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Jesuit High School, New Orleans, LA - The results may not count for the 2013-14 wrestling season, and weight classes are not "locked-in," but the second annual Jazz Town Duals at Jesuit this weekend could provide some very interesting matchups between some of Louisiana's proven best wrestlers.  But, as if that was not enough, wrestlers from other states were invited as well.

Eleven wrestling clubs from Florida, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas will compete against eleven Louisiana clubs (the Brother Martin and Jesuit affiliated clubs entered "A" and "B" teams) in the USA Wrestling-sanctioned event to be held on Saturday and Sunday.

Each club roster is comprised of wrestlers who predominantly hail from the same high school to discourage the creation of statewide "all-star" teams.  Clubs are permitted three to four members from other schools to fill their fifteen-person rosters. 

Additionally, on the two days before the competition, former Olympian Gene Mills will hold one of his "Pin2Win" championship clinics.  Coach Mills will hold a clinic on Saturday before the event starts for all of the participants.

Saturday's competition will consist of matches between teams in designated "pools."  The first and second place winners in each pool will advance to championship tournament-type bracket on Sunday.  Teams not placing first or second in their pools on Saturday will compete in brackets with teams from other pools with similar records.  Additional duals will be scheduled as needed to ensure each team has an opportunity to wrestle in eight matches over the two-day event.

Wrestling starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.  The finals are estimated to begin around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Little is known re the quality of the out-of-state competition, but it is expected to be very good.  The Louisiana rosters are pretty well stacked.  The wrestlers listed below have distinguished themselves in the past, but it is not known what new stars will arise from Louisiana this season.   So as not to confuse the writer, the wrestlers cited below will be mentioned in affiliation with the high schools they represent. 

As of publication the pools were not listed on TrackWrestling.  If possible, when potential matchups are known, clubs will be referenced.

Weights are "scratch plus four" and include a 98 lbs. (102 lbs.) weight class.

98 (102) lbs.

The "senior" entrants in this group are juniors Brody Martin of Jesuit and Chris Zea of Holy Cross.  Two Rummel sophomores, Tucker Boesch and Robert Fairchild, will be added to the mix, which will also include a new Gambill from Brother Martin, in freshman Seth. Chris Zea (top) Robert Fairchild (top)

106 (110) lbs.

This is a star-studded weight class.  Rummel senior Devyn Breaud was a Division I state runner-up in 2013.  East Ascension senior Alex Betteridge placed fourth.  Live Oak junior Colt Olinde was a Division II runner-up and Holy Cross sophomore Beau Bush placed fourth.   Brother Martin sophomore Stephen Rumney had a very good 2012-13 season while wrestling behind Mason Mauro.  Jesuit senior Nicky Charles, as a second-stringer, won the Greater New Orleans Championships and for the Jesuit "B" team, freshman Jake Rando has had a very good "post-season" USA Wrestling season.  106 will also feature the sole female entry in Destrehan's Nicole Robichaux, wrestling with the River Parish Wrestling Academy team. Devin Breaud (top) Alex Betteridge (right) Colt Olinde & Beau Bush Jake Rando

113 (117) lbs.

Two 2013 state champions head this group in junior Mason Mauro of Brother Martin (Division I) and senior Jacob Chenevert of Live Oak (Division II).  Mason Mauro (right) Jacob Chenevert (top)

120 (124) lbs.

Jesuit junior Ben D'Antonio won the 2013 Louisiana Classic and placed third in Division I at the state tournament.  Plaquemine senior Sterling Saylor placed fourth in Division II and has had a great summer so far, placing fourth in the Greco-Roman Southeast Regionals in Atlanta last month.  East Ascension senior Matt Ashford was one spot away from placing at the 2013 state tournament. Ben D'Antonio (top) Matt Ashford (left)

126 (130) lbs.

Division II state runner-up Colin Guerra, a Holy Cross junior, will also have senior Baret Sanchez of Brusly, who was a 2013 Division III runner-up and a 2012 state champion.  Rummel senior Tyler Mire, fifth in Division I in 2013, and East Ascension's junior Jacob Bernard should also perform well.  But Brother Martin sophomore Taylor Gambill, who had a fantastic start to the 2012-13 season and may have been disappointed with a fifth place finish in the Division I state tournament, may be the favorite. Colin Guerra (right) Baret Sanchez Tyler Mire (left) Taylor Gambill (top)

132 (136) lbs.

