By Rubin E. Grant
Jude Smith has been an eyewitness to the transformation of Mountain Brook’s wrestling program from little more than an afterthought to a state champion.
He not only has had a bird’s eye view but has been a participant on the mat. “We’ve been building the culture on the team for a while,” says Smith, a senior. “I was in the eighth grade when I joined the varsity, and the team has transformed, not only the guys on the team, but the seniors showing the younger guys what it’s all about. We’ve had more guys wrestling in the offseason, and that’s been helping our success.
The success has been stunning. On Jan. 25, Mountain Brook won its third consecutive AHSAA Class 6A Wrestling Duals title, routing Athens 54-21 in the championship match of the 2025 tournament at the Birmingham CrossPlex’s Bill Harris Arena.
“It was just a rush of excitement,” Smith says. “It’s great to have my senior year end with a three-peat and know the work we put in resulted in a victory.”
When the Spartans won the 2023 Duals title, it was the school’s first state wrestling title of any kind ever. The Spartans finished this duals season 19-0 and have won 31 consecutive dual matches the past two seasons. Smith won his 177-pound match in the finals with a 9-1 majority decision against Athens’ Bryce Schwan.
The Spartans recorded seven pins among their 10 wins against the Golden Eagles (12-2). Bobby Rutkoff won his 108-pound match with a pin in just 20 seconds. Wyatt Chavez followed by pinning his opponent in the 115-pound match in 29 seconds. At the other end of the scale, Daniel Ellis won the 287-pound bout with a pin in 31 seconds.
Mountain Brook reached the duals finals with a hard-fought 39-30 victory over Gardendale in the semifinals, while Athens beat Pike Road 45-28. “It was incredible, winning three in a row and achieving that milestone,” Mountain Brook coach Justin Ransom says. “It’s a true testament to the hard work and dedication of our wrestlers. We had to overcome a lot of adversity this season with guys being injured. The semifinals and finals were the healthiest we’ve been all season. Our guys came out with their foot on the gas and didn’t let off of it.”
On Feb. 13-15 in Huntsville, the Spartans attempted to successfully defend their 2024 crown in the AHSAA traditional state tournament.
AHSAA Wrestling Duals Championships
Class 6A Duals Finals
Mountain Brook 54, Athens 21
108 pounds: Bobby Rutkoff (Mountain Brook) pinned Preston Davidson (Athens) Fall 0:20
115 pounds: Wyatt Chavez (Mountain Brook) pinned Brylynn Brite (Athens) Fall 0:29
122 pounds: David Newell (Mountain Brook) dec. Brice Emery (Athens) TF 18-1
128: pounds: Stephen Springfield (Mountain Brook) pinned Lakin Poff (Athens) Fall 5:14
134 pounds: Davis Smith (Mountain Brook) pinned Camden Fielder (Athens) Fall 5:01
140 pounds: Jaxon Unger (Athens) dec. Christopher Brown (Mountain Brook) TF 22-5
146 pounds: Will Anderson (Athens) pinned Matthew Mccain (Mountain Brook) Fall 2:42
152 pounds: Bill Bradford (Mountain Brook) dec. Carter Campbell (Athens) Dec 11-9
159 pounds: Jack Abenoja (Mountain Brook) pinned Zack Mitchell (Athens) Fall 3:09
167 pounds: Austin Campbell (Athens) dec. Beckett Smith (Mountain Brook) Maj 13-0
177 pounds: Jude Smith (Mountain Brook) dec. Bryce Schwan (Athens) Maj 9-1
192 pounds: Stuart Andrews (Mountain Brook) pinned Halston Barker (Athens) Fall 0:33
217 pounds: Braylon Young (Athens) won by forfeit
287 pounds: Daniel Ellis (Mountain Brook) pinned Pratt Johnsey (Athens) Fall 0:31
CLASS 6A Semifinals
Mountain Brook 39, Gardendale 30
108 pounds: Bobby Rutkoff, Mountain Brook pinned Jon Boone, Gardendale, Fall 1:46
115 pounds: Wyatt Chavez, Mountain Brook won by forfeit
122 pounds: David Newell, Mountain Brook pinned Triston Buckelew, Gardendale, Fall 4:58
128 pounds; Corey Powe, Gardendale dec. Stephen Springfield, Mountain Brook, Dec 10-6
134 pounds: Davis Smith, Mountain Brook pinned Isaac Jones, Gardendale, Fall 0:45
140 pounds: Christopher Brown, Mountain Brook dec. Parker, Gardendale, TF 20-3
146 pounds: Bill Bradford, Mountain Brook, pinned Connor Howell, Gardendale, Fall 0:38
152 pounds: Gibbs Watson, Mountain Brook dec. Joe Brasseal, Gardendale, Maj 11-1
159 pounds: Cody Wood, Gardendale dec. Jack Abenoja, Mountain Brook, Dec 11-9
167 pounds: Brady Brooks, Gardendale won by forfeit
177 pounds: Damarcus Powe, Gardendale won by forfeit
192 pounds: Jackson Stanford, Gardendale won by forfeit
217 pounds: Broc Righter, Gardendale dec. Will Ellis, Mountain Brook, SV-1 9-6
287 pounds: Gage Beyke, Gardendale dec. Daniel Ellis, Mountain Brook, Dec 4-1
Vestavia Loses in a Heartbreaker
Vestavia Hills suffered a heartbreaking defeat against Huntsville in the Class 7A Duals finals in the Rebels’ quest for their first duals title since 2017.
