Oxford sends 11 to state

From staff reports of Anniston Star
02-03-2008

OXFORD — New year. Same results.

Oxford qualified 11 wrestlers for next week's AHSAA State Wrestling Tournament which begins on Thursday and runs through Saturday at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville in finishing in fourth place with 147.5 points at the Class 6A Section 4 tourney it hosted on Saturday.

That total matches the number the Yellow Jackets sent to state last year, all of whom walked away without a title.

"I felt like maybe could have qualified one more," said third-year Oxford coach Matt Thompson, whose team finished behind Grissom (171), Bob Jones (165.5) and Huntsville (164).

"Overall, I thought we wrestled pretty well," he said. "It's a pretty tough section. It's pretty much the same 11. The majority of them went last year. I think they have a better idea of what it's like and are better wrestlers. They have a legitimate shot at placing. We're just going to get to work this week and work on some of our mistakes."

Eric Lee (105) and Dan Futral (137) turned in first-place performances for Oxford.

Also, finishing in the top four of their weight division to qualify for the state tournament for Oxford were Nathan Sherman (second, 121), Dillon Chase (fourth, 127), Miles Chamblee (second, 132), Lee Lynch (third, 147), Jerry Cooper (fourth, 154), Chandler Tyree (fourth, 189), Robert Sparks (second, 217) and Lorenzo Stanley (third, 287).
Overall team results were as follows: Grissom 171, Bob Jones 165.5, Huntsville 164, Oxford 147.5, Buckhorn 73, Pell City 46, Sparkman 32 and Gadsden City 15>

Most Outstanding Wrestler was Grissom's Sutherland Buford (287).
Best Match features Jacob Winkles of Huntsville (winner) vs. J.D. Malone of Buckhorn in the 173-pound final.