Klein.  Paul Klein.  The Brother Martin junior might as well start ignoring the hype he will generate.  (Perhaps he should have thought of that before winning the 2012 Division I state championship as a freshman and then repeating with emphasis as a sophomore.)  But he seems accustomed to it.  Jesuit junior Will Lafranca came out of nowhere last season to win the Ken Cole and place fourth in the toughest Division I weight class in the state. Paul Klein (left) Will Lafranca (top)

138 (142) lbs.

Division II state champion Seth Bosarge of Live Oak, and Division I runner-up and Louisiana Classic champion Austin Meyn of Brother Martin, both seniors, highlight the Louisiana entrants at this weight class. Seth Bosarge (top) Austin Meyn (right)

145 (149) lbs.

This weight class could provide the best matches of the event should the pools and teams cooperate.  Catholic senior James Claitor went undefeated versus Louisiana competition last season on his way to a Division I state title.  Brusly senior Trevor Schermer already has three Division III state championships.  If Claitor is not on a dual meet roster, he will be replaced by Dutchtown junior Brandon Cowell, who placed fourth in Division I in 2013.  Holy Cross will be well represented as it prepares to join Division I in the 2013-14 season, by junior George Benoit, who placed second in Division II in his freshman and sophomore tears.  Jake Eccles of Jesuit, Austin Hodge of Live Oak and Chase Menendez of Hahnville should prove to be challenging opponents. James Claitor (top) Trevor Schermer (left) Brandon Cowell (right) George Benoit (right)

152 (156) lbs.

Marshall Hill of Parkview Baptist surprised a lot of people with a dominating performance in the 2013 Division III state championships.  But he will be pitted against several Division I state placers in seniors Gaston Eymard of Jesuit and Dequan Jackson of East Ascension, and juniors Joseph Kerry of Rummel and Mason Williams of Brother Martin. Marshall Hill (left) Gaston Eymard (bottom) Joe Kerry (left) Mason Williams

160 (164) lbs.

Jesuit senior Division I runner-up Efosa Eboigbe, fresh off of a runner-up finish at the Southeast Regionals freestyle competition last month, will be challenged by Holy Cross junior and Division II runner-up Brice Duhe and Brother Martin senior Jordan Wright. Efosa Eboigbe (top) Brice Duhe (top)

170 (174) lbs.

Jesuit senior Ashton Queyrouze and Rummel senior Aaron Maddox both placed fourth in Division I last year, and this year Maddox gets to wrestle in a more suitable weight class due to the graduation of state runner-up Michael Darwin.  Live Oak's Brody Bonura placed fourth in Division II and should not be overlooked. Brody Bonura (top)

182 (186) lbs.

Jesuit sophomore Guy Patron, Jr. was a surprise last year and finished fifth in Division I.  But he will have plenty of competition from Holy Cross's Division II runner-up, senior Porter Dazet, and from Brother Martin junior Yehia Riles.  Riles gets to wrestle at a more suitable weight class this season, which is fair as he only placed second in Division I last season!  Guy Patron, Jr. Porter Dazet (bottom) Yehia Riles (top)

195 (199) lbs.

Seniors Logan Thompson of Belle Chasse and Daniel Relayson of Holy Cross split matches last season and finished second and third in the Division II state tournament, both falling to champion Orlando Calhoun, Jr.  Jesuit junior Robert Lobrano placed fifth while unseeded at the 2013 Ken Cole, in a season in which he was second-string to Division I third place finisher Jimmy Brown.  Logan Thompson (top)

220 (224) lbs.

Notables in this weight class include Holy Cross senior Michael Yeatman, who placed second in Division II last season, and Brother Martin senior Josh Tapia, who placed fourth in Division I.  2013 Greater Baton Rouge champion Chris Wright of Zachary should also be a factor. Michael Yeatman (left) Chris Wright (left) Josh Tapia (top)

285 (289) lbs.

East Ascension senior Conor Karwath placed fourth in Division I in 2013.  Jesuit junior Dominic Carmello will be tough as will should Holy Cross senior Travis Gardner, who will no doubt benefit from work with classmates Yeatman and Relayson, as well as from last year's Division II runner-up Jordan Showalter. Conor Karwath Dominic Carmello (left) Travis Gardner (top)

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