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Mask

Wrestlers wrap COVID-season in Rocket City

By Michael Butler

Tallassee's wrestling team sent eight wrestlers to the Class 5A/6A championships at Huntsville's Von Braun Center. Overall, the Tigers ranked 26th among 59 teams.

It was clearly a challenge for 5A schools in the new combination 5A/6A format dominated by 6A programs. McAdory was the champion.

"It's the toughest tournament I've ever witnessed," THS head coach John Mask said. "We had seven of the eight men win a match. A lot of them had the No. 1 or No. 2 seed."

Tallassee drew a lot of the top seeds early due to a limited number of matches this season.

"Total matches plays a role. With COVID, that definitely hurts you. Some of the kids up here have 40 or 50 matches. There are guys that are two-time state champions seeded 10th."

There were no sectionals this season with COVID safety guidelines.

"You'd like to have sectionals where it's smaller numbers. You compete and you earn your spot."

2020-21 is finished now. The number of matches was much less than usual. Still, the Tigers put together a solid 14-3 record in duals including a 10-game win streak to close out the regular season.

"It's been a tough year. We knew it was going to be tough," said Mask who missed part of the season with COVID himself. "I was very proud of them."

Coach Dustin Cook with Tallassee's seniors (left to right): Tres Ledbetter, Mason Bell, Cook, Ethan Stevenson, Will Lackey

2020/21 Results

Team Results

106: Rutland Phillips (16-4) place is unknown and scored 2.0 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 - Preston Jones (Alexandria) 33-2 won by fall over Rutland Phillips (Tallassee) 16-4 (Fall 1:04)
  • Cons. Round 1 - Rutland Phillips (Tallassee) 16-4 won by decision over Zack Turberville (Muscle Shoals) 20-5 (Dec 9-6)
  • Cons. Round 2 - Rutland Phillips (Tallassee) 16-4 won by decision over Jacob Doshier (Hartselle) 26-10 (Dec 6-3)
  • Cons. Round 3 - Michael Yafondo (Clay-Chalkville) 26-5 won by fall over Rutland Phillips (Tallassee) 16-4 (Fall 4:52)

120: Land Bell (15-3) place is unknown and scored 7.0 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 - Land Bell (Tallassee) 15-3 won by fall over Daniel Hood (Leeds) 20-12 (Fall 3:30)
  • Champ. Round 2 - Parker Dodd (Moody) 36-4 won by decision over Land Bell (Tallassee) 15-3 (Dec 17-10)
  • Cons. Round 2 - Land Bell (Tallassee) 15-3 won by fall over Cruz Rainwater (Mortimer Jordan) 25-17 (Fall 4:31)
  • Cons. Round 3 - Hayden Davis (Fort Payne) 17-8 won by decision over Land Bell (Tallassee) 15-3 (Dec 8-6)

138: John Burnham (6-3) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 - Nick Brawdy (Satsuma) 17-4 won by decision over John Burnham (Tallassee) 6-3 (Dec 13-6)
  • Cons. Round 1 - Ansel Goggans (Scottsboro) 21-5 won by decision over John Burnham (Tallassee) 6-3 (Dec 3-1)

145: Christian McCary (7-6) place is unknown and scored 2.0 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 - Christian Mccary (Tallassee) 7-6 won by decision over Josh Staub (St. Clair County) 19-6 (Dec 8-6)
  • Champ. Round 2 - Gavin Strain (Robertsdale) 27-3 won by major decision over Christian Mccary (Tallassee) 7-6 (MD 10-2)
  • Cons. Round 2 - Stone Peerson (Pelham) 27-18 won by decision over Christian Mccary (Tallassee) 7-6 (Dec 7-4)