The Rebels (10-2), coached by Monterrious “Tee” Adams, defeated Daphne 57-17 in the semifinals, and the Panthers (22-3), coached by Patrick Harris, beat Enterprise 43-24 in the other semifinal.
Advancing to the championship, the two wrestling powers battled to a 32-32 tie after all 14 matches concluded. That sent the contest into a tiebreaker, which was settled due to a penalty point being assessed to a Vestavia Hills wrestler for unsportsmanlike conduct after his match concluded.
A point was deducted from the point total per NFHS wrestling rules, and in the tiebreaker that applied, which weighs the team with the most penalty points. Huntsville had none and Vestavia Hills one, which gave the Panthers a point that broke the tie and handed them their third consecutive 7A title.
In the final match, Vestavia Hills had three wins by pin, the fastest registered by 108-pounder Ryan McKelvey at 1:55 of his match against Jackson Woolsey. Huntsville 152-pounder Yanik Simon won his match over Nate Williams with a pin in just 24 seconds. The Panthers also won a bout with a major decision and to technical fall. Each team had seven wins.
Vestavia Hills had two very quick pins in its victory over Daphne in the semifinals. Andrew Sullivan needed just 42 seconds to win his match at 177 pounds. Aidan Morris won his 134-pound bout with a pin at 1:19.
Class 7A Duals Finals
Huntsville 33, Vestavia Hills 32
108 pounds: Ryan McKelvey, Vestavia Hills pins Jackson Woolsey, Huntsville, Fall 1:55
115 pounds: Matthew Campbell, Vestavia Hills dec. Elias Steely, Huntsville, Maj 15-3
122 pounds: Kiyan Simon, Huntsville pins John Junkin, Vestavia Hills, Fall 2:32
128 pounds: Cordell Lee, Huntsville dec. Stone Phillips (Vestavia Hills, SV-1 6-3
134 pounds: Aidan Morris, Vestavia Hills pins Joseph Sowell, Huntsville, Fall 0:28
140 pounds: Charles Noto, Vestavia Hills dec. Joshua Abrams, Huntsville, Dec 3-2
146 pounds: Colyn Finley, Vestavia Hills over Nate Williams, Huntsville, Dec 5-1
152 pounds: Yanik Simon, Huntsville pinned Walker Hogue, Vestavia Hills, Fall 0:24
159 pounds: Bo Reynolds, Huntsville over Grayer Manown, Vestavia Hills, Dec 5-3
167 pounds: Chalie Sledge, Huntsville over Owen Wilbanks’ Vestavia Hills, Maj 11-3
177 pounds: Andrew Sullivan, Vestavia Hills dec. Brandon Bethea, Huntsville, TF 16-1
192 pounds: Cooper Cook, Vestavia Hills pinned Gavin Robkin, Huntsville, Fall 3:31
217 pounds: Jason Brown, Huntsville dec. Luke Merrill, Vestavia Hills, TF 19-4
287 pounds: Zachary Teter, Huntsville dec. Jay West, Vestavia Hills, TF 15-0
Vestavia Hills’s team score was adjusted by -1.0 for unsportsmanlike conduct
Class 7A Semifinals
Vestavia Hills 57, Daphne 17
108 pounds: Ryan McKelvey, Vestavia Hills dec. Jackson McGivney, Daphne, TF 17-1
115 pounds: Micah Swiger, Daphne won by forfeit
122 pounds: John Junkin, Vestavia Hills pinned Tobyas Boyett, Daphne, Fall 3:55
128 pounds: Stone Phillips, Vestavia Hills dec. Jamison McGivney, Daphne, TF 19-3
134 pounds: Aidan Morris,Vestavia Hills pinned Mason Varn, Daphne, Fall 1:19
140 pounds: Charles Noto (Vestavia Hills) pinned Kaiden Deleon, Daphne, Fall 2:18
146 pounds: Colyn Finley (Vestavia Hills) dec. Jacob Sweet, Daphne, TF 18-0
152 pounds: Toby Hymel, Daphne pinned Walker Hogue, Vestavia Hills, Fall 1:58
159 pounds: Grayer Manown (Vestavia Hills) dec. Clayton Williams, Daphne, Dec 7-1
167 pounds: Owen Wilbanks, Vestavia Hills dec. Kohwen Kirkpatrick, Daphne, Dec 11-8
177 pounds: Andrew Sullivan, Vestavia Hills pinned Levi Hoots, Daphne, Fall 0:42
192 pounds: Cooper Cook, Vestavia Hills won by Forfeit
217 pounds: Colton Rainer, Daphne dec. Luke Merrill, Vestavia Hills, TF 20-2
287 pounds: John David Livingston, Vestavia Hills pinned Marquaes Lambert, Daphne, Fall 3:54
