Champs Connatser, Leavell ‘Best;’ HVA team 2nd
Laws also #1 while Rohn, 48-2, among Region #2s
Now a three-time Region II-AA champion, Connatser — a senior in the 132 weight class whose record is 50-2 on the season (182-23 career mark) — easily defeated David Cook of Halls in the finals 9-2.
His teammate at 126, senior Jacob Laws (42-5 this season, 141-45 career record), also won the Region crown with ease, defeating Ty Davis of Halls by fall at 3:44.
“I’m just proud of those guys — two great leaders and two great people,” HVA head coach Matt Bates said about Connatser and Laws.
Bates’ team also had three Region runner-ups: senior Kaine Letsinger at 113, 45-9 record so far this season; senior Raed Abu Shehadeh at 138, 38-11 this season, and junior Mikeal Arce at 285 with a 22-6 sseason record.
Other Hawks qualifiers for Sectionals, which is Saturday, Feb. 15, at HVA, were sophomore Rosalio Arce, third at 120; senior Austin Murphy, third at 190; senior Evan Clarke, third at 215; senior Grady Estep, fourth at 144; junior Ryland Wilkinson, fourth at 157; and senior Jacob Carter, fourth at 165.
Leavell, other top Dawgs
Bearden’s Deameion Leavell improved to 20-1 this season and 115-17 in his career while dominant at 165. He disposed of Halls Kizer Meek with a fall at 1:39 in the finals while named the tournament’s “Best Wrestler 150 and Above.”
Among Leavell’s feats this season was finishing first in the prestigious Bradley Invitational.
About Leavell, “He’s been around wrestling most of his life; he grew up wrestling in Kentucky. ... He’s a very athletic kid who’s a better football player than a wrestler (a Bulldogs wide receiver star),” BHS head coach Daniel Harvey said. “And he works hard, a very selfless kid.”
Five other Bulldogs qualified for Sectionals: sophomore Jack Cordnell, third at 106; senior Alexander Rawson, third at 150; sophomore Jasstin Chandler, third at 157; junior Gary Carlisle, third at 175; and freshman Parker Stevens, fourth place at 113.
Rohn, other top Admirals
Farragut senior Dylan Rohn, sporting an impressive 48-2 mark heading into Sectionals Saturday (143-31 career record), reached the Region finals before losing for just the second time all season, 13-6 to Halls senior Jordan Sexton (22-5), a two-time state meet medalist.
Six other Admirals qualified for Sectionals: junior Jonathon Laney, third at 138; senior Phillip Stafford-Hedge, third at 165; freshman James Swaggerty, fourth at 106; freshman Isaac Maine, fourth at 175; Zack Gonzalez, fourth at 190; and sophomore Izake Koga, fourth at 285.
