By Michael Butler

Tallassee senior wrestler Land Bell is now the program leader in career wins.

“It’s almost unreal to hear that,” Bell said. “Ever since I was in seventh grade starting on varsity, that was always my goal.”

Bell was presented a placard by Coach John Mask at the Julian McPhillips Tournament hosted by St. James in Montgomery over the weekend.

“It’s an amazing feat,” said Mask, whose team won the tournament on Saturday and is 29-0 in duals matches this season.

Bell’s win total stands at 238. He passed Josh Epperson’s 235 victories.

“At the tournament, I bet I had 10 or 11 coaches that wrestled back when “Epp” was in school say, ‘Land is really special.’ They didn’t think anybody would ever break his record.”

Epperson, now an assistant coach at THS, had nothing but praise for Bell.

“It’s such a blessing to see Land break the career-win record,” Epperson said. “The Bible says, ‘All hard work brings a profit.’ This accomplishment shows how dedication and hard work can lead to great things! I’m excited to see what amazing things the future holds for him.”

Epperson is someone Bell looked up to as a young wrestler.

“I remember his last match in high school,” Bell said. “He was down in the state finals with like 20 seconds left. He got up, took the kid down and after he won, did a backflip.”

Bell is chasing another Epperson mark, the individual state titles record. Epperson has that distinction for the most by a Tallassee wrestler with three. Bell has won state championships the last two seasons. He has won 112 straight matches to boot.

The last loss was during his sophomore season in Wetumpka, a medical forfeit due to a broken toe. While many of Bell’s matches are over rather quickly, there have been some challenges during the streak.

“At Sectional finals last year, a kid put me on my back and the gym erupted. I kind of liked it. I was down by one with ten seconds. I took him down with two seconds left.”

Bell also escaped defeat in the final seconds in another nailbiter at this season’s “Beast at the Beach.”

“There was a kid who transferred from North Carolina. That kid was a stud. I was down 9-4 starting the third period. I won that match with six seconds left.”

Spectators look for Bell at tournaments. Mask was approached by one parent in Florida after seeing Bell’s last-second comeback.

“He said, ‘my son got to see that. That’s what I tell my son how you’re never down. You keep fighting.’ He said, ‘I love that Land Bell kid.’”