OHS wrestlers compete in Suede Umbach Invitational
OPINION — The OHS boys Wrestling team particiapated in the 20th “Suede Umbach Invitational” last weekend on the Auburn High campus. The Bulldogs competed against the top teams from Alabama. The following is a breakdown of Opelika’s performannce per weight class.
- 106 lbs.
Champ. Round 1 – Adrian Ambrocio-Perez (Opelika) over Jon Boone (Gardendale) (Fall 1:17)
Champ. Round 2 – Noah Krauss (Auburn) over Adrian Ambrocio-Perez (Opelika) (Fall 1:34)
Cons. Round 2 – Adrian Ambrocio-Perez (Opelika) over Blake Satterwhite (Smiths Station) (Fall 2:07)
Cons. Round 3 – Adrian Ambrocio-Perez (Opelika) over Tracy Gardner (Dothan) (Fall 1:48)
Cons. Round 4 – Kolby Smith (Wetumpka) over Adrian Ambrocio-Perez (Opelika) (Fall 2:59)
Champ. Round 1 – Konner Hartzog (Opelika) over Aiden Turley (Beauregard) (Fall 0:37) - 120 lbs.
Champ. Round 2 – Walker Bunch (Toombs County) over Konner Hartzog (Opelika) (Fall)
Cons. Round 3 – Konner Hartzog (Opelika) over Benjamin Lee (LaGrange) (Fall 2:00)
Cons. Round 4 – Marion Wilkerson-Sanders (Mcadory) over Konner Hartzog (Opelika) (Fall 2:46) - 126 lbs.
Champ. Round 1 – Jalen Howard (Mcadory) over John Ambrocio (Opelika) (Dec 12-11)
Cons. Round 1 – John Ambrocio (Opelika) received a bye
Cons. Round 2 – Collin Denny (Oak Mountain) over John Ambrocio (Opelika) (Fall 0:50) - 138 lbs.
Champ. Round 1 – Braylon Hill (Mcadory) over Evan Decker (Opelika) (MD 15-2)
Cons. Round 1 – Evan Decker (Opelika) received a bye
Cons. Round 2 – Evan Decker (Opelika) over Lyric Flynn (Ridgeland) (TF 16-0 1:32)
Cons. Round 3 – Isaac Jones (Gardendale) over Evan Decker (Opelika) (TF 18-3 5:00) - 144 lbs.
Champ. Round 1 – Denarvious Anderson (Opelika) received a bye
Champ. Round 2 – Denarvious Anderson (Opelika) over Connor Howell (Gardendale) (TF 17-1 1:14)
Quarterfinals – Denarvious Anderson (Opelika) over Parker Howell (Gardendale) (TF 15-0 3:22)
Semifinals – Denarvious Anderson (Opelika) over Gatlin Tate (Prattville) (Dec 7-4)
1st Place Match – Grier Hunt (Enterprise) over Denarvious Anderson (Opelika) (Dec 1-0) - 150 lbs.
Champ. Round 1 – Deundre Brooks (Carver Montgomery) over Robert Sepulveda (Opelika) (Fall 1:21)
Cons. Round 1 – Robert Sepulveda (Opelika) received a bye
Cons. Round 2 – Tristan Cliatt (Smiths Station) over Robert Sepulveda (Opelika) (Fall 0:16) - 157 lbs.
Champ. Round 1 – Angel Alcaraz Santana (Opelika) over Esmer Bravo (Valley) (MD 16-3)
Champ. Round 2 – Carl Bell (Beauregard) over Angel Alcaraz Santana (Opelika) (Fall 3:17)
Cons. Round 2 – Jesus King (Opelika) over Angel Alcaraz Santana (Opelika) (Fall 0:58) - 165 lbs.
Champ. Round 1 – William Brighton McClain-Schaaf (Smiths Station) over Jesus King (Opelika) (Fall 1:39)
Cons. Round 1 – Jesus King (Opelika) received a bye
Cons. Round 2 – Jesus King (Opelika) over Angel Alcaraz Santana (Opelika) (Fall 0:58)
Cons. Round 3 – Jesus King (Opelika) over Jesse Webb (Beulah) (Fall 2:21)
Cons. Round 4 – Jorge Herrera (Toombs County) over Jesus King (Opelika) (Fall 2:33)
Champ. Round 1 – Cody Wood (Gardendale) over Will Street (Opelika) (Fall 1:50)
Cons. Round 1 – Will Street (Opelika) over Tristyn Maddux (Beulah) (Fall 4:30)
Cons. Round 2 – Gavin Eason (Elmore County School) over Will Street (Opelika) (Fall 1:37)
Champ. Round 1 – Tommie Johnson (Opelika) received a bye
Champ. Round 2 – Tommie Johnson (Opelika) over Marvin King (Grissom)
Quarterfinals – Tommie Johnson (Opelika) over Sebastian Crow (Toombs County) (TF 17-0 4:25)
Semifinals – Kody Sigmon (Enterprise) over Tommie Johnson (Opelika) (TF 15-0 4:35)
Cons. Semis – Mason Boykin (LaGrange) over Tommie Johnson (Opelika) (Fall 2:56) - 175 lbs.
