Untitled 1

Status: Fini

St. Louis upends host John Curtis for AA, A, B & C title

January 19th, 2014 | Written by: Editor

Weight Classes

The Saint Louis Saints [photo left], behind wins by defending Division II state champion Lehrue Stevens, IV at 152 lbs. and Jared Smith at 195 lbs., scored 150 points to runner-up John Curtis' 144.5 to win the 6th annual John Curtis Class AA, A, B & C Championships on Saturday, January 18th. The Saints had six runners-up and four Saints finished fourth. John Curtis, Lakeside, South Plaquemines and Evangel had two champions apiece, while Ocean Springs, MS, Episcopal, Doyline and Holy Rosary each crowned a winner.

St. Louis and John Curtis should be in a very competitive fray with North Vermillion and De la Salle for the team runner-up position at the Division III state championships in February. Brusly will be the overwhelming favorite to win the Division III team championship, particularly after their fifth-place showing at the Louisiana Classic.

This tournament, however, was created to give Division III wrestlers a chance to see many of the competitors they might face at the state championships, and it was thus worth the six hour drive for teams from northwest Louisiana including Calvary Baptist, Doyline, Evangel and Lakeside, or even a mere four hour drive for St. Louis of Lake Charles. A welcome addition this year was Ocean Springs, Mississippi, which placed third with 135 points. Lakeside scored 109 points to place fourth, followed by South Plaquemines (88), Evangel (79.5), Calvary Baptist (67), Episcopal (50), Doyline (44) and Holy Rosary (43).


Runners-up John Curtis Patriots	Third place - Ocean Springs, MS Dolphins


Brittany Bates	Lehrue Stevens, IV

Sophomore Brittany Bates of Doyline and senior Lehrue Stevens, IV of St. Louis were voted the Outstanding Wrestlers of the tournament. Both wrestlers pinned all three of their opponents.

[Bates is getting OW awards this season at a ridiculous pace, so she might want to click on the image below.]

Finals Results
(A condensed version and brackets may be found on the Louisiana High School Wrestling Archives Website, under "Season Results: 2013-14")

106

113

120

126

132

138

145

152

160

170

182

195

220

285

106 Pounds


Champion Brittany Bates - DOY	Runner-up Brandon Wilcox - JC	Third Place Tyler Caproruscio - OS	Finalists Introductions

Top-seeded Brittany Bates pinned second-seeded Brandon Wilcox of John Curtis in 1:47.

Bates took a little time "feeling out" her opponent but once she got into Wilcox's legs on a double-leg lift she was able to sink a tight half-nelson and score a fall after 1:47 seconds had elapsed in the first round.

Bates is 29-5, with losses to returning Division I and II state champions (Mauro and Chenevert), a wrestler from Arkansas, a girl from Texas and one to Loyola's Armand Zachary, whom she had previously defeated. She has yet to lose at 106 lbs. and has 25 pins this season.

Bates was voted the Outstanding Wrestler of the lower weight classes, her fourth such award this season.

CONSOLATION FINALS RESULTS
Tyler Caporuscio of Ocean Springs defeated John Rollins of Episcopal via a fall in 4:16.

113 Pounds


Champion Ryan Monaghan - OS	Runner-up Bailey Strtzinger - JC	Third Place Chris Leboeuf - SP	Finalists Introductions

Ocean Springs' Ryan Monaghan defeated John Curtis' Bailey Stretzinger via a fall in 3:11. This tournament propelled Monaghan to a winning record of 9-8, and his losses have not been to slouches as they include Jesuit's Nicky Charles and Austin Pfister, as well as Miss Bates from Doyline.

CONSOLATION FINALS RESULTS
Chris Leboeuf of South Plaquemines defeated Bandon Mockbee of John Curtis 5-4.

120 Pounds


Champion Bradley Wright - EVA*	Runner-up Jacob Rowland - St. Louis	Third Place John Watson - LKS	Finalists Introductions

* This is a photo of Bradley smiling. Print it, get Bradley to sign it, and then put it away for a decade. Then put it up for sale on EBay.

Bradley Wright of Evangel defeated Jacob Rowland in a very close 7-6 match in which he had to hold off Rowland for a long time at the end of the third period when the wrestlers were on their feet. Wright was aggressive (and smart) enough not to stall during that time. In the semifinals, Wright, who is 16-5, avenged two previous losses to Lakeside's John Watson via a fall in 1:57. His only other losses have been a one point decision to Gavin Becker of North Vermillion and to Tristan Rupert of Ocean Springs, who won the Outstanding Wrestler award at the Louisiana Classic in Baton Rouge this same day. Look for Wright to be one of the top seeds at 120 lbs. in Division III.

Look for Rowland to be seeded well also, as four of his seven losses have come from what could be deemed "very quality" opponents, and all were at 126 lbs.

CONSOLATION FINALS RESULTS
John Watson of Lakeside defeated Dechlan Sparrow of John Curtis via a fall in 1:47.

