HUNTSVILLE- Facing the toughest competition is always a challenge for any athlete. For high school wrestlers, there is no help from teammates as you’re individually on your own once you hit the wrestling mat for a match. For those gifted enough to qualify for the 68^th AHSAA State Tournament, competition is always staring at your face and local wrestlers rose to the occasion with Bob Jones, James Clemens and Sparkman High Schools athletes going the distance at the state meet held at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville.

The Bob Jones Patriots placed seventh scoring 98.5 points in the Class 7-A division while James Clemens came in No. 21 with 15.0 points and Sparkman posting just two points finishing No. 27.

Individually, local wrestlers had two third place finishes as Ben Crouse and Maddox Sunderman of the Patriots claimed the highest finishes of the local contingent. Fourth place finishers included Kaden Clark and Ronin Amsler of Bob Jones and Ethan Johnson of James Clemens. A fifth place finish came from Zander Samargia and Troy Henningan of Bob Jones and a sixth place finish by Tafari Alcime of Bob Jones.

The finals results of those wrestlers making the top six in their weight classes included: 285- 3. Maddox Sunderman, Bob Jones, Sr., (47-4) defeated Chris Moore, Jeff Davis, Sr., (19-5) TB-1 4-3; 220- 6. Tafari Alcime, Bob Jones, Jr., (54-10) lost to Lance Peterson, Smiths Station, Jr., (35-7) Dec. 3-1; 195- 3. Ben Crouse, Bob Jones, Jr., (38-19) defeated Ian Osbourn, Chelsea, Sr., (36-16) Dec. 15-11; 182- 4. Ronin Amsler, Bob Jones, Sr., (37-10) lost to Nathan Black, Thompson, Jr., (38-13) MD 9-1; 132- 4. Ethan Johnson, James Clemens, Jr., (30-9) lost to Hastings Roberts, Vestavia Hills, Sr., (27-10) MD 10-2; 120- 5. Troy Henningan, Bob Jones, Sr., (37-13) defeated Bennett Ashley, Vestavia Hills, So., (20-13) SV-1 3-2; 113- 5. Zander Samargia, Bob Jones, Fr., (43-16) defeated John Shattuck, Grissom, 8, (39-15) Dec. 3-0; 106- 4. Kaden Clark, Bob Jones, 7, (60-13) lost to Cale Tucker, Vestavia Hills, Sr., (24-8) Dec. 5-2.

The final team results showed Vestavia Hills won the state championship with 210 points while Thompson was runner-up as they posted 195 and Huntsville third with 157.0 points.