HUNTSVILLE – Weaver High School’s girls’ wrestling team captured the first-ever AHSAA State Wrestling Championship awarded for girls Saturday at the Von Braun Center winning the Class 1A/5A division. In reality, however, the Lady Bearcats clinched the title on Friday amassing 166 points and held an overwhelming mathematical lead heading into the finals Saturday and finished with 203.5.
The introduction of two girls’ divisions – Thompson High School won the Class 6A/7A big-school division – was a major highlight of the 70th AHSAA State Wrestling Championships.
Until this school year, girls competing in the AHSAA State Wrestling Championships had to compete with the boys.
In addition to Weaver’s girls winning the 1A/5A division, Thompson’s girls emerged as champs in the 6A/7A division. Thompson’s boys captured the Class 7A state championship while Athens (6A), Scottsboro (5A) and Tallassee (1A/4A) won state titles in their respective classifications.
While there was little drama in the girls’ competition with Alexandria finishing second with 77 points and Arab third with 53. However, the intensity and excitement only added to the growing passion for the sport that has taken over boys’ wrestling in the last two decades. The sport was introduced into the AHSAA’s bank of championships as a boys-only sport in 1956.
Weaver, coached by Justin Brown, jumped out quickly in the championship round with sophomore 107-pounder Ali Anderson (27-3) winning her match over Arab’s Madelynn King (25-5) at 1:31.
The Bearcats also and three sisters reaching the finals, Lena, Mariah and Nya Johannson reaching the 145, 132 and 100-pound weight division championships. Lena, the senior leader who has wrestled for Weaver since the seventh grade, closed her career finishing unbeaten (39-0) as a senior with a technical fall 15-0 win in the 145-pound finals. Mariah (35-3), a freshman, won her finals match at 132 pounds, and Nya (33-9) reached her first final as a seventh grader this season coming up just short.
Weaver finished with seven wrestlers winning individual girls’ titles including Ali Anderson (107), Jaylee Carter (114), Ashlyn Coleman (126), Heaven Bishop (165) and Baleigh Brown (185) in addition to the Johannson sisters’ two.
Thompson’s championship run for the boys’ and girls’ state championships produced the AHSAA’s first brother-sister duo to claim state titles. Lynleigh Weltzin, the daughter of Thompson boys’ wrestling coach Shawn Weltzin, pulled an upset at 120 pounds with an 8-7 decision over previously undefeated Grissom grappler Jessalynn Allen (30-1). Senior Jordan Weltzin (48-9) 5-0 decision over Bob Jones’ Kaden Clark the Class 7A 138-pound weight class. Both are children of Thompson’s veteran boys’ wrestling coach Shawn Weltzin.
Tallassee, coached by John Mask, won the Class 1A/4A boys’ wrestling championship after moving down from Class 5A this season. Land Bell, the Tigers’ record-setting senior, led the way with his third straight state title. Bell (57-0) pinned Oak Grove’s Ethan Hall (40-6) at the 2:39 mark to seal his final prep victory for Tallassee’s program. The Tigers took the 1A/4A state title with 206 points. Weaver was second with 153.5, and Oak Grove finished third with 113.
Thompson’s boys won the 7A title with 221 points, followed by Vestavia Hills with 182 and Â鶹´«Ã½ third with 173. Athens, coached by Andrew Campbell, won the 6A championship with 146 points. Pike Road was second with 133 and Mountain Brook followed with 128.5. Scottsboro, coached by Chris Staton, won the 5A title with 151 points. Hayden was second with 119.5, and Corner took third with 90.
The final girls’ team point totals had Weaver with 203.5 in 1A/4A followed by Alexandria (77) and Arab (57). In Class 6A/7A, Thompson, coached Carmesha Pete, won with 150 points, Daphne was second with 136 and Enterprise third, with 98.5.
Earning most outstanding wrestler honors were Weaver’s Lena Johannson (1A/5A) and Enterprise’s Evelyn Holmes-Smith (6A/7A) in the two girls’ divisions. On the boys’ side, Fultondale’s Michael Yafondo (1A/4A), John Stewart of Scottsboro (5A); Bradley Williams of Spain Park (6A); and Opelika’s Brady Campbell (7A). Each won weight titles in their divisions.
