Ethan Jones is congratulated after his win Photos by Kyle Thornton

Sectionals next for wrestlers

By Michael Butler

Tallassee has put up one of its best seasons ever, but there is still some work to do. The wrestling squad is 29-1 entering the post-season. The lone defeat came in the quarterfinal round of the state duals.

Tallassee ended its regular season by placing second in the Hornet Slam at Beauregard on Jan. 29. Gulf Shores, the team that beat them in the state duals, placed first.

Gulf Shores and other Class 5A/6A powers will be present at the AHSAA Sectionals which begin on Feb. 10 at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery.

"There's a lot of good teams," head coach John Mask said. "There's Gulf Shores, but you've got maybe ten teams in the running that could win that sectional. It's tough."

The 29-1 duals record is Tallassee's best since a 32-1 mark in 2016. That squad was a state runner-up. The 2014 state championship team was 35-3 in duals matches. The 2004 state runner-up had a perfect record in duals at 24-0.

"There's potential to have some 64-man brackets with 5A and 6A together," Mask said of the sectional format. "We're going to give it our best shot. Our guys are hungry. They're working hard. We're excited about the opportunity. They want to go to state. Some of them have never been."

To qualify for the state, wrestlers have to finish in the top eight of their respective weight classes. The state format will have 16-man brackets.

Tallassee's Mason Nelson in the 113-pound class vs. Reeltown's Bryar Lockhart

THS Wrestling Records (Since 2003)

2022 (5A-6A) 29-1      
2021 (5A-6A) 14-3                          
2020 (1A-5A) 31-12                                    
2019 (1A-5A) 34-6                                       
2018 (1A-5A) 38-11                    
2017 (1A-5A) 39-4 (3rd in State)    
2016 (5A) 32-1 (2nd in State)                    
2015 (5A) 30-12                             
2014 (4A) 35-3 (State Champions)                    
2013 (4A) 34-6 (2nd in State)                    
2012 (5A) 20-7                                      
2011 (5A) 26-7 (2nd in State)                    
2010 (5A) 26-4 (3rd in State)                  
2009 (5A) 21-9                                       
2008 (5A) 24-6                                       
2007 (5A) 30-5                                       
2006 (4A) 23-4                                       
2005 (4A) 23-6                                       
2004 (4A) 24-0 (2nd in State)       
2003 (4A) 18-4 (2nd in State) 
     
551-111 (83%) 

Photos by Kyle Thornton