Rebels riding depth into state tourney
By Kevin Foote;11:14 p.m. CST February 18, 2014
There’s a certain feeling of unpredictability surrounding the Division II State Wrestling Tournament this season as the field invades the Ponchartrain Center in Kenner on Friday and Saturday.
Sure, there’s the feeling that Live Oak is the clear-cut team to beat. Unlike in previous seasons, however, guessing which wrestlers will finish in the top three or four places doesn’t figure to be as easy a process this time around.
Teurlings Catholic coach Kent Masson is just hoping that somehow that increased balance somehow favors his Rebels along the way.
“In some classes there’s still going to be a pretty big difference between the one and the four seeds, but in some classes, we really had a tough time deciding between the one and four seed,” Masson said. “Not so much the semifinal matches, but I really believe that the quarterfinal matches are going to be really tight. It would not surprise me if we had more upsets in the quarterfinal round this year.”
If the two-time state champion Rebels are going to pull off the slight upset this season, it’s going to take some breaks falling Masson’s way. Of course, Teurlings might be due a few after the injuries the Rebels have endured in recent weeks.
At 138, Jacob Rees is out after multiple concussions as a probable No. 2 seed. At 152, Brennan Trosclair is out with an ankle sprain. At 195, Blaze Owens is out after suffering a spinal injury in the last tournament.
The shifting was smooth at 152, where Jacob Courts slips in as a No. 4 seed. Then some creative maneuvering moved Tristan Lee from 126 to 132, where he’s not the No. 1 seed, and Dante Hebert went from 132 to 138. Trey Hebert becomes the new 126.
“We’ve had some injuries to some good wrestlers, but the kids still believe and that’s half the battle,” Masson said. “I haven’t heard anyone talking like because of the injuries, we can’t win it. I haven’t heard one bit of anyone feeling sorry for themselves. “The good thing is that we’ve got so much depth that we’re able to replace those guys with quality wrestlers.”
Brock Bonin leads the way as the No. 1 seed at 120 pounds, while Lee is No. 1 at 132 and Kynan Sonnier is No. 1 at 160. Other top three seeds for the Rebels are: Josh Hebert No. 3 at 106, Peyton Cortez No. 3 at 170, Adam Garza No. 2 at 220 and Travis Santiago No. 3 at 285.
“I always talk about how important wrestle-backs are in trying to win a state championship,” Masson said. “Well, this year, they’re really important. They’re really going to be the focal point this year.”
Adding to the unpredictability this year are the new teams joining Division II, such as a former Division I program in Carencro or a Division III power in Rayne.
While Teurlings may be the area’s best chance to finish in the top three in Division II, one of the most anticipated matches in any division figures to be the potential 285 final between Northside’s O’Shea Dugas and Robert Kennedy of Belle Chasse. The two squared off in a memorable finals at Ken Cole that Kennedy won 4-3 in controversial fashion.
“First of all, he (Dugas) has to get to the finals and so does the other kid for that to happen, but if they do, it’s going to be an electrifying match,” Northside coach John Simmons said. “That loss was good for him. It’s burning inside him.
“He’s really worked hard to get better. He’s a learner. He wants to learn. That gives him a chance to be a much better wrestler.”
Overall, the Vikings will be bringing only six to state for the first time in five years.
“Out of six wrestlers, we’ve got three seeded and all three have the potential to get in the finals,” Simmons said. “Wrestling’s a tough sport. We started out with 33, but a lot of kids just couldn’t last.”
Division II State Seeds
106 - 1. Colt Olinde (52-11), Live Oak; 2. Austin Gouedy (33-13), Central; 3. Josh Hebert (22-12), Teurlings; 4. Garrett Strozier (28-5), Parkway; 5. Zack Denton (9-4), Haughton; 6. Collin Ballas, Shaw; 7. Nicholas Shields (17-6), 8. Tristan Pittenger (15-14), Grace King.
113 – 1. Jacob Chenevert (62-13), Live Oak; 2. Alex Simmaly (11-4), Parkway; 3. Mauricio Ballesteros (18-10), Grace King; 4. Daniel Trappey (19-14), Carencro; 5. Luke Kilchrist (28-16), Teurlings; 6. Chase Bates (28-22), North DeSoto; 7. Garrett Perkins (21-18), Northwood.
120 - 1. Brock Bonin (34-4), Teurlings; 2. Jason Pitts (41-5), Parkway; 3. DeCoreyon Howard (23-4), Huntington; 4. Johathan Davadi (11-5), Grace King; 5. Ethan Alphonso (34-24), Live Oak; 6. Jay Combs (17-12), Northwood; 7. DeAvante Cooper (13-12), East Jefferson; 8. Matthew Mears (16-17), Pearl River.
