bob Jones,” said Matthew Sweatman head coach of the Patriots’ program. “The results at the Duals show the hard work these guys are doing in the reloading process.”

Evan Pippin, Gabe Hunt and Ethan Bordelon earned Bronze All-American honors while Chris Congress earned Copper All-American honor at the event. Pittman earned the honor of Silver All-American for his wrestling results.

Pittman, who signed a wrestling athletic scholarship to Huntingdon College after the 2019 season was complete at Bob Jones, was actually competing with the squad representing Thompson High in the All-Star Division after training through the program this summer. While he was traveling with his parents in their personal car, the Thompson team van was involved in a highway accident and the team head coach cancelled the trip causing Pittman to make the trip to Orlando and wrestle on his own in the 165-pound weight class.

“I got in some exhibition matches, which is an extra division of the tournament, and I did pretty well finishing 6-2,” said Pittman. “I was lucky to have found as many matches as I did. It was a good choice for me to continue to make the trip and enter the action as it helped me stay in shape for my upcoming college season.

“Pippin, an upcoming sophomore at Bob Jones, took part in the Developmental Division and posted an 8-2 record in the 170-pound weight class. He said of his performances, “I didn’t expect to do as well as I did and I felt I did well and was just excited to be there among all of the great talents from across the country. I got banged up a little and suffered a possible knee injury, but nothing could stop me.”

Two seniors this next school year in Hunt and Bordelon wrestled extremely well among the elite athletes as both posted 8-2 records in the 10 matches they participated in.

Bordelon took part in the 115 division and he posted first round pins in his first three matches. He added, “The overall experience was very helpful as I learned a lot. I worked on my neutral moves I learned in earlier camps. I checked them out and put into action at Disney.”

Bordelon was fortunate to make the trip as he injured his left thumb during practice two months ago and underwent two surgeries to repair the damage. He said, “I didn’t let the injury hold me back. This was my best tournament yet.”

Wrestling in the 138-pound class, Hunt said his best match was when he pinned his opponent within the first minute by using two underhook moves and turned his opponent over for the eventual pin.

“I also worked a lot moves and my personal wrestling skills in an 11-3 decision and I thought that was also one of the best matches I had,” said Hunt, who moved to Madison during his freshman school year from Queens, New York.

The experienced wrestler spoke of an incident that happened to him when he was five years old as a pit bull attacked him leaving him with over 150 stitches. “I still have the scars in my jaw and lip. I was lucky it wasn’t worse than what it was, but I’m fine.”

Due to AHSAA regulations, Sweatman is not allowed to coach his team during an AAU tournament. He said the club team the wrestlers are on does a great job of developing their talents during the off-season. The North Alabama Wrestling Club is led by Garrett Kitchens, a three-time state champion out of Southside-Gadsden, former Bob Jones four-time state qualifier Seth Dupree and longtime coach Ken Clark.

“They do a stellar job producing high-character kids,” added Sweatman.

The high school athletes are aware of the tough work they put in during the off-season and understand the experience at the AAU event will go a long way to making their 2019-2020 season a successful one.

“It was good for those of us who went and good for our team,” said Pippin.

“During our stay in Orlando we saw our upcoming team and how they can compete and it was great bonding time for us,” added Hunt.