Stelly, Patriots eyeing another runner-up finish
By Kevin Foote; 11:12 p.m. CST February 20, 2014
North Vermilion coach Michael Stelly knows full well what it’s like to dream big. After all, as a high school wrestler at Northside High, he won two state championships.
He’s already envisioning the construction of a youth wrestling organization that feeds experienced grapplers into his high school program on a consistent basis.
Stelly also competed in the MMA arenas as a professional.
He also knows there’s a line of realistic goals.
So as much as he’d love for his Patriots to strive as hard as possible for the Division III state wrestling crown, everyone knows how dominant a force Brusly is at that level in Louisiana.
Consequently, Stelly would be more than happy with the Patriots encoring last year’s state runner-up position – with a little flair of course.
“Naturally, you want first (place), but I also realize how dominant Brusly has been. I would like to finish ahead of the rest of the pack. It would be great to put some distance between us and the rest of the pack. But really, I’m not even that concerned about the team totals. My main focus is for the guys who have a good chance (of placing high), wrestle well and to see the young guys improve.”
One thing the Patriots have in their favor is that wrestlers in 13 of the 14 weight divisions, including 10 seeded in the top eight.
“I wish I had a little more experience in certain weight divisions, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction,” Stelly said. “I really think we’re good on both ends. We’ve got a good senior class and a good young group to work with.”
North Vermilion’s lone No. 1 seed is Colin Vaughn (23-4), followed by a pair of No. 2 seeds in Gavin Becker at 113 and Rhett Maturin at 120.
The Patriots’ depth, however, is illustrated by the fact that Colin Laird is the No. 3 seed at 152 and Jonathan Thompson also No. 3 at 195.
“Colin is a very good wrestler,” Stelly said. “That’s going to be a very interesting weight division with the kid from Brusly moving up two weight classes. That’s a lot.”
Trevor Schermer is the three-time state champion making that jump with a 51-3 record, while Lehrue Stevens IV of St. Louis is in the middle as the No. 3 seed with a 36-5 record.
Vaughn doesn’t appear to be as challenged at 182, but “there are no cakewalks.”
While Brusly is the team that all the Division III squads are chasing, Stelly expects DeLaSalle of New Orleans to be the Patriots’ biggest competition.
Most of the Division III powers met in a regular season tournament earlier this season and the order was Brusly, North Vermilion and DeLaSalle.
Division III State Wrestling Seeds
106 – 1. Armand Zachary (26-3), Loyola Prep; 2. Brittany Bates (40-7), Doyline; 3. Austin Franklin (33-21), Brusly; 4. Joey Cavolaski (11-3), Grace King; 5. Brendon Wilcox (27-6), John Curtis; 6. John Rollins (18-15), Episcopal; 7. Kyle Teele (3-1), Basile; 8. Hogan Melebeck (10-6), North Vermilion.
113 – 1. Kendon Lee (47-1), Brusly; 2. Gavin Becker (14-3), North Vermilion; 3. Logan Griffin (30-10), Thomas Jefferson; 4. Billy Smith (2-1), Ouachita Christian; 5. Gavin Christ (18-10), Basile; 6. Bailey Strezinger (14-6), John Curtis; 7. Chris LeBoeuf (14-16), South Plaquemines; 8. Ezra Grant (4-12), Istrouma.
120 - 1. Baret Sanchez (48-11), Brusly; 2. Rhett Maturin (13-10), North Vermilion; 3. Bradley Wright (32-5), Evangel; 4. John Watson (20-7), Lakeside; 5. Zack Vinson (13-11), Basile; 6. Taylor Harrington, Kaplan; 7. Richard Smith (11-14), DeLaSalle; 8. Kevin Aaen (3-1), Ouachita Christian.
126 – 1. Wyatt LeJeune (47-11), Brusly; 2. Bryce Cortez (23-4), John Curtis; 3. Kelby Comeaux (6-6), South Cameron; 4. Troy Bourgeois (17-8), Fisher; 5. Brennen Landry (14-3), North Vermilion; 6. Matthew Webre (2-0), Ouachita Christian; 7. Riley Smith (22-8), Lakeside; 8. James Nethery, Holy Rosary.
