by Peter Dewey

Southern Assault has been known as the best early season tournament in Texas. It is no more. In its place was the new Warrior Invitational. Would this tournament deliver the early season matches we have come to expect from Southern Assault? The Warrior Invitational delivered Big Time!

First the quality of the 16 teams in the field was exceptional. Highland Park, Arlington Bowie, Allen, Arlington Martin, St. Marks, The Colony and others. So did Highland Park minus a few starters hold off Bowie to win? Well yeas and no. HP did edge Bowie in the team standings 162.5 to 158 but neither was any match for 2005 Warrior Invitational Champion Azle!

That’s right, Azle with 180 points seemed to come out of nowhere to establish themselves as a top dog wrestling program. I believe they also won a tournament last weekend but few saw this performance coming.

Here are my thoughts by weight class:

103
In the semi’s Eric Simmons (Allen) defeated Sean McCarthy (Azle) 8-4 and Landon Christy (SGP) took out Kevin Jacks (Martin) 9-4. It looked like the final would be competitive and it was a stand off for awhile but after a take down and turn the fall came for Christly at 1:37. I believe Christly is a move-in freshman. He looks very stong and polished. He will be a foce in this weight class.

112
In the semi’s Michael Hortman (Azle) struggled with Taylor Cliz (Martin) but won 4-2. Stephen Sharpe (HP) coasted by Vincent Tenorio (SM) 12-4. Hortman and Sharpe put on quite a show in the finals. Good wrestling throughout this match. Sharpe was up 4-2 to begin the third period. Hortman rode tough until Sharpe hit a beautiful Peterson to go up 6-2. Hortman escaped but little time remained. But he hits the big 5 point throw (2TD + 3NF) for a dramatic 8-6 victory.

119
In the semi’s Darrin Delacruz (SGP) over David Brent (Grapevine) 10-5 and Nick Killip by fall at 5:17 over Matt Goolsbay (Bowie). The finals match was conservatively wrestled but close throughout. Delacruz held on to win 4-3 with Killip in on a takedown that he could not finish at the buzzer.

125
In the semi’s Landon Wyatt (FR) stuck Mohammed Jilani (CRV) at 5:33 and Zack Vick had a very tough battle with Jason Scovell prevailing 8-6. In the finals Vick wrestled close again. An escape in the third period provided the margin of victory, 3-2.

130
In the semi’s Dakota Frizzel (Azle) defeated Clint Hanna (Martin) 11-4 and Cameron Shaefer (Grapevine) took out Caleb Gay (allen) 7-4. The finals was all Frizzel as he won by fall at 1:57.

135
Both Corey Miller (Martin) and Kamerawn Smedley (Allen) mauled tough semi’s opponents; Miller 11-0 over Eric Sands (Allen) and Smedley 7-0 over Chase Gallatin (HP). This set up a great finals. Smedley took control early. Takedown for smedley was all the scoring in the first period. In the second Smedley gets an escape and an0ther takedown, 5-0. With 15 seconds left in the second period Smedley has controlled the match and is up 6-2. But Miller wakes up with a 5 point takedown and near fall. Miller keeps the pressure on in the third and takes this one 9-6. Very good match.

140
This weight class was all Shay Lauderdale (Azle). Four matches; four pins. In 1:27 in the semi’s against Paul Terrell(Allen) and in 3:49 against a game Clifton Thompson (Martin) in the finals. Thompson over Brad Atkinson (Bowie) 11-6 in his semi.

145
This weight contained some very evenly matched wrestlers. Both semi’s went to OT. Chris Lomas (CRV) over Wade Stowe (TC) 8-6 and Drew O’Brien (Martin) over Jordan Couch (Keller) 5-3. In the finals Lomas earned an 8-4 decision over O’Brien who was fighting through some injuries.

