A-J wrestling team wins Lawrenceville Invitational title

Anna-Jonesboro won three first places, four seconds, two fourths and a fifth in winning the Lawrenceville Invitational high school wrestling tournament Saturday, Dec. 4.

“We’re off to a good start,” A-J head coach Rick Bittle said. “We’re 2-0 in dual meets.”

The Wildcats, who claimed the title for the second time in three years, won with a score of 210 over their closest challenger West Frankfort, which finished second with 181.5.

First place efforts for the Wildcats were recorded by: Daniel Heath, 119 pounds, he pinned Carmi’s Devon Cisco and Marion’s Pat Devon and decisioned Robinson’s Zack Zvonan for the title; Brandon Cerney, 135 pounds, decisioned Fairfield’s Tyler Koonce, West Frankfort’s Keagan Gardner and Robinson’s Cody Decker for the title: Taylor Fitzgerald, 189 pounds, pinned Olney’s Tanner Wingert and Carterville’s J.D. Helm and Marion’s Ken Harris for the title.

Second place efforts for the Wildcats were recorded by: Andrew Adams, 112 pounds, pinned Harrisburg’s Brian Hanks and Mt. Carmel’s Mike Wilson before being pinned in the championship bout by Robinson’s Pat Stifle; Forrest Palis, 130 pounds, decisioned Olney’s Jake Bombs, Carterville’s Kean Doty, Lawrenceville’s Drew Davis and lost in the championship bout on a decision to West Frankfort’s Gavin Restivo; Preston Brimm, 152 pounds, pinned Marion’s Raysean Shirley and Robinson’s Slater Stifle and decisioned West Frankfort’s Brad Bocek in overtime before being pinned in the championship by Mt. Carmel’s Derick Garrett; Brett Turner, 215 pounds, pinned Harrisburg’s Tim Jeffries and Robinson’s Nick Iovonic before being pinned by Lawrenceville’s Justin Melton in the championship bout.

Fourth place efforts were recorded by: Chase Hargrave, 145 pounds, pinned Carmi’s Lucas Mercer in the first round before losing in a decision to Marion’s Nathan Dodd. He pinned Carterville’s Chris Culp and Lawrenceville’s Gage McIntosh and was pinned by Robinson’s Quenton Jones to finish fourth; Andrew McMahan, 150 pounds, pinned St. Anthony’s Pat McGuire and lost by a decision to Mt. Carmel’s Sheldon Hanna. He bounced back to pin Lawrenceville’s Charles Nighstep and Carterville’s Ethan Cotton before being decisioned by West Frankfort’s Charles Leech for fourth place.

The lone fifth place finish was Devon LeFine at 103 pounds.

Logan Tripp, 171 pounds, didn’t place but finished with a 2-2 record with decisions over Mt. Carmel’s William Deischer and Robinson’s Michael Mahully.

A-J’s Brandon Crosser and Brian Brown also competed.