160: Jake Debardelaben (12-4) place is unknown and scored 3.0 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 - Jacob Davis (Southside-Gadsden) 25-19 won by fall over Jake Debardelaben (Tallassee) 12-4 (Fall 2:35)
  • Cons. Round 1 - Jake Debardelaben (Tallassee) 12-4 won by fall over Charles Zulusky (Decatur) 10-7 (Fall 1:36)
  • Cons. Round 2 - Kamp Mcminn (Mt. Brook) 24-6 won by fall over Jake Debardelaben (Tallassee) 12-4 (Fall 0:50)

170: Mason Bell (7-2) place is unknown and scored 4.0 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 - Mason Bell (Tallassee) 7-2 won by fall over Hunter Scott (Leeds) 24-12 (Fall 4:12)
  • Champ. Round 2 - Caleb Roe (Arab) 48-4 won by fall over Mason Bell (Tallassee) 7-2 (Fall 3:36)
  • Cons. Round 2 - Gabe Taunton (Stanhope Elmore) 25-6 won by decision over Mason Bell (Tallassee) 7-2 (Dec 10-6)

182: Ethan Stevenson (16-3) place is unknown and scored 5.0 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 - Carnel Davis (Southside-Gadsden) 46-4 won by fall over Ethan Stevenson (Tallassee) 16-3 (Fall 2:38)
  • Cons. Round 1 - Ethan Stevenson (Tallassee) 16-3 won by fall over Michael Lorino (Mt. Brook) 20-6 (Fall 1:25)
  • Cons. Round 2 - Ethan Stevenson (Tallassee) 16-3 won by major decision over Cotton Crowell (Gulf Shores) 45-10 (MD 14-6)
  • Cons. Round 3 - Matthew Vazquez (Clay-chalkville) 19-9 won by decision over Ethan Stevenson (Tallassee) 16-3 (Dec 8-6)

195: Donald "Tres" Ledbetter (17-4) place is unknown and scored 6.0 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 - John-Mark Crocker (Homewood) 24-1 won by fall over Donald Ledbetter (Tallassee) 17-4 (Fall 2:47)
  • Cons. Round 1 - Donald Ledbetter (Tallassee) 17-4 won by forfeit over Eric Roden (Southside-Gadsden) 23-18 (For.)
  • Cons. Round 2 - Donald Ledbetter (Tallassee) 17-4 won by fall over Jack Pritchard (Opelika) 17-5 (Fall 1:31)
  • Cons. Round 3 - Gavin Robinson (Satsuma) 30-6 won by decision over Donald Ledbetter (Tallassee) 17-4 (Dec 10-5)

Final Standings

1 McAdory 373
2 Gardendale 370
3 Arab 324
4 Homewood 321
5 Pelham 293
6 Mt. Brook 265
7 Wetumpka 257
8 Southside-Gadsden 246
9 Moody 239
10 Jasper 224
11 Fort Payne 218
12 Oxford 214
13 Clay-chalkville 212
14 Hartselle 197
15 Stanhope Elmore 190
16 Mortimer Jordan 180
17 Alexandria 165
18 Gulf Shores 164
19 Athens 163
20 Helena 159
21 St. Clair County 157
22 Chelsea 140
23 Scottsboro 136
24 Shades Valley 134
25 Ben Russell 132
26 Tallassee 131
27 Satsuma 120
28 Pike Road 114
29 Springville 107
30 Spanish Fort 106
31 Pell City 96
32 Robertsdale 84
33 Mae Jemison 81
34 Lincoln 80
35 Beauregard 77
36 Elberta 76
37 Shelby County 74
38 Elmore County 72
38 Buckhorn 72
40 Corner 71
41 Hayden 66
42 Hueytown 61
43 Pinson Valley 58
44 Brookwood 57
45 Baldwin County 53
46 Caver-BHM 52
47 Jackson-Olin 50
48 Opelika 42
49 Leeds 38
50 Russell County 35
51 Center Point 34
52 East Limestone 23
53 Holtville 19
53 Decatur 19
55 Muscle Shoals 17
56 Northridge 15
57 John Carroll 9
58 Charles Henderson HS 5
59 Hazel Green 1