Among the many highlights of the 2025 state wrestling championships:
CLASS 6A/7A GIRLS
Enterprise senior Evelyn Holmes-Smith (32-1) closed out her historic career with a technical fall win over Thompson’s Aenaya Vines (37-5) in the 138-pound girls; finals. Holmes-Smith was the first female in the AHSAA to win 100 matches. She was a trailblazer or sorts competing well in the boys’ division and dominating in the girls’ matches one girls’ wrestling became an emerging sport. Saturday’s victory was her first official state championship although she had four in the emerging sport’s period.
CLASS 1A/4A Boys
In the 1A/4A boys’ division, Tallassee’s Mason Nelson (52-2), who won the 5A 106-pound title in 2024, captured the 113-pound title in his new classification winning by a technical fall at 2:38 with a 17-2 score.
In one of the best matchups of the finals, Oak Grove sophomore David Hill, who was 113-pound runner-up in 2024, pinned Mason Hahm of White Plains at the 3:00 mark to win the 126-pound title. Hahm (31-1) won the 120-pound title in 2024. Hill (51-0) finished undefeated in one of the few finals that matched unbeaten wrestlers.
In another battle of undefeated wrestlers, New Hope’s Layton Pohl (43-0) won a hard-fought 11-6 decision in the 1A/4A 190-pound finals over Tallassee’s Zachary Crosthwait, who finished his season 53-1.
Austen Mayfield (42-0) of Cleburne County won his second straight state title with his in at 157 pounds Saturday. He finished 57-1 and won the 144-pound weight class last year. T.R. Miller’s Brody Hayes (40-0) finished unbeaten and won the 138-pound title after capturing the 132-pound weight division in 2024.
CLASS 5A Boys
Scottsboro’s John Stewart (32-0) finished his junior season undefeated with a pin at 1:04 in his144-pound final versus Dylan Farris of Holtville. He is well remembered for his state-championship clinching 138-pound finals match for the Wildcats in 2024 that sealed Scottsboro’s bid for the state title.
Shelby County senior Nick Sykes (60-1) repeated as 132-pound champ pinning Arab’s Colby Silva at the 5:22 mark of the finals. Silva (32-3) won the 113-pound title last year and was voted Class 5A MVP. Arab won at 113 last year and was meet MVP. Sykes was 56-2 last season and 116-3 over his two straight championship seasons. Nick Sykes, Shelby County was 56-2 and won 132 in 2024
CLASS 6A Boys
Spain Park junior Bradley Williams won the 144-pound title in Class 7A last season, and Saturday added the Class 6A 157-pound championship as well. He also finished unbeaten at 54-0 with his pin of Gulf Shores’ Charles Knight (47-11). Williams has won 106 matches over the last two seasons.
Gardendale senior Damarcus Powe (51-0) won the 175-pound title with a major decision 16-5 versus Mason Hussey of Pike Road (35-2). Powe won the 138-pound crown in 2024. His younger brother Coreu Powe also won the 126-pound 6A weight class earlier Saturday.
Athens’ Jaxon Unger (35-2) won the Class 6A 138-pound title Saturday after winning at 144 pounds last season.
And Pike Road’s Cody Kirk (52-3) captured the 190-pound title in a very difficult bout with Jasper’s Carter Reed. He won in 2024 at 157 pounds.
CLASS 7A
Â鶹´«Ã½ High School’s popular Simon twin brothers, Kiyan and Yanik, swept individual titles in the Class 7A 120 and 150-pound weight divisions. Kiyan (33-1) won with a technical fall at 2:38 with a 20-4 lead. Yanik (32-0) finished undefeated for the second straight year as he repeated as 150-pound champ with a technical fall win at the 4:00 mark of his finals with Daphne’s Toby Hymel. What made the double championships so special to Â鶹´«Ã½ followers is that the brothers lost their home in fire recently, but it didn’t derail their goals of winning state wrestling titles.