132 – 1. Noah Landry (49-8), Brusly; 2. James Grahan (28-5), South Plaquemines; 3. Devin Bazinet (14-3), Basile; 4. Tyrone Broussard, Kaplan; 5. Raekwon Thomas (21-17), DeLaSalle; 6. Roderick Ward (29-13), Evangel; 7. Grant Camara (25-15), St. Louis; 8. Kenneth Vidallier (7-7), North Vermilion.
138 – 1. Cameron Corley (22-5), Lakeside; 2. Reid DiMaggio, Holy Rosary; 3. Deionte James (23-11), South Plaquemines; 4. Toby Hebert (26-9), Brusly; 5. Drew Tortorich (27-22), DeLaSalle; 6. Cole Bedgood (8-7), Calvary Baptist; 7. Gavin Cortez (13-4), Basile; 8. Augustus Sole (21-15), St. Louis.
145 – 1. Benjamin Kirkikis (40-2), Evangel; 2. Koby Mancuso (36-8), Brusly; 3. Dominick Bioc (37-19), DeLaSalle; 4. James Davis (15-5), Episcopal; 5. Trey Fontenot (14-9), Basile; 6. Ryan Hamrick (21-9), John Curtis; 7. Cameron Johnson (12-13), North Vermilion; 8. Alonzo Zachary, Loyola Prep.
152 – 1. Trevor Schermer (51-3), Brusly; 2.; Lehrue Stevens IV (36-5), St. Louis; 3. Colin Laird (20-6), North Vermilion; 4. Jack Bowman (9-5), Episcopal; 5. Jude Hebert, Kaplan; 6. Landon Dorsey (15-13), DeLaSalle; 7. Lee Jackson, Loyola Prep; 8. Bryce Carter, Calvary Baptist.
160 – 1. Alex Martin (44-2), DeLaSalle; 2. Diondre Dorsey (38-18), Brusly; 3. Johnny Brooks-Feaster (25-10), Doyline; 4. Thomas Lambert (21-5), Lakeside; 5. Andrew Pousson (32-8), St. Louis; 6. Kyle Jones (7-7), Calvary Baptist; 7. Caleb Catrett (15-15), Evangel; 8. Ellis Herring III (6-7), Episcopal.
170 – 1. G’Corey Fullilove (20-4), John Curtis; 2. Blayze Olano (9-7), Brusly; 3. Logan Sylve (32-19), DeLaSalle; 4. Griffin Miller (10-10), Dunham; 5. Brody Lemaire (23-4), North Vermilion; 6. John Pruitt (24-12), St. Louis; 7. John Inocencio (29-25), Doyline; 8. Mason Deshotel (14-5), Basile.]
182 – 1. Colin Vaughn (23-4), North Vermilion; 2. Matt Adams (22-8), Fisher; 3. Kevin Drury (16-4), South Plaquemines; 4. Blake St. Romain (31-11), St. Louis; 5. Brock Buller (8-2), Church Point; 6. Yoni Canales (14-11), Istrouma; 7. Chris Inocencio (25-15), Doyline; 8. NeaVonta Guillory, Basile.
195 – 1. Dillon Prejean (31-12), Brusly; 2. Jared Smith (14-4), St. Louis; 3. Jonathan Thompson (16-6), North Vermilion; 4. James Phillips (12-9), Grace King; 5. Tyler Sullivan (14-7); Calvary Baptist; 6. Alexander San (15-10), South Plaquemines; 7. Cameron Castille (4-12), Church Point; 8. Jacob Melancon (7-15), John Curtis.
220 – 1. Donald Johnson (35-10), Brusly; 2. Luke Griffith (22-6), Lakeshore; 3. Robert McPherson (36-8), St. Louis; 4. Blake Bernard (16-8), North Vermilion; 5. Mason Rabel (10-11), Dunham; 6. Trenton Anderson (26-18), DeLaSalle; 7. Julian Smith, Holy Rosary; 8. Deon Addison, Baker.
285 – 1. Logan Williams (33-2), Evangel; 2. Kirk Wilson (19-7), Dunham; 3. Christopher Banks, Baker; 4. Jo’Vonte Wheeler (27-13), Brusly; 5. Taylor McKay (16-5), Episcopal; 6. Jalen Haydel (28-18), DeLaSalle; 7. Brent Ruiz (17-10), John Curtis; 8. Aaron Tanner (28-12), St. Louis.