Thompson High captures the AHSAA State Wrestling Class 7A title

Thompson High is the champion of AHSAA Class 7A wrestling once again.

The Warriors claimed the Class 7A team title on Saturday in the AHSAA State Wrestling Championships at the Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville. Thompson had 120 team points to outdistance Central Phenix City (93 points), Oak Mountain (84.5 points), Hewitt-Trussville (77 points) and Vestavia Hills (77 points). It was Thompson’s first state title since 2015 and the program’s sixth overall.

Four Thompson wrestlers – juniors Gabe Hixenbaugh, Dylan Lesueur and Chandler Akins and senior Seth Whitlock - captured state championships. Sophomore Emmanuel Oliver finished second and sophomore Alex Ward finished fourth.

Hixenbaugh became the 21st wrestler in Alabama history to capture four state championships. His latest came in the 132-pound division when he won by a 3-2 decision over Maxwell Kauffman of Central Phenix City.

Akins won his second successive state title. On Saturday, he held off Mark Hurt of Central Phenix City at 126 pounds. Akins sealed the 3-0 decision with a late takedown.

Lesueur was the first Thompson wrestler to win a title, beating Adrien Neco of Central Phenix City, 1-0, in the 106-pound division.

Whitlock completed an impressive march through the 285-pound decision with a victory over Camron Hill of Montgomery Lee.

Undefeated Tyler Ivey of Grissom High stopped Oliver, 5-1, in the 113-pound championship match.