Thompson wrestlers claim first ever individual championships

Published 10:51 pm Saturday, February 13, 2010

Thompson High School freshman Nick Hall and sophomore Josh Gillaspie each claimed the school’s first ever individual championships Feb. 13 at the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 6A state wrestling tournament at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville.

Hall, who has qualified for the state tournament the past three seasons, claimed a state championship with his 8-1 decision over Rush Hall of Hoover in the 140-pound championship final.

Hall finished his freshman season with a 56-6 record in individual matches.

Gillaspie earned a 2-1 decision over Oak Mountain’s Jared Woodall in the 152-pound championship final. Gillaspie finished his sophomore campaign with a 51-11 record in individual matches.

John Austin Jones claimed third place in the 145-pound division with a pin of Hoover’s Jackson Poe in 1:50 in the consolation final.

Thompson freshman Reed Jacks claimed fifth place in the 112-pound division with a 9-5 decision over Pinson Valley’s Jacob McCurdy in the consolation bracket. Senior Chris Walker finished sixth in the 160-pound division after falling 3-0 to Prattville’s Tyler Frost in the consolation bracket.

Junior Jimmy Miller finished sixth in the 215-pound division after being pinned in 2:47 by Grissom’s Brian Walker in the consolation bracket.

The Warriors posted their highest-ever finish at the Class 6A state tournament. Thompson claimed fourth place in the Class 6A team standings with 124 points.

Spain Park High School senior Geoffrey Bostany wrapped up his high school wrestling career Feb. 13 with a Class 6A individual championship.

Bostany, who will wrestle at the University of Pennsylvania next year, capped his final Class 6A state tournament with a 6-2 decision over Hoover’s Parker Grissom in the 135-pound championship final.

Bostany finished his senior season with a 53-3 record in individual matches.

His younger brother, Tommy, fell 8-3 to Auburn’s Michael Jordan in the 112-pound championship final. Tommy wrapped up his sophomore season with a 63-3 record.

Four Oak Mountain High School wrestlers advanced to the championship finals, but the Eagles returned home without an individual championship.

Oak Mountain was in position to claim the Class 6A team championship after the first two days of competition, but the Eagles dropped to a third-place finish with 146.5 points after the championship round.

Oak Mountain senior Tanner Moon dropped the final match of his career in the 119-pound championship final. Moon (58-3) fell for only the third time this season, as he suffered a 3-1 defeat to Jordan Simpson of Oxford in the final.

Moon defeated Bob Jones’ Anthony Bruno 2-1 in the championship semifinals, which most thought would determine the eventual 119-pound champion.

Oak Mountain junior Jesse Smith (64-5) dropped a 6-4 decision to Brian White of Opelika in the 103-pound championship final.

Senior Jared Woodall (46-2) fell 2-1 to Thompson’s Gillaspie in the 152-pound championship final and sophomore Justin Woodall (49-9) fell in a 14-2 major decision to Hoover’s Carl Brown in the 160-pound championship final.

Whit Whitfield was the only Oak Mountain wrestler who won a match Feb. 13. Whitfield earned a 3-2 decision over Tyler Ratliff of Bob Jones in the heavyweight consolation final.

Senior Reid Bishop claimed fourth place in the 130-pound division after falling 5-4 to Oxford’s Eric Lee in the consolation final. Senior Josh Greer finished fourth in the 189-pound division with a 4-2 loss to Teryence Glaze of Hoover in the consolation final.

Pelham High School junior Logan Huey finished fourth in the 125-pound weight class after dropping a 5-0 decision to Ashton Jones of Clay-Chalkville in the consolation final.

Pelham senior Taylor Anchors won by forfeit against Smiths Station’s Kyle Bruffy to claim fifth place in the 145-pound division.

Chelsea High School senior Curtis Crooks finished in fourth place in the 135-pound division in the AHSAA Class 5A state tournament.

Crooks fell 5-2 to Tallassee’s Josh Highland in the 135-pound consolation final. Crooks, who finished his senior season with a 19-4 record in individual matches, defeated Highland 5-2 in a Class 5A sectional championship match Feb. 6.