Class 1A-5A Girls’ Championship Match Results
100 pounds: Avalena Williamson, Cleburne Co. (34-0), 7th d. Nya Johannson, Weaver (33-9), 7th, (12-1, MD)
107 pounds: Ali Anderson, Weaver (27-3), So., p. Madelynn King, Arab (25-5), Jr., (Fall: 1:31)
114 pounds: Jaylee Carter, Weaver (37-3), So., P. Alondra Chavero, Saks (23-65), Sr. ((Fall: 1:24)
120 pounds: Havah Standridge, Deshler (29-1), Fr., d. Abbigail Carwile, Tallassee (25-10), Fr. (tech fall: 2:46 / 17-1)
126 pounds: Ashlyn Coleman, Weaver (32-8), 8th, d. Amylia Thomas, Montevallo (18-1), So. (dec. 8-1)
132 pounds: Mariah Johannson, Weaver (35-3), Fr., d. Blakeley Baggett, Montevallo (18-4), Jr. (Fall: 1:29)
138 pounds: Katrina Poe, Leeds (29-2), Sr., p. Kallie Mayfield, Weaver (35-6), Sr. (Fall: 4:30)
145 pounds: Lena Johannson, Weaver (39-0), Sr., d. Falon Curvin, Cleburne County (23-4), So. (tech fall: 2:00 / 15-0)
152 pounds: Katie Lowe, St. John Paul II (31-6), So., p. Madisyn Fuller, Fultondale (39-2), Jr. (Fall: 3:10)
165 pounds: Heaven Bishop, Weaver (28-8), 8th, p. Emerald Hunter, Alexandria (33-10), So. (Fall: 3:39)
185 pounds: Baleigh Brown, Weaver (27-4), Jr. d. Mende McWilliams, East Limestone (24-15), Fr. (dec. 7-0)
235 pounds: Niya Turner, Arab (28-1), So. p. Anabelle Hilburn, Piedmont (28-4), Sr. (Fall: 1:04)
Class 6A-7A Girls’ Championship Results
100 pounds: Kelsey Seigler, Thompson (36-6), Jr. d. Alanah Girard, Daphne (45-4), So. (dec. 4-3)
107 pounds: McKenzie Nguyen, Daphne (28-8), Fr. d. Molly Seidman, Auburn (47-4), Jr. (dec. 10-7)
114 pounds: Juliana Eldridge, Wetumpka (35-0) d. Kaydence Seigler, Thompson (34-4, Jr., (MD 11-0)
120 pounds: Lynleigh Weltzin, Thompson (33-10), Jr., d. Jessalynn Allen, Grissom (30-1), Jr., (dec. 8-7)
126 pounds: Kalyse Hill, Daphne (41-1), Sr., d. Rin Curtis, Bob Jones (27-4), Fr. (MD 11-1)
132 pounds: Kimber Alford, Daphne (41-3), So. p. Bianca Hart, Buckhorn (39-3), Jr. (Fall: 1:09)
138 pounds: Evelyn Holmes-Smith, Enterprise (32-1), Sr., d. Aenaya Vines, Thompson (37-5), So. (tech fall: 5:23/ 16-1).
145 pounds: Elizabeth Rosenstiel, Thompson, (42-1), Jr., p. Annabella Harris, Daphne (34-6), Jr. (Fall: 1:49)
152 pounds: MacKenzie Schultz, Enterprise (33-3), Jr. p. Talita Vas, Thompson (27-9), Jr. (Fall: 0:56)
165 pounds: Taliah Wade, Daphne (39-9), So., p. Kalea Loving, Sparkman (37-3), Jr. (Fall: 3:16)
185 pounds: Mallory Ladd, Enterprise 35-0), Sr. p. Ava Nguyen, Thompson (43-10), Sr. (Fall: 2:30)
235 pounds: Khloe Henshaw, Gulf Shores (39-4), Fr. p. Gissell Trejo, Thompson (29-18), Fr. (Fall 1:33)
Class 1A-4A Boys’ Championship Results
106 pounds: Thomas Patterson, Tallassee (50-2), So. d. Jeremy Lambert, Alexandria (39-4), Fr. (MD 13-5)
113 pounds: Mason Nelson, Tallassee (52-2), Sr. d. Ryker Houston, Alexandria (59-8), 7th, (17-2, TF 2:38)
