Tallassee senior John Burnham

Wrestlers advance

By Michael Butler

The Tallassee wrestling team remained perfect in duals matches taking care of business in the Class 5A/6A Region 2 state duals at THS on Friday.

The Tigers (17-0) went 4-0 in clinching the top seed. It was the first action for the team in almost a month.

"It was a fun night," Tallassee head coach John Mask said after the tournament which ended just before midnight. "The kids really turned it on after knocking off the rust against Russell County."

Tallassee beat Russell County 51-30 in the opening match and followed it with dominant wins over Beauregard (72-9), Benjamin Russell (72-8) and Opelika (63-12).

Six Tallassee wrestlers made the all-regional team: Rutland Phillips (106), Brendan Emfinger (120), Land Bell (132), Russell Phillips (138), Christian McCary (160) and Caden Griffith (182).

There are 16 teams remaining in the 5A/6A state bracket. Tallassee is the lone 5A school.

As for the 17-match duals win streak, it is the best since 2016 when the team won 23 straight. That team finished 32-1. The 2014 state championship team had a 17-match streak, went 35-3 overall in duals matches and 28-0 vs. in-state teams. The longest streak all-time is 24 victories in a row in 2004. That team was a state runner-up prior to the advent of the state duals format.

Tallassee faces Region 1 runner-up Spanish Fort in the first round this week on Friday, Jan. 14 at 4 p.m. The winner advances to meet the Benjamin Russell/Gulf Shores winner in the quarterfinal round afterwards. All matches will be on the Tallassee High School campus.

Tickets are available through GoFan.

CLASS 5A/6A
First Round and Quarterfinals (Jan. 14/15)
Region 1 RU: Spanish Fort vs. Region 2 Winner: Tallassee
Region 2 RU: Benjamin Russell vs. Region 1 Winner: Gulf Shores
Region 3 RU: Wetumpka vs. Region 4 Winner: McAdory
Region 4 RU: Jasper vs. Region 3 Winner: Chelsea

Region 7 RU: Scottsboro vs. Region 8 Winner: Athens
Region 8 RU: Hartselle vs. Region 7 Winner: Arab
Region 5 RU: Gardendale vs. Region 6 Winner: Mortimer Jordan
Region 6 RU: Clay-Chalkville or Moody vs. Region 5 Winner: Mountain Brook

Semifinal Round
Site to be determined, Tuesday, Jan. 18

Championship
At Bill Harris, Arena, Birmingham CrossPlex, Friday, Jan. 21