by Peter Dewey

For the first time this year Azle entered a tournament and didn’t win. Still they were not defeated by a team from Texas but by St. Thomas Aquinas, the defending Kansas 6A State Champions. Throughout the tournament it was a 3 horse race – St. Thomas, Azle and Coppell. Going into the finals, St. Thomas and Azle were tied at 180 points and Coppell was next at 159.5.

Azle chances looked good as they had 8 in the finals to 7 for St. Thomas. Coppell had 5 finalists and Austin Bowie had 4. But it was not to be this night for Azle. St. Thomas wrestlers won 5 championships to 3 for Azle. Coppell won two and Bowie all 4. St. Thomas proved to be a talented and deep team and deserved the win. But Azle had their 189, 215 and 275 wrestlers (just back from their football playoff run and not in wrestling shape) wrestle in the JV tournament. Azle scored exactly zero points at each of those weights. It will be interesting to see how much the addition of these three wrestlers improves the team.

Final team standings:

1. St. Thomas Aquinas 208
2. Azle 195
3. Coppell 172.5
4. Austin Bowie 157
5. Houston Westside 133
6. The Colony 128

103
Greg Gogonas (Bowie) had a very nice tournament capped off by a very impressive 12-8 decision in the finals over Sean McCarthy (Azle). Gogonas was pushed but never trailed in the match. McCarthy also looked good with two pins precceding his finals match.

112
George Gogonas (Bowie) scored identical 16-0 tech falls in his first two matches then caught the very tough Landon Christly (SGP) in the semis. Gogonas controlled the match with Christly and won 5-0. On the other side of the bracket it was 3 consecutive falls for Michael Hortman (Azle). The finals match was perhaps the best of the night. Hortman was extremely aggressive from the first whistle. He tried two big throws and was very nearly successful but the wily Gogonas weathered the storm and led 2-0 at the end of 2 minutes. Hortman pushed the action throughout and actually took a one point lead in the 3rd period but Gogonas would not be denied and won a hard fought 4-3 decision.

119
Nick Killip (Azle) made it into the finals by virtue of a tough 4-3 decision over Kegan Joplin (Cop). Skylar Scott (StT) breezed into the finals with two first period pins. Killip battled but Scott was clearly the better wrestler taking a 7-2 decision.

125
Phillip Henes (StT) was the champion. He appeared to have been pushed harded by Sam Stell (LH) in the semis , a 7-6 decision, than by Amil Abssi (West) whom he majored 12-3 in the finals. Abssi did defeat #2 seed Kyle Sturch (Cop) 13-8 in his semis.

130
The best match of the tournament was semi-final between Patrick Blakely (West) and Dakota Frizzel (Azle). These two have similar styles- they are strong, agrressive wrestlers who know one speed – all out. This match was non-stop action. For the first 5 minutes Blakely had the better of it and led 4-2 but then Frizzell finally connected on a big move that included back points and a 6-4 lead. Blakely still had a minute left after a re-start but Frizzel rode him out for the 6-4 win. In the finals, Frizzel matched up with an old rival Dillon Horn (Cop). These two have a long history from youth wrestling and I was told their matches are low scoring and usually decided by one point. As predicted the final score was 3-2 with Frizzel winning.

135
Another wrestler from St. Thomas completely destroyed this weight class. Mark Millstead (StT) dominated Erik Sands (Azle) in the finals 10-0. It was a little closer in the semis where he decisioned Nick Sojourner (McK) 6-2. #1 seed Kamerawn Smedley (All) was a no show.

140
Shay Lauderdale (Azle) finally ended St. Thomas ‘ run of wins in the finals with a 6-1 decision over Scott Markey(StT). Markey was a tough kid with a tech fall and two pins heading into the finals but Lauderdale looks very tough.

145
This weight class lacked a stud from St. Thomas but was well balance. #1 seed Martin Dick (Azle) beat James Hazzard (West) 8-3 in one semi and Jake Rice (Cop) beat JP Richard (Jes -from NOJ) 7-4 in the other semi. Dick and Rice had a terrific finals match that was tied 6-6 with 20 seconds left when Dick got the takedown for the 8-6 win.

152
This was an interesting weight with some emerging wrestlers to keep an eye on. In one semi, #1 seed Trent Bash (Jes) was upset 5-3 by Wade Stowe (TC). In his prior match Stowe had beaten Ben Robinson (Cop) 9-4. Stowe looked very good in both of these matches – too polished to be a rookie. Unfortunately in the finals he ran into a very tenacious RJ Nill (StT) and it was one pinning combination after another and a fall in only 48 seconds. Interstingly the only opponent Nill didn’t pin was Tommy Clark (Azle) where he had to settle for a 5-1 decision. Clark is the polar opposite of Stowe. He is still learning the sport but he is strong and tough and will give anyone a battle.

160
#1 seed Brent Pardneck (Bow) was completely dominant. 4 pins in 4 matches and no one lasted until the third period: 3:38, 1:17, 0:51 and 3:01. Zach Nichols (West) looked good getting into the finals but could get absolutely nothing going against Pardnick. This kid looks like he is on a mission that doesn’t end until State.

171
In the finals it was #1 Jed Mamie (StT) versus #2 Spencer Covey (Cop). Obviously these two were evenly matched but where was the offense? Regulation ends 1-1. The first OT was outstanding – no one scored but plenty of shots and scrambles. Mamie chose down for the next period of OT. He looked like he would stand up but then tried a granby roll. Only one problem Covey caught him on his back and scored a 2 point NF to win 3-1 in OT.

180
Like 160, the story in this weight class was the complete dominance of one wrestler – Chris Capodagli from The Colony. He is strrong, talented and extremely aggressive as evidenced by 3 falls and a 16-1 tech fall in 4 matches. In the finals he faced Bennett Hortman (Azle) who had a hard fought 12-9 semi win over #2 Alex Rinaldi (Jes). Hortman is a strong, tough wrestler in his own right but was no match for Capodagli who got the fall in 3:00. Capodagli looks ready to make a strong run at State.

189
No one really challenged #1 seed Austin Johlke (Bow). Only Brandon Tullos (West) avoided getting stuck but Johlke majored him 16-7 in the semis. #2 seed Danny Neuhoff lived up to his seeding but lasted only 1:14 with Johlke in the finals. I would love to see Johlke battle with Bookout (Kin) or Bossetta (NOJ) otherwise he looks to be the dominant 189 in the State unless Rowsey wants to wrestle at 189.

215
Mike Hammer (StT) easily wins this weight. Only Brett Selley (Jes) avoids getting stuck but falls 7-4 in the semis. #2 seed George Lessner (Cop) gets to the finals but Hammer wins by fall in 0:58.

275
#1 seed Evan Benjamin (Cop)completely dominates as he records four pins in the first round, including a fall in 1:09 over Bake Lee in the finals. I don’t know how good the competition was but Benjamin seems to be putting things together and should be able to punch a ticket to Austin.

Finally, I think some words of appreciation are in order for Mike McQueen and the other refs that worked this tournament. Saturday started at 9 am and ended somewhere around 9 pm. Thats 12 hours of nearly non-stop wrestling in an extremely hot gym.

Who would of thought to turn on the AC in December but it was 85 degrees outside and hotter inside. And I didn’t see much of a rotation of referees. It looked like each ref had a mat for the entire day! These guys are truly overworked and underappreciated.

Thank you gentlemen. Without you there is no wrestling.