BIRMINGHAM- The Bob Jones Patriots improved to 22-1 in dual matches this season and won the AHSAA Class 7A Wrestling Duals State Championship with a 34-29 victory over Thompson at the CrossPlex’s Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham.

Holding a small two-point lead into the final match, Bob Jones looked to Nick Mothersele in the 170-pound division to pull out the duals title. The junior Mothersele did not disappoint as he emerged with an 11-8 decision over Thompson’s William Browder for the win and giving the Patriots the state title.

“Nick has always performed under pressure and he came through for us at the right time,” said Matthew Sweatman in his third season as head coach of Bob Jones. “Our athletes who have been with us since I arrived believed the culture had changed at Bob Jones and it is awesome to see all of their hard work payoff by winning this State Championship. Our only loss this season was to national powerhouse Troup County, Georgia, who we in-turn defeated later in the season.”

Bob Jones actually won the final three matches to earn the duals title as it rallied to defeat the Warriors. The dual matches featured, 106: Dylan Lesueur (TH) dec. Jim Wilson (BJ), technical fall, 21-5; 113: Zaderian Toney (BJ) pinned Harris Mitchell (TH), 1:55; 120: Kevin McGhaw (BJ) dec. Judah Campbell (TH) 8-5; 126: Chandler Atkins (TH) pinned Zaveon Toney (BJ), 1:10; 132: Gabe Hixenbaugh (TH) pinned Parker Snyder (BJ), 2:51; 138: Jordan Whalen (BJ) dec. Nathan Roberts (TH), 5-3; 145: Jackson Araneta (TH) pinned David Onquit (BJ), 5:32; 152: Cal Francovitch (BJ) dec. Ashunti Perry (TH), 7-5; 160: Gabriel Pittman (BJ) dec. Tyler Gilson (TH), 5-2; 170: Nick Mothersele (BJ) dec. William Browder (TH), 11-8; 182: George Frankovitch (BJ) major dec. Alex Ward (TH), 14-6. 195: Harold Gilmore (BJ) dec. Isaac McAdams (TH), 7-0. 220: Seth Dupree (BJ) pinned Aubrey Glidewell (TH), 1:34; 285: Seth Whitlock (TH) pinned Jordan Aycock (BJ), 4:25.

“It’s been a long climb in success since arriving at Bob Jones and I’m just glad to be able to win the state title for Bob Jones and the Madison community after all of the support we have received,” added Sweatman. “This team did not win one single point at the State Tournament three years ago.”

Bob Jones will be one of the favorites heading into the Super Sectionals next weekend in Birmingham followed by the AHSAA State Tournament Feb. 16-17 at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville.