Submitted photo
Southside High School senior Jacob Dease (pictured above) won his third state championship last Saturday (Feb. 20) at the Class 5A/6A state wrestling tournament at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville.
Dease, who won state titles as a freshman and sophomore before missing most of last season with an arm injury, posted a 5-2 decision over Jasper’s Manley Havis in the 132-pound division.
In the semifinals, Dease defeated Satsuma’s William Walker by an 8-2 decision. Dease was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler after defeating three defending state champions. He finished the season with a 51-5 record.
Davis, who was the defending state champion in the Class 1A-5A 170-pound division, lost a 7-2 decision to Wetumpka’s Mason Blackwell in the 182-pound weight class. Davis earned a spot in the final by edging Gardendale’s Kennedy Wyatt, 8-7, in the semifinal round. Davis finished the season at 46-4.
Also medaling for Southside were Dathan Finley, who placed fifth at 170 pounds, and C.J. Butler, who took sixth place at 126 pounds. Finley was the state runner-up last season in the Class 1A-5A 152-pound division.
The Panthers finished in eighth place overall.