126 Pounds


Champion Bryce Cortez - JC	Runner-up Owen Monaghan - OS	Third Place Jacob Bailey - EVA	Finalists Introductions

John Curtis senior Bryce Cortez is 15-3 on the year after this tournament, with his only losses coming from a Texas wrestler, Brusly's 2011 state champion Baret Sanchez in the Brusly Invitational finals, and a last second loss to St. Louis' Jacob Rowland Friday night, after which he decided cutting to 120 lbs. was not something he should do. Cortez won this event with pins in 2:59, 1:09, 0:56 and scored a 10-6 finals victory over Ocean Springs' Owen Monaghan.

Aside from the loss to Sanchez, Cortez is undefeated against Division III wrestlers and should be seeded relatively high at the state championships.

CONSOLATION FINALS RESULTS
Jacob Bailey of Evangel defeated Riley Smith of Lakeside 15-10 in a second overtime period.

This match merits some explaining. After three rounds the two were tied 8-8. Neither could score a point during the "Sudden Victory" round. Smith rode out Bailey in the first 30 second overtime round. In a strategic move for the second overtime period, instead of giving Smith a chance for a last second escape to win, Bailey opted to start standing, giving Smith an escape point at the onset in the hopes he could overcome the one point lead. He promptly did with a two-point takedown to take a one point lead, but then he allowed Smith to escape and tie the match at 9-9. But at the very end Bailey managed to throw Smith to his back for a two-point takedown and three nearfall points, sealing a 15-10 double overtime win.

132 Pounds


Champion James Graham - SP	Runner-up Roderick Ward - EVA	Third Place Cameron Corley - LKS	Finalists Introductions

Graham and Ward wrestled a fun 2:36 until Graham finally scored a fall over Ward. This was Graham's third victory over Ward, and Graham's 22-4 record only includes losses to Jesuit's Evan Palmisano, St. Paul's Mason Rader, Brusly's Wyatt Lejeune and Holy Rosary's Reid DiMaggio (a loss he avenged later). James should be seeded second at the state tournament behind Brusly's Noah Landry. Ward should be a high seed, as should third-place finisher Cameron Corley of Lakeside.

CONSOLATION FINALS RESULTS
Cameron Corley of Lakeside defeated James Nethery of Holy Rosary 14-2.

138 Pounds


Champion Reid DiMaggio - HR	Runner-up Deiontae James - SP	Third Place Cole Bedgood - CB	Finalists Introductions

Holy Rosary's Reid DiMaggio added another tournament championship to his ones at the Jefferson Invitational and GNO Division III Championships with a 4:45 pin of South Plaquemine's Deiontae James. This amounted to payback of sorts, as James pinned DiMaggio in 2:43 on January 4th. DiMaggio has been wrestling from 132 to 145 this season, so one cannot quite be sure what weight he will compete in at the state tournament, but he and James should be relatively high seeds.

CONSOLATION FINALS RESULTS
Cole Bedgood of Calvary Baptist defeated Augustus Sole of St. Louis 11-3.

145 Pounds


Champion Ben Kirkiksis - EVA	Runner-up Ryan Hamrick - JC	Third Place Zach Johnson - OS	Finalists Introductions

Evangel's Benjamin Kirkiksis only has a two point loss to St. Louis' Andrew Pousson and a loss to Brusly's Trevor Schermer versus 30 wins to his credit in the 2013-14 season. A Division III runner-up last year, Kirkiksis could be a #1 or #2 seed depending on at which weight Brusly's Trevor Schermer decides to compete and if he gets another shot at Pousson. Kirkiksis did have a very tough semifinals match in which he defeated Ocean Springs' David Green 3-0, but he pinned his other two opponents in a combined 3:11, including John Curtis' Ryan Hamrick in the finals in 2:22.

CONSOLATION FINALS RESULTS
Zach Johnson of Ocean Springs defeated Evan Cooper of Calvary Baptist via a fall in 0:44.

152 Pounds


Champion Lehrue Stevens, IV - St.L	Runner-up Kyle Jones - CAL	Third Place Taylor Mitchell - OS	Finalists Introductions

Lehrue Stevens' IV, at 24-2, is having a great 2013-14 season. He has beaten North Vermillion's Colin Laird three times, as well as Teurlings Catholic's Brennan Trosclair twice and Rummel's Joseph Kerry. His only stumbling blocks have been Catholic's Matthew Mire, whom he will not see at the state championship, and Parkview Baptist's Marshall Hill, whom he just might.

At this event he pinned a very aggressive Kyle Jones of Calvary Baptist in 5:46. Only a freshman this year, Jones will be one to keep an eye on next season, if not at the end of this one in which he is 4-1 in his last five matches.

For his efforts Stevens was recognized as the Outstanding Wrestler in the heavier weight classes.

CONSOLATION FINALS RESULTS
Taylor Mitchell of Ocean Springs defeated Devin Ruiz of John Curtis 12-0.

