Wrestling season is now on the mats
MADISON- Let the grappling begin! The always super-charged sport of high school wrestling is now underway and the three local teams are ready, willing and able to take to the mat for some superb, high-class struggles on the mat.
Bob Jones, James Clemens and Sparkman High Schools have fostered excellent programs with top-notch student-athletes and the newest season certainly falls into the realm of action packed matches, both teams and individual wrestlers. Here’s a look at the programs with one major change at James Clemens with a new head coach leading the way into 2025-2026 reaching for the goal of the AHSAA State Tournament scheduled for Feb. 12-14, 2026.
Bob Jones
In his second season as head coach of the Bob Jones wrestling program, Joe Hill is looking to the youth on the team roster to lead the way for the team which has 12 returners including five who qualified for last season’s State Tournament, including state runner-up Kaden Clark.
“We’ve had a good off-season with a lot of young guys who are hungry to turn the corner,” said Hill. “If we can get everyone in the right weight class, we should be able to make a push at the end of the season.”
The Patriots will certainly miss the leadership of Sammy Grimes from last year’s team as the 285-pound division (heavyweight) State Champion (37-5) graduated and left some big shoes to fill both as an elite wrestler and team leader.
“Losing a State Champion in Sam is hard to replace,” added Hill. “We’re still a relatively young team with a lot of talent.”
For Clark, who will now see action in the 157-pound division as a sophomore, was 39-4 a year ago while wrestling in the 138-pound division. He advanced to the State Tournament and fought his way to the finals only to fall in the title match by a 5-0 decision to Jordan Weltzin, a senior of Thompson High.
Besides Clark, wrestlers returning this year who made the State Tournament a season ago include Zander Samargin (138 Division, Sr.) who finished fourth in the state at 35-6, Carter Lindsey (150, Jr.) was a state qualifier at 26-11, Greyson Samargia (175, So.) who was 30-19 and state qualifier and Sheldon Sharp (215, Jr.) a fifth place finisher last season at 34-10.
In all, the Patriots’ roster is made up of three each in senior and junior classes, four as sophomores and two in the freshman class. The remainder of the returners include Josiah White (113, Fr., 30-23), Jacob Reyes (120, Sr., 28-10), Corbin Rickard (126, Fr.), Ezra Garner (132, Jr., 22-18), Elijah Wortham (144, So., 26-11), Jackson Caballero (165, Sr., 28-17) and Nathan Taylor (190, So., 28-17).
The 2025-2026 season schedule includes travel to Mobile for the Gulf Coast Clash, along with playing host to the Boone Clark Invitational and the annual Dick Clem Memorial. Included in the lineup is the yearly clash with James Clemens with the Patriots traveling to the home of the Jets on Dec. 4 and the host of the Jets on Jan. 27, which will be the last regular season battle prior to the post-season action.
James Clemens
Both youth and small number of competitors can easily describe the James Clemens program for this season. But more importantly, the big news within the wrestling team is the fact the student-athletes are being led by a new head coach. Kevin Pecor departed the program after six seasons as head coach and Coley Tyler, a retired Army Veteran and head coach of the Liberty Middle School wrestling team last year, has taken over the head coach position for the newest edition of the Jets.
“The boy’s varsity team is very young, but has a lot of potential and promise,” said Tyler. “The girls varsity team is small in number, but has talent, and, if we can keep them healthy, we expect to have a very successful individual season.”
Gone from last year’s team are both Max Bell and Greg Worley, both of whom took fourth place finishes at the State Tournament. This season, the squad is made up of four each of the senior and junior classes along with eight sophomores and nine freshmen. On the girls squad, three sophomores and one senior make up the four-athlete team.
