By DREW GRANTHUM/Sports Writer

ALABASTER — The Thompson High school wrestling team hosted the Alabama Duals Jan. 9-11, featuring some of the top wrestling programs from across the state as well as strong out of state competition.

In addition to local rivals Calera, Pelham, Chelsea, Spain Park and Oak Mountain, the Warriors also welcomed out of state powerhouses Baylor High (Chattanooga), Jesuit High (New Orleans) and Gulf Breeze (Gulf Breeze, Fla.).

The Warriors took to the mat in two squads; the black squad, which was made up of more experienced wrestlers, and the red, or junior varsity, squad.

Both squads performed exceptionally well in their respective matches, as both placed in the overall top 10 out of 21 teams entered.

The black squad won its championship, going undefeated in the process. In the first match, the Warriors defeated Tuscaloosa County, 64-12. The black squad followed the victory up with a subsequent victory over James Clemens, 69-12. Spain Park followed, with THS nabbing a 54-18 win over the Jags. Thompson black then took down Stanhope Elmore and Chelsea by a combined score 137-6.

In the championship round, both Buckhorn and Oxford fell victim to THS black, as did Spain Park and Scottboro. In the final match, Thompson dominated Jesuit, 42-19.

The red Warriors notched a win over Wetumpka to open up, taking a 42-34 win over the Indians. After a second round bye, the red team struggled against the Jesuit and Buckhorn varisty, falling 64-9 and 55-22, resepectively. The red squad bounced back with a win over arch-rival Pelham, and then took down Pell City, fell to Stanhope, knocked off Northridge, Gulf Breeze and Chelsea to end the event.

Several THS wrestlers went undefeated, including Dominic Latona, Gabe Hixenbaugh, Austin Atkins, Riley Pike, Jhovanie Yanez, Jaden Hunter, Conner Gilson, Brewer Gilliland and T.J. Rayam.