Tallassee’s quest for a duals state wrestling championship came up just short Friday morning.
Scottsboro defeated Tallassee, 51-22, in the AHSAA Class 5A duals state championship at the Birmingham Crossplex.
The loss ends Tallassee’s duals season at 31-1, and is the second straight season Tallassee has lost in the finals match. During those two years, Tallassee’s only two losses (73-2) came in the title.
“This group of wrestlers have come up here two years in a row and have fought,” Tallassee coach John Mask said. “We’ve had an amazing season. Now we have to keep working and keep going. Typically, our guys have responded after losses. I love them and I’m proud of them and we’ve had a phenomenal year. They should hold their heads high.”
To begin the competition Friday morning, Tallassee knocked out No. 1-ranked Gulf Shores in the semi finals.
The Tigers started the match as hot as possible with Tra’Mel McCoy (157 pounds) and Christian McCary (165) each pinning their opponents and putting Tallassee up, 12-0.
Tallassee was able to push that lead out to 27-12 following pins from Jude Rogers (215) and Thomas Patterson (106), a 9-4 decision by Mason Nelson and a 12-3 major by Ramon Lozada (120).
Gulf Shores was able to get a few matches back, but the hole was too much. Up 31-25, Land Bell (144) and his undefeated record came up with the chance to secure the match. Bell did exactly so as he won, 17-1, via technical fall and put Tallassee up, 36-25, with no chance for Gulf Shores to come back.
The final match was forfeited and Tallassee advanced to the finals.
“We looked probably as good as we’ve seen us all year in the first match,” Mask said. “I thought we wrestled super. As I mentioned to the team, I’m not saying we were satisfied but we just didn’t have the same fire in the second match. You’ve gotta do it for two matches, that’s the key.”
As fast as Tallassee started in the first match, it was the exact opposite in the championship. Jacob Patterson (165) and Christian McCary (175) were both wrestling up a weight class, and both wrestlers had injuries plague them throughout the match.
Following two Scottsboro pins, Tallassee was never able to overcome the 12-0 deficit.
“Momentum is huge in wrestling,” Mask said. “You get a few pins and everyone is up and excited. If you get in a hole, then people start questioning themselves and not feeling good about it. Momentum is huge for wrestling.”
Nolan Addeo did his best to get Tallassee back into the match as he pinned his opponent just 2:10 into his 195 match. He was up, 4-0, when he earned his pin.
That momentum didn’t last long as Scottsboro went on to win the next two matches via pin in 17 seconds and a 3-1 decision. Scottsboro led, 21-6, after five matches.
Patterson bounced back with a 11-2 win, and Lozada and Bell both kept their undefeated seasons alive with pins.
They were the only three winners in the final nine matches.
“I love them and I’m proud of them,” Mask said. “I want them to hold their heads high because we’ve had an amazing year. We’re going to keep wrestling and we’re going to get better. We will grow from this.”
Tallassee Tribune