126 - 1. Cody Hill (73-4), Live Oak; 2. Andrew Aucoin (8-2), Sam Houston; 3. Ryan Huckaby (22-4), Parkway; 4. Anthony Seaux (27-9), Rayne; 5. Taylor Dubois (17-9), Benton; 6. Daulton Rainwater (26-14), Central; 7. Tyler Lawshe (11-9), Pearl River; 8. Johntrell Blue (13-7), Huntington.
132 – 1. Tristan Lee (33-14), Teurlings; 2. Sterling Saylor (12-5), Plaquemine; 3. Brandon Webb (42-23), Live Oak; 4. Nathan Pitts (29-9), Parkway; 5. Timothy Hilliard (40-10), Pearl River; 6. Cameron Gafford (11-10), Riverside; 7. Josh Caskey (13-8), Benton; 8. Jesse Zeringue (19-14), St. Michael.
138 – 1. Seth Bosarge (44-6), Live Oak; 2. Hunter Huckaby (18-5), Parkway; 3. Jeffrey Lewis (13-8), Benton; 4. Michael Ensminger (27-13), St. Michael; 5. Dante Hebert (18-9), Teurlings; 6. Daniel Seither (14-12), Pearl River; 7. Ethan Sarpy (16-9), North DeSoto; 8. Russell Ball (17-15), Central.
145 – 1. Bryce Ballas (44-9), Shaw; 2. Zac Funderburk (38-7), Parkway; 3. Tre’ Pugh (23-5), Benton; 4. Austyn Hodge (40-18), Live Oak; 5. Dakota Hebert (32-12), Teurlings; 6. C.J. Hillard (42-13), Pearl River; 7. Pearson Harbour (12-7), Haughton; 8. Jonathan Culivan (12-16), St. Michael.
152 – 1. Andre Dean (22-1), Benton; 2. Avery Jones (18-5), Bossier; 3. Austin Many (21-10), Riverside; 4. Jacob Courts (13-6), Teurlings; 5. Cozenki Alfred (12-5), Northside; 6. D’Aunta Anderson (14-8), Huntington; 7. Austin Smith (13-11), Parkway; 8. Jonathan Hagan (29-30), Live Oak.
160 – 1. Kynan Sonnier (21-7), Teurlings; 2. Jordan White (24-2), Benton; 3. The’Anthony Taylor (27-6), Huntington; 4. Dylan Verret (31-15), St. Michael; 5. Max Chambers (32-19), Shaw; 6. Ben Averette, Central; 7. Kelvin Brooks (8-5), Bossier; 8. Jacob Hebert (10-8), Rayne.
170 – 1. Kody Woodson (39-6), Shaw; 2. Aaron Maddox (32-13), Grace King; 3. Peyton Cortez (19-16), Teurlings; 4. Jason Moran (31-11), Pearl River; 5. Christopher Hall (9-5), Bossier; 6. Obie Spears (22-8), Benton; 7. Dylan Bennett (18-15), Live Oak; 8. Tanner Leger (27-24), Rayne.
182 – 1. Jalen Oliver (16-2), Bossier; 2. Brody Bonura (65-12), Live Oak; 3. Tyler Samford (29-9), Pearl River; 4. Logan Knox (33-9), St. Michael; 5. Dalton Holdman (9-5), Central; 6. Austin Gary (29-6), Carencro; 7. Mason Ramirez (18-7), Sam Houston; 8. Jarrod Berkenmeir (12-8), Teurlings.
195 – 1. Brennan Falcon (22-5), Shaw; 2. Cody Stutson (20-7), Riverside; 3. Nick Simoneaux (46-21), Live Oak; 4. Jacob Spohrer (41-15), Pearl River; 5. Ian Harter (36-10), St. Michael; 6. Isaiah McKinsey (10-6), Bossier; 7. Austin Wilson (18-7), Benton; 8. David Quiring (8-6), St. Thomas More.
220 – 1. Logan Thompson (32-8), Belle Chasse; 2. Adam Garza (12-6), Teurlings; 3. Kellan Lockhart (31-13), Sam Houston; 4. Willie Washington (17-8), Northside; 5. Donnie Edwards (6-4), Bossier; 6. Luke Dalberg (25-25), Live Oak; 7. Robert McNeill (19-8), Pearl River; 8. Jonathan McClesky (13-9), Haughton.
285 – 1. Robert Kennedy (27-1), Belle Chasse; 2. O’Shea Dugas (23-2), Northside; 3. Travis Santiago (28-8), Teurlings; 4. Chauncey Taylor (7-1), Benton; 5. Matthew Blair (28-13), Shaw; 6. Darius Revolta (28-11), Pearl River; 7. Blake Villard (23-13), Carencro; 8. Kenderick Washington (7-4), Bossier.