ON THE MARK
D. MARK MITCHELL
The Opelika High wrestling team participated in a quad and tri-match last week.
The Dogs wrestled Shaw, Russell County and Smiths Station in the quad match on the Smiths Station High School campus and wrestled Stanhope Elmore and Reeltown in the “Gridiron Bowl” in Millbrook.
The Bulldogs opened up against Shaw in Smiths Station, losing by one point in sudden death, 37-36. The following wrestlers recorded victories: Tyrese Pitts (132 lbs), Vin Schwenk (138 lbs), Brady Campbell (145 lbs), Jack Pritchard (220 lbs) McKenzie Felder and heavyweight E’Mauri Smiley all pinned their opponents to tie Shaw. The Raiders won the tiebreaker criteria for the one-point victory.
Smiths Station then beat OHS, 51-22, in the second match. The following won matches for OHS: Brayden Wilson (126 lbs), Micah Smith (132 lbs), Brady Campbell (145 lbs), Harrison Renfroe (152 lbs) and Jack Prichard (195 lbs).
OHS beat Russell County in its final matchup, 48-36, behind the following wins: Emonte Richardson (113 lbs), Pedro Cabrera (120 lbs), Micah Smith (138 lbs), Trace Gaither (145 lbs), Brady Campbell (145 lbs), Tommie Johnson (182 lbs), Jack Pritchard (195 lbs) and Ari Brogdom (heavyweight).
The “Gridiron Brawl” in Millbrook was scheduled to take place on the Stanhope Elmore football field. Due to dropping temperatures, the mat became slick and dangerous, causing officials to go inside for the meet.
OHS first beat Reeletown, 51-30, behind the following wins: heavyweight Ari Brogdom, Derrick Hoyett (120 lbs), Brayden Wilson (126 lbs), Tyrese Pitts (132 lbs), Trace Gaither (138 lbs), Logan Sheridan (145 lbs), Landon Willis (160 lbs), Jack Pritchard (195 lbs) and Emauri Smiley (220 lbs).
The Dogs beat Stanhope Elmore, 54-24, in the last match. The following won matches for OHS: Emonte Richardson (113 lbs), Chris Cannon (112 Ibs), Trace Gaither (138 lbs), Brady Campbell (145 lbs), Harrison Renfroe (152 lbs), Jack Pritchard (195 lbs), Kyle Epperson (220 lbs) and heavyweight Ari Brogdon.
Opelika assembled the 7th, 8th and 9th grade wrestlers to participate in the “Lil Stinger Rumble” at Beauregard High School, last week.
The junior Dogs finished second with 179 points. These 13 Dawgs finished in the top 4:
95 lbs – Andray Vann (1st place), 103 lbs – Aaden Johnson (4th place), 112 lbs – Nic Ambrocia (1st place), 119 lbs – Heidi Peralta (4th place), 130 lbs – Vin Schwenk (4th place), 135 lbs – Tyrese Pitts (2nd), 135 lbs – Trell Anderson (3rd), 145 lbs – Harrison Renfroe (1st), 155 lbs – Brady Campbell (1st), 175 lbs – Tommie Johnson (1st), 210 lbs – Kyle Epperson (1st), heavyweights E’Mauri Smiley (3rd) and Lamontez Brown (4th).
Thanks to Coach Jim Davis for sending summaries after matches!
OHS BASKETBALL
The OHS varsity girls’ basketball team played Benjamin Russell and Hewiit-Trussville last week. The Lady Bulldogs beat Benjamin Russell 56-44 and lost to Hewitt-Trussville 63-35 at Mainstreet gym in OHS.
OHS beat BRHS behind 26 points from Erica Mathews and 16 points Haley Sanders.
The Lady Huskies of Hewitt-Trussville then downed OHS 63-35. Despite the loss, Sanders scored 13 points and Ashanti Thomas added 12 points.
The boys split, losing 51-67 to Shaw and beating Hewitt-Trussville 63-62. Against Shaw, Landon Lee led the Dogs with 12 points and 7 rebounds, and Isiah Knight scored 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Hewitt-Trussville missed a layup with one second left in the game, allowing Opelika to win 63-62 in a thriller.
Knight scored a game high 18 points and grabbed 9 rebounds to lead OHS. Knox Chase added 14 points and 6 rebounds to help the Dogs.
Both teams host Valley Thursday and Central Friday in the Mainstreet gym. Tipoff for JV begins at 4 p.m., followed by girls at 5:30 p.m. and boys 7 p.m.
AHSAA SUPER 7
The 2021 AHSAA Super 7 in in the books. Birmingham’s Protective stadium was the site for the seven football championship games and the inaugural girls’ Flag Football Championship.
The three day attendance of 62,544 is the largest for a Super 7 Championship. Jordan-Hare Stadium owned the previous Super 7 attendance record of 61,048 in 2012. Opelika versus Hoover drew a single-game record of 32,000 fans in 2012.
1A — Sweet Water 40-Wadley 16
2A — Clarke County 49-Cleveland 41
3A- Piedmont 35 —Montgomery Academy 33
4A- — Vigor 56 — Oneonta 14
5A — Pike Road 51-Pleasent Grove 14
6A — Clay-Chalkville 46-Heuytown 42
7A — Thompson 38-Central 22
The 2022 Super 7 returns to Opelika-Auburn, at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
D. Mark Mitchell is the sports director at iHeartMedia, host of “On the Mark” Fox Sports the Game 910-1310, co-chair of the Auburn-Opelika Sports Council, chairman of the Super 7 and Dixie Boys Baseball state director.