120 pounds: Noah Rains, St. James (42-2), So., p. Micah Woodman, Oak Grove (40-6), Fr. (FALL: 0:51)
126 pounds: David Hill, Oak Grove (51-0) p. Mason Hahm, White Plains (31-1), Sr. (Fall: 3:00)
132 pounds: Haiden Hise, Weaver (43-9), Fr. d. Drake Wood, Reeltown (39-3), Fr. (MD 11-3)
138 pounds: Brody Hayes, T.R. Miller (40-0) d. Nathan Cox, Madison County (51-3), Sr. (dec. 11-6)
144 pounds: Michael Yafondo, Fultondale (57-3), Sr., p. Julian Lowe, St. John Paul II (66-5), Sr. (Fall: 2:44)
150 pounds: Land Bell, Tallassee (57-0), Sr. p. Ethan Jones, Oak Grove (40-6), Jr. (Fall: 2:39)
157 pounds: Austen Mayfield, Cleburne Co. (42-0), Sr. p. Andrew Young, Cherokee County (39-3), Sr. (Fall: 3:13)
165 pounds: Tra`mel McCoy, Tallassee (45-4) d. Dylan Brown, Weaver (44-9), Fr. (dec. 12-6)
175 pounds: Tyler, Ebner, Ashville (46-1), Sr. p. Pruitt Conner, St. James (33-1), Sr. (Fall: 1:32)
190 pounds: Layton Pohl, New Hope (43-0), Jr., d. Zachary Crosthwait, Tallassee (53-1), Sr. (dec. 11-6)
215 pounds: Nolan Addeo, Tallassee (48-2), Jr., d. Noah Breeland, Bayside Academy (14-3), Jr. (MD 14-2).
285 pounds: Brandon Jolliff, Weaver (46-7), Sr., d. Devin Bragg, Reeltown (29-2), Jr. (dec. 9-6)
Class 5A Boys’ Championship Results
106 pounds: Parker Van noy, Beauregard (54-3)dec. Elliott Harris, Leeds (40-4), 7th, (dec. 6-2)
113 pounds: Sean Bianca, Leeds (36-0), Sr., p. Gage Staton, Scottsboro (25-3), 8th, (Fall: 5:21)
120 pounds: Cole Snyder, Scottsboro (22-2), Sr., d. Brice Patrick, Arab (28-5), So. (dec. 7-0)
126 pounds: Stone Staton, Scottsboro (25-1), Jr., d. Karson Poe, Moody (28-7), So. (MD 11-2)
132 pounds: Nick Sykes, Shelby County 60-1), Sr. p. Colby Silva, Arab (32-3), Jr. (Fall: 5:22)
138 pounds: Hudson Best, Hayden (40-5) d. Jaxon Ivey, Arab (35-7), Jr. (dec. 10-7)
144 pounds: John Stewart, Scottsboro (32-0), Jr. p. Dylan Farris, Holtville (35-20), Jr. (Fall: 1:04)
150 pounds: Reese Thorn, Beauregard (60-5) p. Josh Draskovic, Scottsboro (29-3), Sr. (Fall: 2:13)
157 pounds: Tyler Payton, Elmore County (28-1), So., d. Bryson Millwood, Corner (49-9), Jr. (dec. 8-5)
165 pounds: Drew Adams, Montevallo (27-3), So., p. Brody Patrick, Arab (27-2), So. (Fall: 3:25)
175 pounds: Xander Shook, Shelby County (42-4), Sr., p. Troy Thomas, Corner (41-8), Jr. (Fall: 5:00)
190 pounds: Isaac Orear, Hayden (33-2), Sr. p. Alex Plaia, John Carroll Catholic (21-4), Jr. (Fall: 3:24)
215 pounds: Luke Calfee, Scottsboro (29-1), Sr., d. Landon McKendree, Springville (27-7), Sr. (dec. 4-0)
285 pounds: Kalub Blanding, Hayden (34-3), Sr. d. Jordan McKinney, Corner (29-6), Sr. (Fall: 2:58)
Class 6A Boys’ Championship Results
106 pounds: Eli Carter, Southside (32-3), Fr. dec. Abel Brantley, Gulf Shores (41-9), So., (8-5)
113 pounds: Dylan Yarema, Pike Road (51-4), Fr., d. Cal-el White, Saraland (29-10), Jr. (MD 9-0)