Here’s the lineup for the Jets with statistics, which may not be complete, from track wrestling: Valen Bell (106, Fr.), Murad Badaouie (126, Fr.), Blake Celani (150, Fr., 5-1), Kaiden McKnight (132, Fr.), William Kimberi (144, Fr.), Wyatt Buschow (190, Fr.), Quinn O’Sullivan (215, Fr., 5-7), Henry Vogt (120, Fr., 6-11), Clay Bogan (132, Fr.), Liam Vaughn (106, So., 16-18), Travis Barnes (138, So., 3-5), Ivan Fernandez (144, So., 12-2), Colin McLaughlin (132, So., 3-2), Grayson Scott (190, So., 2-9), Weston Sipe (126, So., 18-13), Brenden Hammon (138, So., 1-1), Kaleb Downer (126, So.), Pearson Evers (138, Jr., 27-18), Phillip Williams (165, Jr., 15-12), Nathan Holmes (190, Jr., 24-14), Fernando Cogles (157, Jr., 17-10), Norin Flores (285, Sr.), Trent Green (175, Sr., 23-14), Cooper Martin (132, Sr., 14-14), Abraham Canchola (215, Sr., 8-15), Alayna Gray (185, So.), Elizabeth Peterson (120, So.), Kamarie Ragland (165, So.) and Darby McKay (114, Sr.).
“I expect big things from veteran returners Pearson Evers, Phillip Williams and Trent Green, plus I believe have several others who could qualify for state,” said Tyler, who currently works fulltime for the Army Space and Missile Defense Command. “Several of my athletes have been a critical anchor during our coaching transition. I truly believes our girls can do well. We are extremely young, which bodes well for the future, but this season is shrouded in mystery until we get some matches under our belts. I expect to start several freshmen.”
Sparkman
The Sparkman Senators wrestling program, both boys and girls, is in good spirits as the current 2025-2026 season hits the mats of the school located in Harvest. The boys team has eight starters returning from last season and the girls have numerous returning wrestlers from a squad which finished fourth at the State Tournament.
“I think our girls have great potential to elevate this season as they have multiple returning starters, state qualifiers and state placers,” said Sparkman head coach Dylan Miller. “I think the boys team will be pretty competitive this season. We are returning eight starters with one of them a two-time state placer while another one just missing qualifying for state.”
The lowdown on both squads for Miller is as follows:
Boys Team:
106: Kassius Bonds- (Fr.) This will be his first year wrestling varsity as he has wrestled for the program the last two years. His sister is former Sparkman wrestler Kayla Bonds who finished third in the state last year. He has consistently improved every year he has been a part of the team. Look forward to seeing him compete on varsity this year. 20242025 Record: 26-12 113: John Nguyen- (So.) This will be John’s second year with the program. He was a newcomer last season, but picked up the sport quickly, which led him to be pulled up and start practicing with the varsity. I expect good things out of him this upcoming season. 2024-2025 Record: 22-12 120: Anthony DeVito- (Jr.) Anthony is a newcomer to the program as he moved here from California over the summer, where he wrestled for John F. Kennedy High School. He has great skills and a poise about himself on the mat. We are glad to have him as a part of the program now. I see big things for him this season. 2024-2025 Record: n/a 126: Nolan Paulk- (Jr.) Nolan has wrestled in the program over the last three seasons where he wrestled some varsity last season, but has won the starting spot this year. I look forward to seeing what he will do on the mat this season. 2024-2025 Record: 20-6 138: Alexander Rivardo- (Sr.) This will be Alex’s third year with the program. I have seen him make major jumps in his wrestling skills. He consistently improved over last season where just missing qualifying for state in what is known as the blood round of sectionals. I see him being at the top of his weight class this season in Class 7A. He will be a cornerstone of the team’s overall success this season. 2024-2025 Record: 25-12 144: Brayden Billig- (Sr.) Brayden has been with the program since his seventh grade year. He has a tremendous amount of potential and has a sound wrestling skill set. I think this season could be his year to shine. I see big things for him in his senior season. 2024-2025 Record: 25-21 150: Roman Hicks- (Jr.) Roman has been with the wrestling program over the last four seasons and was our top JV scorer last season. I am excited to see how he transitions to the varsity level. 2024-2025 Record: 12-2 157: Sean Lydon- (Sr.) Sean is the leader and cornerstone of this team. He has been the constant of the team with his great wrestling skill set on the mat. He has qualified for state in his last two seasons, placing third in 2024, and state runner-up last season as a junior. He has put great work in over the off season, and believes he will be a State Champion this year, which would be Sparkman’s first male state champion since 1997. I think he will have a very successful season. 