LITTLE ROCK — Kyle Thompson finished fourth and Austin May and Ross Smith sixth in their respective weight classifications as the Bryant Hornets wrestling team finished 14th in a field of 22 teams at the 2014 Class 7A/6A State tournament held Friday and Saturday.
Little Rock Catholic won the team title with 255.5 points to Bentonville’s 229.
Thompson, toiling in the 152-pound division, defeated Greenwood’s Cameron Palmer by fall and Benton’s John Moritz by major decision to reach the semifinals where he ran into eventual champion Jaxson Nolen of Fayetteville. In the consolation final, he gave way because of injury to Travis Blickle of Rogers.
May, competing in the 195-pound division, won his way to the quarterfinals, defeating Cabot’s Nathan Bundren by fall and Springdale’s Austin Lawson by fall before running into eventual champion Jodeci Booker of Jonesboro and falling into the consolation bracket. There, he was defeated by Conway’s Justin Vinson in the semifinals and North Little Rock’s Kalen Hutchinson by decision in the consolation.
Smith opened the 120-pound division bracket by ousting Alexander Chancey of North Little Rock by fall before losing by major decision to eventual runner-up Luke Brandon of Bentonville. In the consolation round, Smith won by decision over Searcy’s Keaton Douglas and by fall over Alex Quintanilla. Greenwood’s Dustin Williams defeated Smith by technical fall. He finished up with a loss by fall to Rogers Heritage’s David Zamora.
The Hornets had three wrestlers that reached the championship bracket quarterfinals as well. In the 220-pound division, Drew Allen won by fall over Adam Al-Dhanki of Jonesboro then advanced by forfeit over Fort Smith Northside’s Garrett Butler.
In the quarterfinal, Jacob Robertson of Springdale Har-Ber won by major decision over Allen who came back to win a consolation match by major decision over Noah Thomas of Little Rock Central. In the next round, however, Conway’s Patrick Brazell ended Allen’s run.
Spencer Qualls reached the quarterfinals in the championship round at the 106-pound division. He won by fall over Jonathan Acosta of Russellville to earn a shot at Andrew Elmore of Little Rock Catholic in the semi’s. But Elmore prevailed by fall.
In the consolation bracket, Qualls ousted Bentonville’s Bryce Meyer before losing by fall to Teo Sousa of Van Buren.
Darren Williams’ run to the quarterfinals came by fall over Alex Nolen of Greenwood. He then lost by fall to Kimble Jennings of Har-Ber. His consolation bracket match went to Chance McGuire of Jonesboro by decision.
Chris Baldwin wound up winning four matches during his run at the tournament. He started win a championship bracket win over Northside’s Brandon Lamar in the 138-pound division. Har-Ber’s Coltin Morgan sent him to the consolation bracket however with a win by decision.
Baldwin then waded through Drake Johnson of Russellville, Seth Davis of Searcy and Justin Ashley-Pauly of Conway before Little Rock Central’s Curtis Miller won by fall to end the Bryant senior’s full day.
Alexander Williams at 132 won two matches. He suffered a loss by fall in the opener of the championship bracket to Collin Chambers of Little Rock Catholic but bounced back to advance by forfeit by Mountain Home’s Colton Steele. He then ousted Danyal Smerja of Central before losing to Russellville’s Franki Williams.
At 170, Cody Tazeelar collected a win by fall in the championship bracket over Springdale’s Noah Johnson. But a loss by fall to Brian Mitchell of Jonesboro sent him to the consolation round. He advanced through a bye then was ousted by Rick Deen of Mountain Home.
Gabriel Wallace and J.T. Dudderar won consolation matches along the way. Wallace, in the 160-pound category, was knocked out of the championship bracket by Rogers’ Garrett Hudson but came back to win by fall over Van Buren’s Kody Brasuell. His day was ended by Catholic’s Cameron Boardman.
Dudderar was defeated by major decision to Jeff Bizzle of Bentonville in the championship bracket for 145-pound wrestlers. He earned a win by fall over Fayetteville’s Darius Maggitt before being knocked out by decision by Central’s Greg Walker.
Dalton Greisemar (285), Tyler Davis (182) and Ben Adair (126) also competed for Bryant. Greisemer lost by fall to Catholic’s Tucker Ellis and Benton’s William Williams. Davis absorbed defeat at the hands of Bobby Hill of Bentonville and Chris Giblin of Benton. Adair fell to Greenwood’s Caleb Erskine and Fayetteville’s Ryan Humphries.
rama
that tournament was really bad for me because i was recovering from a dislocated shoulder and a sprung ankle but excuses excuses i missed a lot of shots and lost opportunities for the W and at least place 6th but it is what it is…ill definitely take first this year tho!!!! -gabriel wallace aka RAMA