120 pounds: Gage Roberts, Hartselle (46-2), Sr., d. Lakin Poff, Athens (21-11), So. (dec. 9-2)
126 pounds: Coreu Powe, Gardendale (43-1), So., d. Stephen Springfield, Mountain Brook (45-8), Sr. (dec. 5-3)
132 pounds: Davis Smith, Mountain Brook (37-7), So. d. Justin Harbin, Brookwood (19-1), Jr. (dec. 8-1)
138 pounds: Jaxon Unger, Athens (35-2), Jr., d. Myers Duncan, Pike Road (47-5), Sr. (dec. 10-4)
144 pounds: Will Anderson, Athens (9-0), Sr., d. Bill Bradford, Mountain Brook (40-9), So. (tech fall: 2:10 / 17-0)
150 pounds: Jacob Doshier, Hartselle (57-7), Sr. d. Carter Campbell, Athens (33-8), Jr. (dec. 3-1)
157 pounds: Bradley Williams, Spain Park (54-0), Jr. p. Charles Knight, Gulf Shores (47-11), Jr. (Fall: 2:23)
165 pounds: Austin Campbell, Athens (30-2), So. d. Cruz Rainwater, Mortimer Jordan (37-2) (dec. 2-0)
175 pounds: Damarcus Powe, Gardendale (51-0), Sr. d. Mason Hussey, Pike Road (35-2), Sr. (MD 16-5)
190 pounds: Cody Kirk, Pike Road (52-3), Sr. d. Carter Reed, Jasper (48-4), Sr. (MD 12-3)
215 pounds: Porter Schott, Chelsea (43-1), Jr., d. Jameson Falciani, Hartselle (51-2), Sr. (dec. 5-4)
285 pounds: Dominic Sager, Stanhope Elmore (36-9), So, p. Gage Beyke, Gardendale (32-2) Sr. (Fall: 4:26)
Class 7A Boys’ Championship Results
106 pounds: Braylen Johnson, Thompson (22-9), Fr. dec. Ryan McKelvey, Vestavia Hills (37-9), So. (tech fall: 4:12 / 21-5)
113 pounds: Eli Sanders, Smiths Station (41-1), So., d. Matthew Campbell, Vestavia Hills (24-4), 8th, (15-4, MD)
120 pounds: Kiyan Simon, Â鶹´«Ã½ (33-1), Sr., d. Griffin Gardner, Oak Mountain (42-10), Fr. (tech fall: 2:23 / 20-4)
126 pounds: Trey Denny, Oak Mountain (52-5) d. Stone Phillips, Vestavia Hills (29-2-1 ), Jr. (SV-1 7-4)
132 pounds: Kameron Stiffler, Enterprise (60-4), Sr., d. Aiden Morris, Vestavia Hills (25-4) Sr. (dec. 13-9)
138 pounds: Jordan Weltzin, Thompson (48-9), Sr. Kaden Clark, Bob Jones (36-4), Fr. (dec. 5-0)
144 pounds: Grier Hunt, Enterprise (50-3), Sr., d. Quinn Ivey, Oak Mountain (16-3), Jr. (dec. 10-9)
150 pounds: Yanik Simon, Â鶹´«Ã½ (32-0), Sr. d. Toby Hymel, Daphne (44-5), Sr. (tech fall: 4:00 / 17-1)
157 pounds: Kiowa Vines, Thompson (31-5), Sr. p. Sean Lydon, Sparkman (44-4), Jr. (Fall: 1:45)
165 pounds: Jaiden Moore, Thompson (43-9), Sr., d. Kody Sigmon, Enterprise (42-10), Sr. (dec. 10-4)
175 pounds: Brady Campbell, Opelika (50-1), Sr. d. Andrew Sullivan, Vestavia Hills (24-), Sr. (dec. 3-0)
190 pounds: Delvecchio Alston, Hewitt-Trussville (25-3), Jr. d. Gavin Whiteside, Enterprise (43-6), Jr. (MD 12-2)
215 pounds: Blake Christian, Tuscaloosa County (47-3), Sr. d. Xerxes Ellison, Smiths Station (39-4), Jr. (dec. 7-2)
285 pounds: Sammy Grimes, Bob Jones (37-6), Sr. p. Rodney English, Hoover (27-6), Sr. (Fall: 1:21)
