By Staff
Hartselle places high at Class 5A State Wrestling Tournament; Mize, Farmer and Faulk all runner-ups
Nick Johnston, Hartselle Enquirer
Pelham – Keith Corder said his goal for this past weekend's state wrestling tournament was to finish in the top four.
Mission accomplished.
Corder, Hartselle High's wrestling coach, watched his team finish fourth at the Class 5A State Wrestling Tournament in Pelham.
"I wanted the kids to wrestle hard," Corder said. "And they did."
No Tiger came home with a state championship, though, as all three of Hartselle's finalists fell in championship matches.
Luke Mize fell to Huntsville's Richard Pollard in the 125-pound class on a controversial call.
Mize was called for stalling late in match, giving Pollard one point.
"I didn't think it was a good call at all," Corder said. "He (Mize) was on top working for a turn … I don't agree at all, he was on the side working a move."
Corder argued the score for several minutes, as he thought the match was tied at the end of regulation.
Corey Farmer fell 7-2 to Homewood's Trent Dotson in the 140-pound championship. Both of Farmer's points came on escapes, as Dotson helped Homewood to the Class 5A state championship.
Adam Faulk proved to be the last Hartselle wrestler with a chance at a state championship, but he fell 4-2 to Gardendale's B.J. Jones. Jones finished the season 50-1, while Faulk finished 30-11.
"He had been getting better," Corder said of Faulk. "He's one of those who can beat anybody on any given day."
Hunter Brasher placed third in the state by pinning Taylor Stroud of Huntsville in the consolation championship.
Two Hartselle wrestlers placed fourth in the state after losing in the consolation finals.
See WRESTLING, B-4
Kurt Hamilton fell to Jerrell Johnson of Homewood 6-5. Johnson was able to take down Hamilton with less than a minute remaining in the match for the win.
Jacob Bierman of Benjamin Russell defeated Matt Owens for third in the 171-pound class.
"I'm pretty pleased with how we have wrestled," Corder said of his team. "We came back and beat some people who beat us earlier in the year, and we have a lot to build on. This is a special group of kids."
Hartselle finished 21-8 on the season.