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The first ever wrestling match at O'Brien Stadium will be Dec. 6

Wrestle "mania" to hit O'Brien Stadium

By Michael Butler

The Tallassee High School wrestling team will be at a different venue for its Dec. 6 match vs. Holtville - J. E. "Hot" O'Brien Stadium.

THS wrestling coach John Mask talked about the concept of an outdoor match.

"I mentioned to the seniors last year and they were really excited about it," he said. "Some of the colleges have done it and set records for attendance."

Mask said a new seven-piece, lighter mat will be easier to maneuver.

"The mats we have in the gym now are very heavy. When we get this mat we can also go to Southside and have some mats there and maybe have an in-school match."

The match at the stadium will be under the lights at 6:00 next Tuesday.

"The only thing I'm worried about is rain," Mask said. "We have a tarp to cover it. If it rains we might move it to the wrestling gym. If rains in the area, we'd get the varsity match in first and decide on the junior varsity."

Tallassee opens its season in Eclectic vs. Elmore County and Holtville on Thursday, Dec. 1 at 5:30 p.m. with varsity and JV matches. THS will host the Tallassee Duals on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 9:00 with eight teams participating.

State Champ Jake Baker
Photo by Miles Hathcock

This season, the AHSAA is adding a new format for determinging state champions.

"For years it's been a bracketed tournament. It's never been my team vs. your team like we did all season. It's our 14 vs. their 14. Coaches have been wanting this for years," Mask noted. "This year, it's regions with designated teams like football. The top two will advance to a playoff. We'll have a bracketed team tournament with three rounds."

The team tournament will be in Birmingham and the individual tournament will remain in Huntsville. Tallassee will wrestle in the Class 1A-5A bracket.

Tallassee lost one senior from last year's squad in Jeremy Noah. Jake Baker, the state heavyweight champ returns.

2016 Schedule

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