Local wrestlers to compete at state tournamen

Several local high school wrestlers will be taking part in this weekend's state tournament in Little Rock. The state wrestling tournament, consisting of classes 6A/7A and 1A through 5A, will be held at the Stephens Center on the UALR campus, with matches starting at 10 a.m. today and resuming at 9 a.m. Saturday. Then, the championship finals will be held later on Saturday starting at 3:30 p.m. Northside coach Shawn Shaffer believes his team has a chance to perform well this weekend at the 6A/7A. "The Grizzlies are coming on strong at the end of the season," he said. "I had my 120 (weight class), Brandon Williams (a junior), finish first place (in last week's Big West wrestling tournament) and my 132, Alec Phetchareun (another junior), finish fourth. We had several other wrestlers make it all the way to the semi-consolation rounds. "Brandon Williams has been ranked first in his weight class in the entire state, while Alex Phetchareun has been ranked in the top five at 132 pounds in the entire state. ... My 145 pounder, (senior) Joe Tudor, has come on real strong this year and has taken a strong leadership role. He had to sit out all last year due to an injury, but has made his way into the lineup and secured some really tough victories for us throughout the season." For Southside, coach Shawn Hamilton has one senior, David Decker in the 160. Hamilton also has three freshmen and four sophomores competing. "Thai Ta has had a great year this year and is seeded second in his weight class (106) behind a senior," Hamilton said. "I believe all have the ability to make it to the medal rounds if they have a good weekend." All of Van Buren coach Adam Pendergrass' wrestlers are underclassmen. "We have a young team," Pendergrass said. "We have a couple of kids that if they get the right draw in the bracket, they have a chance to place. These kids are at 120 (sophomore Mason Hayes), 132 (sophomore Christian Carney) and 182 (junior Tyler Thacker). "They have worked extremely hard all season. I am very proud of how much they have grown as wrestlers and young men." Greenwood has several of its wrestlers receive high seeds. Among the Bulldogs with high seeds are senior Austin Collins, who is first in the 195 with a record of 26-6; freshman Colton Tuck, second in the 120 (35-8); junior Jon Womack, second in the heavyweight class (33-3); and sophomore Dylan Wilson, seeded third in the 138 (27-7).

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Van Buren High School Athletics

LOCAL WRESTLERS TO COMPETE AT STATE TOURNAMEN

BUCK RINGGOLD

Times Record | 2/17/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Van Buren High School Athletics