Fini

Thirty-nine Louisiana wrestlers made the trip to Atlanta for the USA Wrestling Southeast Regional, held at the Georgia World Congress Center, on May 24th-26th.  They competed in freestyle and Greco-Roman tournaments and, for the Bantam, Intermediate and Schoolboy ages, a folkstyle tournament.

In their respective age groups and weight classes, two Louisiana wrestlers placed 2nd, seven placed 3rd and four placed 4th.  Junior Broncos wrestler Aaron John had a great weekend, earning one runner-up spot and two third place finishes.  Conor Karwath was injured in his first match and missed the rest of the tournament.

Team Louisiana John Aaron Andrew Aucoin Brian Aucoin Joshua Averett James Campbell Jacob Chenevert Brandon Cowell Ben D'Antonio Cole Didier Ty Didier Anthony Dodson Efosa Eboigbe Kaleb Faul Kendall Faul Jordan Giewat Corey Hantz Clayton Hill Cody Hill Marshall Hill Zachary Jones Conor Karwath Kendon Kayser Jacob Kennedy Joshua Kennedy Michael Knowles Will Lafranca Alex Martin Brent Matherne Sidney Mitchell Cade Nelson Colt Olinde Guy Patron, Jr. Austin Pratt Blade Rager Jake Rando Baret Sanchez Sterling Saylor Gavin Soniat Peyton Ward

Junior Freestyle

Jesuit junior and LHSAA Division I state runner-up Efosa Eboigbe was one of three Team Louisiana wrestlers who registered 3-2 records, but his first loss was in the finals of the winners' bracket at 160 lbs., and his second one, a close 1-0, 4-2 match against Virginia's Robert Janis, merited a third-place finish. [160 Championship    160 Consolation]

Live Oak junior and two-time Division II state champion Cody Hill won his first three matches at 132 lbs. but lost in the semifinals of the winners' bracket.  Hill, however, was injured during that match and had to forfeit his next match, finishing in a tie for fifth.  Not counting a win by a forfeit, De la Salle junior Alex Martin, a two-time Division III state champion, went 3-2 but, due to a second round loss, placed tied for seventh at 160 lbs.  [132 Champion    132 Consolation]

Junior Greco-Roman

In a bizarre scenario, Thomas Jefferson senior Brent Matherne's first match at 152 lbs. was against the eventual champion, Logan Breitenbach of Maryland.  Nonplussed after that match, Matherne notched six victories in a row to place second.  One of those wins was over teammate Marshall Hill of Live Oak in the consolation finals.  Hill placed fourth while Matherne advanced to meet North Carolina's Rahshaun Elliot, who lost to Breitenbach in the winners' bracket finals.  Dropping the first round 4-0, Matherne pinned Elliot in the second round at 1:59.  [152]

With an initial bye Plaquemine's junior Sterling Saylor reached the semifinals at 120 lbs. with a 3-6, 6-0, 6-0 technical fall before losing to eventual champion Cameron Timok of Virginia.  Saylor scored another technical fall to reach the consolation finals and finished in fourth place.  [120]

Cody Hill placed fourth at 132 lbs. with a 2-2 record.  [132]

De la Salle's Alex Martin won three matches at 160 lbs. to finish tied for fifth-place.  [160 Championship    160 Consolation]

Kids & Cadet Freestyle

At the 120 lbs. Schoolboy level Brusly's Kendon Kayser scored three technical falls to make it to the winners bracket finals where he succumbed to Florida's Anthony Artalona.  Semifinals loser Owen Brown of Georgia survived the consolation bracket to challenge Kayser for the runner-up spot and won 12-7, 2-7, 1:18.  Kayser finished in a very respectable third place in a bracket of 16.  [120]

In the 144 lbs. Schoolboy division, Aaron John of the Jr. Broncos lost his first match to the eventual champion but survived through the consolation bracket to place third.  He earned the right to wrestle a "true third" match but withdrew from that match due to an injury.  [144]

In the Cadet division, Jesuit freshman Guy Patron, Jr. continued his meteoric rise by winning three matches via falls to place third.  His sole loss was to the loser of the championship finals, so a "true third" match was not available.  [182]

In the Intermediate division at 70 lbs. Ascension Wrestling Club's Peyton Ward won three of his five matches to place fourth.  [70]

Kids & Cadet Greco-Roman

Team Louisiana wrestlers placed third in three events.  Live Oak junior Colt Olinde made it to the championship finals but lost a "True Third" match in the Cadet 106 lbs. tournament.  Brusly's Kendon Kayser lost his first match to a finalist, but then put together a five match run to place third in the Schoolboy 120 lbs. event.  Aaron John met the eventual champion in his first match, but battled back for a "true third" in the Schoolboy 144 lbs. tournament.  [106   120   144]

Kids Folkstyle

It was Aaron John again faring well in this tournament, placing second at 144 lbs.  John had two falls, a 16-3 major decision and a 4-1 decision in his wins. He lost to the champion, Madison Michaud of Georgia, in a close 8-7 match.  [144]

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