Fini

Links on this page:

St. Amant won their third consecutive Central Wildcat Invitational on Saturday, November 11th.  The Gators scored 186.5 points to best runner-up East Ascension's 129 points, which was one point better than third-place finisher Ouachita Christian.  Ouachita Christian was awarded the runner-up trophy, and it was not until after the teams had left the gymnasium that it was found the Spartans actually placed second. 

St. Amant won in a manner that coaches emphasize in all tournaments.  Individual championships do not guarantee team championships.  The Gators had three runner-up finishes, but eight other placers in the top-six.   "Wrestlebacks" win team championships.  De la Salle won the Division III state championship in 2016 without a single state champion.  On the flip-side of that, the 1986 St. Martin Saints had five state champions, but finished third by 50.5 points behind champion South Cameron, who had three individual title winners and nine others place in the top-six.  Runner-up Buras, with two state champions, had seven other placers.  The Saints only had five other wrestlers place in the top-six spots.  The moral being that if one does not win a weight class, a team championship is still within reach, which is important to those who compete but are not expected to win championships.  This is the situation in which wrestling becomes a "team sport."

The finals winners were spread among several schools.  East Ascension, Ouachita Christian and St. Louis each had to individual championships.  The rest were won by eight other teams.

Team Scores

Champions for the third consecutive year - The St. Amant Gators

After the awards were distributed it was found that East Ascension, with 129 points, was the actual team runner-up by one point over Ouachita Christian's 128 points.

Third-place team winners - the Ouachita Christian School Eagles

Outstanding Wrestler

Dane Harter - 195 Pounds St. Michael

Not to take anything away from Mr. Harter's performance, but if there were a lower weight classes Outstanding Wrestler award, none would have earned it more than Acadiana's Reid Folley.  Unseeded at 126 lbs., Folley wrestled four matches, recording falls in 0:48, 0:28, 1:23 and, in the finals against top-seeded Austin Martina of Dutchtown, in 1:58.

Individual Weight Class Award Winners

106 Pounds Champion Runner-up Third Place PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE Naven Dabria Belle Chasse Cameron Witherwax St. Louis Alex Menier Basile

113 Pounds Champion Runner-up Third Place PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE Hunter Goodson Catholic Corey Brownell St. Amant Ethan Langley Basile

120 Pounds Champion Runner-up Third Place PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE Alex Yokubaitis St. Louis Blake Menier Basile Tyree Morris St. Amant

126 Pounds Champion Runner-up Third Place PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE Reid Folley Acadiana Austin Martina Dutchtown Cade Monet Central

132 Pounds Champion Runner-up Third Place Gavin Christ Basile Cody Comeaux St. Amant Bailey Hebert Live Oak

138 Pounds Champion Runner-up Third Place Trent Mahoney East Ascension Michael Gordy Ouachita Christian Bryson Falcon Belle Chasse

145 Pounds Champion Runner-up Third Place PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE Dylan Ames Comeaux Adam Verrett St. Louis Anthony Berlinghof Belle Chasse

152 Pounds Champion Runner-up Third Place Matthew Matherne Ouachita Christian Brayden Wilson Central Nakie Brown St. Amant

160 Pounds Champion Runner-up Third Place Robert Christman St. Louis Matthew Webre Ouachita Christian Hunter Hawkins St. Amant

170 Pounds Champion Runner-up Third Place Connor Costello Ouachita Christian Shelby Savoie Comeaux Taylor Futch Lakeside

182 Pounds Champion Runner-up Third Place Griffin Dynes Episcopal Henry Stater Episcopal Austin Moss Lakeside

195 Pounds Champion Runner-up Third Place PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE Dane Harter St. Michael Jean-Luc Williams Acadiana Tyler Robichaux Comeaux

220 Pounds Champion Runner-up Third Place Devon Clark East Ascension Nicholas Nassar St. Amant Karson Jones Live Oak

285 Pounds Champion Runner-up Third Place D. J. Harvey Lakeside Cameron Cormier Acadiana Ladarius Siminialayi East Ascension

Back to Top

Miscellaneous Photos

Acadiana Coaches

Live Oak Coach Chris Collier

St. Amant coach Josh Averette

Episcopal Coach Phil Bode had every right to be proud and a little astonished as both of his unseeded 182-pound wrestlers, Griffin Dynes and Henry Stater, met each other in the finals.

Rayne's reigning Division II state champion Cooper Simon and Basile's two-time Division III state champion Gavin Christ.

It is often hard to get some kids to smile for a photo.  Cooper Simon is the ultimate exception.

Sam (not pictured), probably no more than six-years-old, wanted a picture of his stepfather, Chris Briscoe.  After a couple of lessons on how to use the camera, he got one of Mr. Briscoe, behind his son, Gavin Christ, and Ethan Langley of Basile.

Challenge: Pick the 2017 Division I state champion for St. Amant.

Back to Top