Champ. Round 1 – Brady Campbell (Opelika) received a bye
Champ. Round 2 – Brady Campbell (Opelika) over Haggan Parker (Elmore County School) (Fall 0:44)
Quarterfinals – Brady Campbell (Opelika) over Troy Love (Troup) (Fall 0:29)
Semifinals – Brady Campbell (Opelika) over Micah Anderson (Auburn) (Fall 1:13)
1st Place Match – Damarcus Powe (Gardendale) over Brady Campbell (Opelika) (Dec 7-6)
Champ. Round 1 – Noah Mitchell (Opelika) over Brody Morand (Beauregard) (Fall 3:20)
Champ. Round 2 – Amari Allen (Smiths Station) over Noah Mitchell (Opelika) (Fall 0:51)
Cons. Round 3 – William Hannum (Oak Mountain) over Noah Mitchell (Opelika) (Dec 11-5) - 190 lbs.
Champ. Round 1 – Brandon Denson (Opelika) over Elijah Brown (Central) (Fall 3:06)
Champ. Round 2 – Brandon Denson (Opelika) over Luke Reinert (Elmore County School) (Dec 4-1)
Quarterfinals – Brandon Denson (Opelika) over Will Daniel (Prattville) (Fall 5:21)
Semifinals – Brandon Denson (Opelika) over Dominique Morrissette (Mcadory) (Dec 8-5)
1st Place Match – Gavin Whiteside (Enterprise) over Brandon Denson (Opelika) (Fall 3:51) - 215 lbs.
Champ. Round 1 – Colt Dickson (Opelika) over Bryson East (Valley) (Fall 1:24)
Champ. Round 2 – Zane Taliaferro (Troup) over Colt Dickson (Opelika) (Fall 1:09)
Cons. Round 3 – Colt Dickson (Opelika) over Jonthan Mackey (Beauregard) (Fall 0:33)
Cons. Round 4 – Myles Wilson (Grissom) over Colt Dickson (Opelika) (Fall 1:44)
Champ. Round 1 – Tyson Shelby (Opelika) received a bye
Champ. Round 2 – Xerxes Ellison (Smiths Station) over Tyson Shelby (Opelika) (Fall 1:10)
Cons. Round 2 – Aiden Payton (Elmore County School) over Tyson Shelby (Opelika) (Fall 1:44) - 285 lbs.
Champ. Round 1 – Evan Smith (Oak Mountain) over Nathan Allums (Opelika) (Fall 1:08)
Cons. Round 1 – Nathan Allums (Opelika) received a bye
Cons. Round 2 – Siya Murdock (Ridgeland) over Nathan Allums (Opelika) (Fall 0:43)
The Bulldog grapplers will be in action Friday and Saturday (Dec. 20-21) in the “Smiths Station Invitational” hosted by the SSHS Panthers, before breaking for Christmas.
BASKETBALL
The Opelika boys and girls basketball teams swept Glenwood in the Opelika Mainstreet Gym last week.
Bulldog boys basketball team (10-2) blewout Glenwood 77-39 last week in the Opelika Mainstreet Gym. The Dogs play in the “Bob Jones Invitational” in Huntsville Friday Dec. 20.
Opelika’s Lady Bulldogs (4-6) ran past the Lady Gators from Glenwood, 57-41 last week.
The Bulldog basketball teams will open the newly renovated Arena Jan. 7, as they host area rival Central high school. Opelika varsity boys coach Wesley Button gave me a tour of the arena last week prior to play Glenwood.
The arena has a fresh look including new brighter paint, new hardwood basketball floor, new seats designed to be more comfortable, new scoreboard hanging above the middle of the court, new entrance, more exits and new LED lights to make the arena bright.
Button talked about the excitement his team has for playing in the Arena, appearing “On the Mark” radio show airing on FOX Sports the Game 910-1310.
“The kids are fired up about the idea of playing Central in the renovated arena,” Button said. “We are playing good basketball and the renovated Arena is also a shining light. I am very thankful for Mayor Fuller, Mrs Fischer and Dr. Seymore for all the support.”
AHSAA NEWS
Football season ended with the AHSAA Super 7 two weeks ago in Birmingham. Since the completion, many schools have made coaching moves including two local schools. Smiths Station and Benjamin Russell are looking for head football coaches. SSHS fired head football coach Bryant Garrisoon after two years and 1-19 record, Benjamin Russell’s Smitty Grider resigned as the Wildcats heads coach last week, saying he had another opportunity and the timing was best for BRHS and the Grider family. Look for Grider to resurface at another high school.
The Panthers appeared to target current Jackson head football coach and Panther alum, Cody Flourrnoy who just guided the Aggies to the 4A State Championship. I have learned Jackson High School and the city of Jackson has put together a very nice package that would move Flournoy in the top 20 of highest paid coaches.
The AHSAA is looking for a new assistant director after Devin Booth resigned to take a new job a newly created position with Jefferson County School System pertaining to athletics. Booth left Opelika as the winningest girls basketball coach in school history, joining the AHSAA in a leadership position, Booth is a huge plus for Jefferson County Schools and a loss the AHSAA.
D. Mark Mitchell is the sports director at iHeartMedia and host of “On the Mark” on Fox Sports the Game 910-1319.
