Tigers qualify three for state

By By Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
ARAB - Hartselle wrestlers Ethan Hamilton, Kyle Davis and David Filiatrault earned spots in the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s state wrestling championships with solid performances in the Class 5A, Section 2 tournament at Arab High School.
The 2009 state tournament opens Thursday at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville. The Class 5A matches begin Friday with all finals scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
Hamilton won his weight class, while Davis and Filiatrault both finished second.
The three Hartselle wrestlers will go into their first-round matches Friday as favorites, but Styles warns they must guard against overconfidence. “I think our competition in the North is a lot tougher than in the South,” Styles said. “Again, when you get to this stage, you’re talking about the four best wrestlers from that section. There are no automatics.”
Hamilton won the 171-pound weight class to advance to the state tournament for the third straight year. He finished the sectional with three wins, including two by pin.
He defeated Fort Payne’s Nick Stone in the sectional final with a pin in the second period.
The senior improved to 28-4 with the wins. He leads the Tigers with 21 pins.
In the state tournament, Hamilton will open against Erwin’s Roderick Hubbard, a fourth seed.
Davis, who finished second in the state last year, was second in the sectional after losing to Scottsboro’s David Gonder in the 130-pound final.
Davis - now 23-9 with 14 pins - is making his fourth straight appearance in the state tournament. He’ll open in the state tournament against third-seeded Curtis Crooks of Chelsea.
Godner will be in the opposite bracket and the two wouldn’t meet until the finals.
Filiatrault, who will be making his first career appearance in the state tournament, reached the final in the 189-pound weight class before being pinned by Fort Payne’s Dillian Hilyer.
Filiatrault is 18-11 overall with 13 pins. He opened the sectional tournament by pinning his opponent before adding a decision to reach the championship.
Hartselle had two wrestlers win matches in the sectional, but neither advanced to the state tournament. Matt Watson went 1-2 in the 103-pound weight class, while Zach Hill was 1-2 with a pin at 145.
Scottsboro won the section title with 237 points. The Wildcats, three-time defending Class 5A state champions, qualified 12 wrestlers in 14 weight classes.
Southside had 13 wrestlers qualify for the state tournament, while Arab had 10 advance.