State Champion Brodie Jones

TWC championship streak ends

Staff Report

The Talisi Wrestling Club's team title streak has ended, but the group did return from the Alabama Youth Wrestling Championships in Alabaster with one individual champion.

Brodie Jones won the Midget 130 division.

TWC, after three straight state titles, finished 12th overall. Ironclad Wrestling was tops among 89 wrestling clubs in the competition.

Aiden Cockrell, a state champ last year, just missed a repeat with a second place finish in Schoolboy 180+. Michael Hilyer placed fourth in the Bantam 45 class. Gabriel McCrary was also fourth wrestling in the Novice 95 group.

"It's a numbers game," head coach Brent Tennyson said. "We have 50 wrestlers."

Tennyson will be taking a break after ten seasons with the local club.

"I'm calling it quits to explore other options. I'll leave it in good hands. I'm still going to be over it, but as far as the day to day, I'm going to take a break."

Tennyson

Tennyson's Sports Gin facility is the practice facility used by the Talisi Wrestling Club.

"It's amazing to see how the kids we've coached have grown up."

Zak Haynes was among the first group of wrestlers at the youth level that Tennyson coached. He is now a senior for the Tallassee High School team.

"He's done great ever since back then. A lot of them have. It's fun to watch. We've got kids all over the tri-county who came through a small town wrestling club and have done well. I'm proud of every single one of them. It's been a group effort. It's been a fun ride."