Wrestling tourney starts in Kenner
2013-14 Results and Media Coverage
ROBIN FAMBROUGH
rfambrough@theadvocate.com Feb. 25, 2014
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Some things about the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s State
Wrestling Tournament are predictable. Like seeing certain teams always listed
among the favorites to claim state titles. But hope always springs eternal at the annual three-division event that begins at 9 a.m. Friday at Kenner’s Pontchartrain Center. Brother Martin has won the last two Division I state titles to lead the New Orleans contingent, while Brusly, winner of nine of the last 10 Division III crowns, helps lead the list of Baton Rouge squads entered in the two-day event that concludes with 6 p.m. finals on Saturday. In between the lists of favorites and top-seeded wrestlers is the reality that many things are possible at a state wrestling tourney. For Baton Rouge purposes, consider Divisions I and III to be examples of those possibilities. Catholic High placed third behind two New Orleans teams, Brother Martin and Jesuit, but finds itself in more of underdog role after placing second to Brusly at the Greater Metro Baton Rouge City Championships two weeks.
“You know, I just have a feeling that it (Division I) might not be the runaway everybody thinks it will be,” Catholic coach Tommy Prochaska said. “Brother Martin is awfully good, but you can never count out Jesuit because of their tradition. Then you factor in Holy Cross, us and also Rummel. |
“I don’t know if we have enough bullets in the chamber to do it, but we’ll see. I like where we’re seeded and you never know once you get all the teams and individuals out there.”
East Ascension’s Alex Betteridge at 106 pounds is the only BR wrestler seeded No. 1 in Division I. Catholic’s Brennan Taylor (138), James Claitor (145) and Matthew Mire are all No. 2 seeds. Taylor and Claitor won state titles at different weight classes last season.
Brother Martin has five top-seeded wrestlers, while Jesuit has three. But the wild-card entry may be another New Orleans team, Holy Cross, which moved to Division I this year after winning the Division II title last season.
By comparison, Brusly bested an Acadiana area team, North Vermilion, by 48 points in the Division III team standings a year ago. The teams are expected to lead the LHSAA’s small schools division once again.
“I definitely think North Vermilion will be there to give us a push,” Brusly coach Jimmy Bible said. “We’ve changed our lineup a couple of times this year and we’re doing it again for state.
“At city, it was best for us to have some guys wrestle in lower weight classes, now they’ve moved back up to give us what we think are our best match-ups.
“Our guys are very excited. We’ve been successful, so it’s a matter of them doing the things they’ve done all year.”
Kendon Lee (113), Baret Sanchez (120), Wyatt LeJeune (126), Noah Landry (132), Trevor Schermer (152), Dillon Prejean (195) and Donald Johnson (220) are top seeds for the Panthers. Colin Vaughn (182) is the top seed for NVHS. LeJeune and Schermer were state champions last year.
Not to be overlooked is the Division II competition in which Lafayette’s Teurlings Catholic and one Baton Rouge’s up-and-coming program, Live Oak, are the favorites. TCHS was second to Holy Cross a year ago, while LOHS was third.
Teurlings coach Kent Masson sees a possible role reversal this time.
“I see Live Oak as the favorite,” Masson said. “They’ve got more guys seeded high than last year and they’ve gone to a lot of meets and gotten plenty of experience for their younger guys. We’ve had some injuries at three weight classes, but we’re confident in our depth to fill in those spots.”
LOHS coach Chris Collier sees his team battling the Rebels. The Eagles seek their first state title.
“Our problem in the past has been that we’ll get to state and no perform as a well as we need as a team in the semifinals and consolations,” Collier said. “I think we’ve prepared and competed in some big tournaments to get to this point.”
Clint Olinde (106), Jacob Chenevert (113), Cody Hill (126) and Seth Bosarge (138) are top seeds for LOHS. Hill (73-4) needs one win to set a state record for most wins in a season. Brock Bonin (120), Tristan Lee (132) and Kynan Sonnier (160) are top seeds for TCHS. Chenevert. Hill, Bosarge and Bonin were state champions in 2013.