152
The highlight reel match of the tournament was in the 152 semi’s. AJ Forsythe (HP) against Tommy Clark (Azle). They called his brother “The Cradle King” he has nothing on AJ. Almost every point earned in this match by Forsythe was via the cradle but it didn’t look like it would be enough. Clark led 14-10 with only about 30 seconds left when Forsythe locked up a cradle. But sensing the pin was unlikely he released with about 15 seconds left and still down 14-13. But there was one final cradle left and Forsythe pulls it out 15-14! Meanwhile Luke Brigmon (Bowie) pinned Derrick Bowen (Allen) in 4:20 to set up a dream finals. Forsythe and Brigmon did not disappoint. Brigmon got things going with a beautiful fireman’s but couldn’t finish. Moments later he did get a takedown but Forsythe responded with an escape and takedown of his own. In the second period a Forsythe escape is the only point. Forsythe up 4-2 going into the third period. Forsythe on top. Brigmon with an escape and takedown and a 5-4 lead. Forsythe escapes 5-5 and into OT it goes. Brigmon gets a clean takedown for the 7-5 decision. Very well wrestled, no back points, perhaps too much respect showed to each other but I’d pay to see the rematch!

160
Kyle Anderson (HP) dominated this weight class. He had a 16-1 TF over Joseph Choi (SM) and had shut out Matt Baker (Martin) in the finals match before getting the fall at 5:37. The fall was by cradle… the benefit of having Forsythe as a training partner(?). Anderson looked much improved from last year. Baker bested Eric Parsons (Azle) 9-3 in the other semi.

171
In the semi’s Drew Newman (HP) dispatched Robert Price (CRV) 8-2 while Chris Corry (Bowie) pinned Bennett Hortman at 3:12. In the finals Newman couldn’t find a way to score on Corry for 6:54. Corry made 3 points stand up. The most interesting aspect of the match was adding another 54 seconds after it had apparently ended. There was a stall warning on Corry with 54 seconds left in the match but the action continued. Coach Marzoula tried to get a stoppage but couldn’t. Eventually the refs huddled and 54 seconds were added back. I surmise this was because there should have been a restart after the stalling warning. If I don’t have this call right, let me know.

180
In the semi’s Chris Capodagli (TC) barely broke a sweat pinning Elliot Wallace (SM) in 1:02. On the other side of the bracket Derrick Moore (Bowie) and Ted Gambordella (HP) had a brawl. Moore beat last year’s UIL 3rd place finisher 10-6 in a great match. Moore is big and strong and came out brawling in the finals taking a 4-0 lead. Capodagli is shorter but just as physical. He weathered the early onslaught, fought his way back into the match and ultimately won 7-6. Yet another excellent finals match.

189
Ben Grisz (SM), only a sophmore, owned this weight with a fall over Baker Sweeney (Martin) in the semi’s and a 17-2 TF over Josh Bagby (CRV). Although the other guys don’t have Grisz in their rankings I don’t know if there is a better 189 in the state not named Fred Rowsey (with HP still playing football, Fred may be a few more weeks before getting on the mat). Bagby pinned Marcus Mcgraw (Bowie) in the other semi in 3:45.

215
In the semi’s David Baker (HP) injury defaulted to Charlie Wiggins (Allen). Let’s hope David is okay. John Gates (Grapevine) pinned Jordan Spruiel (Bowie) in 2:16. In the finals the fall went to Wiggins in 2:16.

275
The big boys were getting on and off the mat in a hurry. Champion Chad Bahr (Keller) pinned David Sanders (TC) in 1:33 in the semi’s and Joseph Arce (CRV) in :28 in the final. Arce by Inj Def over Andrew Konkle (SGP) in other semi.

In addition to some great individual matches the story of the tournament was Azle. Azle has had some top 5 UIL state finishes but always due to a few outstanding wrestlers, e.g. at the 2002 UIL state tournament Azle had 3 state runner-up finishes by Shelby Lauderdale, Chas Skelley and Will Rowe. This year’s Azle team is considerably more balanced. At the Warrior invitational they had 9 wrestlers place (1st – 3, 2nd – 1, 3rd -4, and 4th -1). HP, Bowie and Allen each had 7 placers. Azle will be a force all year in both tournaments and duals.

HP was missing some starters including Fred Rowsey. They are defending State Dual and UIL champs and still the team to beat in Texas.

