2012-13 Results and Media Coverage
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Spencer Lemoine of John Curtis captures the 285-pound weight class
title with a pin of Evangel's Logan Williams. - (Pat Mashburn,
NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
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Brusly's Trevor Schermer looks for an arm bar while controlling his
opponent. - (Patrick Greenfield, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
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Click for video |
One would think after winning multiple team championships, that complacency would set in. No such feeling exists with Brusly, which captured its second consecutive Division III team title and ninth in the last 10 years.
It didn’t take long for the Panthers to gain separation on the rest of the field, leading by as much as 40 points, before finishing with a two-day total of 222. Placing wrestlers in the finals of four different weight class was icing on the cake, especially since the title was clinched before the last round began.
Finishing behind the Panthers were North Vermillion (177), John Curtis (174.5), Basile (143), Bossier (143), Evangel (140.5), Rayne (121.5), Thomas Jefferson (76.5), Lakeside (64), Lakeside (64), and North Desoto (63).
“We told the kids before we started practice at the beginning of the season and they have to practice in order to make their teammates better,” Brusly Coach Jimmy Bible said. “This is a family, and when we have people out on the mat, they know their brother is out there, and they’re going to be there to support them.”
Before the first regular season match, the focus centered on developing a relatively young roster that had only two seniors. “This was a special one, because we were a very young team,” Bible said. “To finish the way we did, by winning the city and state tournament was an important accomplishment. As a team, we kept progressing and working hard.”
The New Orleans area didn’t have to wait too long for its first title as Logan Griffin of Thomas Jefferson got a 4-2 decision over top-seed Prentis Spurlock of John Curtis. Being on the big stage with over 2,000 in attendance wasn’t enough to deter his focus. “He use to cause trouble on the single wings, but my coaches really helped me out with it,” Griffin said. “To be able to win a state title is amazing.”
The day before, teammate Brent Matherne, the top-seed in the 138-pound class boldly predicted a win over Evangel’s Benjiman Kirkikis in the championship match. True to his word, it happened in the form of a 9-3 decision, marking the second title for the Jaguars. “My mindset in the match was to be as aggressive as possible and don’t give up,” Matherne said. “I knew I couldn’t be on my back, so I tried hard to stay off of it. Everything hit me pretty quick. I’m on top of the world right now.”
De La Salle’s Alex Martin entered the tournament as the top-seed in the 152-pound class and was one of a hand full of wrestlers at the top of their class to finish in a similar spot. Showing the poise and savy of an experienced grappler, he followed the plan, and it worked.
“I knew what I wanted to do going in, and it was a matter of execution,” Martin said. “My strategy was to shut him down, so all around it would be pretty even. I’d worked very hard in practice and was happy with the way it all turned out.”