20242025 Record: 44-4 165: Jeffrey Bacon- (Sr.) Jeffrey has wrestled for Sparkman in the past, but had to take the last two seasons off due to injury, but he is back to compete for this senior season. I am excited to see what he can do this campaign. 2024-2025 Record: n/a 175: Hunter Kitts- (Jr.) He has been with the program over the last two seasons and has great potential that I think will materialize on the mat this season. He has worked hard in the off season, and has increased his wrestling skills and knowledge. I look forward to seeing what he can do this season. 2024-2025 Record 16-20 190: Elias Blake- (Jr.) He has been with the program over the last two seasons. He wrestled JV 185 weight class last year. He improved over last season and I think with him moving to the 190-pound weight class, he will have great success this season. 2024-2025 Record 8-14 215: Taito Marsh- (Jr.) Taito is the returning 215 division wrestler. He found some success last season, and I am looking forward to him continuing that success into this season. 2024-2025 Record 19-24 285: Walter Pruitt- (Jr.) Walter was a newcomer last season, but improved and was very competitive by the end of the season. I think that he is going to have great success this season. 2024-2025 Record 10-6 Girls Team
100: Ella Harmon- (Jr.) Ella wrestled at the 107 weight class last season where she had much success. She was a state qualifier and put up a good fight at state before losing in the blood round to get put out of the competition. She is wrestling in the 100 weight class this year and is currently ranked sixth in the state at that weight class. 2024-2025 Record 28-16 107: Aliyah Bailey- (Fr.) Aliyah has wrestled for the team the past two seasons and was a state qualifier last season. She is already off to a fast start this season. 2024-2025 Record 29-21 114: Maria Contreas- (8) This will be her second season with the team as she showed great potential as a seventh grader last season. I expect big things from her this season. 2024-2025 Record 15-8 120: Natalie Schrimsher- (Sr.) This will be her second season with the team and have high hopes for her in her senior year. 2024-2025 Record 8-10 126: Amari McRae- (Sr.) This will be her second season with the team. We have high hopes for her in her senior year. 2024-2025 Record 16-14 132: Josie Workman- (Sr.) Josie is a newcomer to the program. She moved here over the summer from Georgia where he wrestled for Lumpkin County High School. She has great skills and a poise about herself on the mat. We are glad to have her as a part of the program. I see big things for her this season. 2024-2025 Record: n/a 138: Selah Schrock- (Fr.) Selah had much success in her eighth grade year. She just missed qualifying for state last season and put up a good fight at sectionals just before losing in the blood round to exit the competition. I see big things for her this season. 2024-2025 Record: 20-24 145: Makiya McRae- (Sr.) This will be her second year with the team. She was a state qualifier last season as she had a very successful season for it being her first year. We expect her to do great things this upcoming season. 2024-2025 Record: 14-15 152: Alison Perez- (So.) This will be her second year with the team and was a state qualifier last season at 126 pounds with a very successful season. I look forward to seeing what she can do this season. 2024-2025 Record: 30-12 165: Kalea Loving- (Sr.) Kalea is a cornerstone of this girls team going into her senior season. She was a state champion in 2024 and was runner up in 2025. In the state finals last season at the 165 division, she fell at 3:16 against Taliah Wade (40-9) a sophomore from Daphne High. She has been the constant performer of the team. She is currently ranked number two in the state at this weight class going into the current season. 2024-2025 Record: 37-3 185: Rosa Schroder- (Sr.) Rosa has been a part of this team for the last four seasons. Unfortunately, she was injured last season and did get to compete. We look forward to seeing what she can do in her senior year. 2024-2025 Record: n/a 235: Kia Loving- (Jr.) Kia will be a big part of this team’s success this upcoming season. She was a state qualifier last season, where she finished fourth in the state. She is currently ranked No. 4 in the state at the 235 weight class. I believe that she is going to have a very successful season. She and Kalea are sisters. 2024-2025 Record: 29-13
