Four wrestlers from the Wal-Win area earned State Championship titles to conclude a grueling, by highly successful season on Saturday at the VBCC in Huntsville.
Dora’s Jayden Rouse, Damon Clayton and Neil Foster, along with Jasper’s Cole Carter clinched championship gold, taking their rightful place at the top of the placement platform and forever cementing their legacies in school history.
Rouse concluded a 41-1 campaign with a pinfall victory in the Class 1-4A, 120 lbs. division. He overcame a tough challenge in the Championship Semifinal on Friday, winning an overtime victory, 15-13, to advance to the championship match.
Clayton carried on a family tradition – winning the title in the same weight class his brother, Zach, had in 2018: the 132 lbs. weight class, with his older brother in the coach’s seat watching on. Clayton finished his season undefeated at 37-0 and won the title match by 5-0 decision.
Foster repeated as champion, winning this year’s title in the 182 lbs. weight class after winning last year in the 170 lbs. weight class. He win this year’s championship by 17-2 technical fall, finishing the season with a perfect 40-0 mark.
Carter also repeated as the Class 5A state champion, winning in the 195 lbs. weight class by pinfall after winning the 2022 title by 8-2 decision in the same weight class. He finished the season with a 17-1 record, overcoming an injury that kept him sidelined much of the year.
Jasper finished as the overall state champions in Class 5A, adding to the state championship in the Alabama Duals and first place finish in the North Super Sectional.
Dora concluded the tournament with a second-place finish in Class 1-4A, also winning the state championship in the Alabama Duals.
Other Wal-Win area wrestlers who earned placement on Saturday were Jasper’s Kortez Samuels (Runner-up, 113 lbs.), Antonio Nash (4th place, 126 lbs.), Ethan Caldwell (Runner-up, 132 lbs.), Garrett Caldwell (4th place, 145 lbs.), Carter Reed (3rd place, 160 lbs.), Jamie Burnam (Runner-up, 182 lbs.), Colin Langley (3rd place, 285 lbs.) and Dora’s Delvin Taylor (3rd place – 160 lbs.)