160 Pounds


Champion Thomas Lambert - LKS	Runner-up Andrew Pousson - St.L	Third Place Ellis Herring, III - EPI	Finalists Introductions

Thomas Lambert travelled for six hours to wrestle for one minute and 25 seconds. His first match took 25 seconds. His second match was an injury forfeit and his finals match was a 1:00 pin of St. Louis' Andrew Pousson. He still has his work cut out for him though re seeding for the state championship as he has four losses to Division III opponents.

Pousson moved up to wrestle 160 lbs. from his normal 145 lbs. weight class at which he is 22-5, with losses to Noah Landry of Brusly and four wrestlers from Divisions I and II. Another match with Kirkiksis should determine who gets the second seed at 145 lbs. if Schermer is there, or the #1 seed if Schermer remains at 138 lbs.

CONSOLATION FINALS RESULTS
Ellis Herring, III of Episcopal defeated Peyton Talley of Holy Rosary via a fall in 0:31.

170 Pounds


Champion G'Corey Fullilove - JC	Runner-up John Pruitt - St.L	Third Place Caleb Thompson - OS	Finalists Introductions

The 2013 state runner-up at 160 lbs., John Curtis's G'Corey Fullilove has a 13-1record and a Brusly Invitational championship. His only loss was a last second 11-10 decision to St. Louis' John Pruitt in a dual meet on the eve of this event. Fullilove had pinned Pruitt on December 28th in 3:59 and that was the way he wrestled Pruitt in the finals, easily posting a 10-1 decision. A fourth seed who placed second in 2013, Fullilove is looking every bit like a #1 seed in 2014.

CONSOLATION FINALS RESULTS
Caleb Thompson of Ocean Springs defeated John Inocencio of Doyline via a fall in 2:39.

182 Pounds


Champion Kevin Drury - SP	Runner-up Blake St. Romain - St.L	Third Place Drew Peterson - OS	Finalists Introductions

Due to a loss to North Vermillion's Collin Vaughn, South Plaquemine's Kevin Drury looks every bit to be the second seed in Division III come February. Seeded second behind St. Louis' Blake St. Romain, who needed all of 1:44 in his two matches to reach the finals, Drury had a harder time after a first round bye, requiring 5:00 to pin Doyline's Christopher Inocencio. But in the finals Drury dominated, pinning St. Romain in 1:51. He will need to win a rematch with Vaughn to merit the top seed, though.

CONSOLATION FINALS RESULTS
Drew Peterson of Ocean Springs defeated Chris Inocencio via an injury forfeit.

195 Pounds


Champion Jared Smith - St.L	Runner-up Wyatt Mallett - St.L	Third Place Tyler Sullivan - CAL	Finalists Introductions

The outcome of this finals match was never really in question. Jared Smith, although only with a 2-1 record before this event, is a senior for St. Louis. Wyatt Mallet is a freshman for St. Louis with a record of 2-11. And Smith, in his first round match, dispatched the 2013 state runner-up Tyler Sullivan of Calvary Baptist in 45 seconds. Mallett knew full well he was in trouble from the start, but he fought gamely for the 36 seconds that the match lasted.

CONSOLATION FINALS RESULTS
Tyler Sullivan of Calvary Baptist defeated Jacob Melancon of John Curtis via a fall in 0:50.

220 Pounds


Champion Luke Griffith - LKS	Runner-up Robert McPherson - St.L	Third Place Dax Steele - OS	Finalists Introductions

This weight class was wrestled in a four-man round-robin format. Luke Griffith of Lakeside went 3-0 and defeated Robert McPherson (2-1) in a close 4-2 overtime match to win. Dax Steele of Ocean Springs was 1-2, placing third with a win over his teammate Gavin Carter (0-3).

285 Pounds


Champion Taylor McKay - EPI	Runner-up Brent Ruiz - JC	Third Place Tommy Harvey - OS	Finalists Introductions

At 15-8 one might have thought Episcopal's Taylor McKay would have been seeded over John Curtis' Brent Ruiz, who only had a 5-9 record entering the tournament. But one of Ruiz's victories was a 0:57 pin of McKay in the Brusly Invitational. But McKay was not going to let that happen again. Using a double-leg attack rare for most big men, McKay was able to take down and escape from Ruiz en route to a 9-6 win.

Both will be seeded no better than fourth, however, with the likes of Evangel's Logan Williams, De la Salle's Jalen Haydel and Brusly's Jovonte Wheeler in the mix.

CONSOLATION FINALS RESULTS
D. J. Harvey of Lakeside defeated Aaron Carter of St. Louis 5-4.

As always the Curtis parents and volunteers providing a wonderful buffet for wrestlers and coaches to enjoy prior to their heading back to their home towns.

© 2014 by Louisiana Wrestling News

You may not make electronic copies of these copyrighted materials nor redistribute them to 3rd parties in any form without written permission.