Bowie looks to be a rejuvinated program. They are extremely tough from 152 through 215. Both McGraw (189-3rd) and Spruiel (215 – 3rd) look to be good athletes but green wrestlers who will only get better as the season moves on. And the Bowie faithful appear to be in mid-season form. They are great wrestling fans.

Overall, I was very impressed with the level of wrestling this early in the season. Texas wrestling just continues to improve both in quality and depth.

Hats off to Martin for running a great tournament. I heard the wrestling lasted late Friday night but it made for a smooth Saturday. Semi’s started at 9:00 sharp. Finals and conso finals were underway before noon. Even with awards, the tournament was wrapped up by 2:30.

Below are the results originally posted by Thunder05 at ITW with some scores added.

WARRIOR CLASSIC – TEAM STANDINGS:
Azle 180.
Highland Park 162.50
Bowie 158.
Allen 134.5
The Colony 130.5
Martin 126.5
Creekview 96.
St.Marks 94.
South G.P. 76.5
Keller 70.5

CHAMPIONSHIPS:
103 Christly (SPG) over Simons(Allen) by Fall 1:37
112 M. Hortman(Azle) over Stephen Sharp (HP) 8-6
119 DeLaCruz (SPG) over Killip (Azle) 4-3
125 Zach Vick (HP) over Landon Wyatt (FR) 3-2
130 Dakota Frizzel (Azle) over Shaefer(Grap) by Fall 1:57
135 Corey Miller (A. Mar) over K Smedley (Allen) 9-6
140 S. Lauderdale (Azle) over C. Thompson (A. Mart) 3:49
145 Lomas (CV) over O’Brien (A. Mart) 8-4
152 Luke Brigmon (Azle) over AJ Forsythe (HP) 7-5 OT
160 Kyle Anderson (HP) over Baker (A. Mart) by Fall 5:37
171 Chris Corry (A. Bow) over Drew Newman (HP) 3-0
180 Capodagli (The Colony) over Moore (A. Bow) 7-6
189 Ben Grisz (StM) over Bagby (CV) TF 17-2
215 Wiggins (Allen) over Gates (Grape) by fall 2:16
275 Bahr (Keller) over Arce (CV) by fall 0:28

PLACERS (1st thru 4th):

103lb
Christly (SGP)
Simons (Allen)
McCarthy (Azle) 15-0
Jacks (A Mart)

112lb
Hortman(Azle)
Sharp (HP)
Tenorio (St Marks) 2:15
Manning (Colony)

119lb
Delacruz (SGP)
Killip (Azle)
Goolsby (Bowie) 2:59
Bernstein (Allen)

125lb
Vick (HP)
Wyatt (Fossil)
Buckbinder (Bowie) 5-2
Shoaf (Allen)

130lb
Frizzel (Azle)
Shaefer (Grape)
Gay(Allen) 5-4
Moon(SGP)

135lb
Miller (Martin)
Smedley (Allen)
Gallatin (HP) 9-5
Sands (Azle)

140lb
Lauderdale (Azle)
Thompson (Martin)
Munoz (Colony) 5-1
Couch (Keller)

145lb
Lomas (CV)
O’Brien (A Mart)
Stowe (Colony) 4-0
Couch (Keller)

152lb
Brigmon (Bowie) *MOW
Forsythe (HP)
Clark (Azle) 8-5
Payne (Weather)

160lb
Anderson (HP)
Baker (A Mart)
Parsons(Azle) 10-0
Choi (St Marks)

171lb
Corry (Bowie)
Newman (HP)
Hortman (Azle) 17-2
Price (CV)

180lb
Capodagli (Colony)
Moore (Bowie)
Gamborordella (HP) 8-7
Wallace (St Marks)

189lb
Griz (St Marks)
Bagby (Creek)
McGraw (Bowie) 4:11
Graulich (Allen)

215lb
Wiggins (Allen)
Gates (Grape)
Spruial (Bowie) 1:38
Aara (Colony)

275lb
Bahr (Keller)
Arce (CV)
Sanders (Colony) 0:49
Rainnbolt (Southlake)