Daphne’s Alanah Girard Makes History at AHSAA State Wrestling Championships
HUNTSVILLE, AL – The 80th AHSAA State Wrestling Championships kicked off Thursday at the Von Braun Center, with history being made in the tournament’s opening match. Alanah Girard, a sophomore from Daphne High School, pinned Saraland eighth-grader Paola Alvarez just 39 seconds into their bout. This marked the first official girls’ state championship match in AHSAA history.
Girls’ Wrestling Becomes an Official AHSAA Championship Sport
While girls have competed in the AHSAA State Championships in the past, this year marks the official inauguration of a girls-only division. The milestone is a reflection of years of effort from coaches and athletes, including pioneers like seniors Evelyn Holmes-Smith (Enterprise) and Lena Johannson (Weaver), who competed against boys and paved the way for hundreds of young female wrestlers.
Holmes-Smith (41-1), an All-American, dominated in her Class 6A/7A 138-pound match with a pin at 1:47. Johannson (37-0) continued her perfect season with a 20-second pin in the Class 1A/5A division. Girls’ wrestling has grown significantly over four years, transitioning from an emerging sport to a fully recognized AHSAA championship.
Team Scores After Day One
- Class 1A/5A Girls’ Standings: Weaver led with 38 points, followed by Alexandria (18), Arab (16), Montevallo, and Piedmont.
- Class 6A/7A Girls’ Standings: Daphne and Thompson shared the lead with 28 points each, ahead of Enterprise (14), Central-Phenix City (12), and Gulf Shores (10).
Boys’ Competition Highlights
The boys’ tournament also brought excitement as it continued a legacy that began in 1956. Day one featured standout performances in all classifications:
- Class 1A/4A Standings: Tallassee took an early lead with 89 points, ahead of three-time defending champions Weaver (72.5) and Alexandria (62.5).
- Class 5A: Scottsboro led with 35.5 points, followed by Hayden (23) and Arab (20).
- Class 6A: Mountain Brook, last year’s 6A champions, led with 70 points, ahead of Gulf Shores (62.5) and Athens (61).
- Class 7A: Thompson claimed the top spot with 84 points, just ahead of Vestavia Hills (82) and Huntsville (62.5).
Milestone Achievement for Pike Road’s Cody Kirk
Pike Road’s Cody Kirk reached a major career milestone in the Class 6A 190-pound division. Kirk (48-3) earned his 250th career victory with a 22-5 major decision over Mae Jemison’s Keyonne Rogers.
“It feels awesome,” Kirk said. “My goal is to win the state championship—that’s my main goal.” The senior, who started wrestling in seventh grade, advanced to Friday’s quarterfinals.
Unbeaten Wrestlers Shine Across Weight Classes
Several undefeated wrestlers remained dominant on Thursday:
- Class 1A/4A: Tallassee’s Mason Nelson (113 lbs.) won with a pin in 14 seconds. Teammate Land Bell (157 lbs.) advanced with a 55-0 record, chasing his third consecutive title.
- Class 5A: Leeds’ Sean Bianca (113 lbs.) maintained a flawless 34-0 record, while Scottsboro’s John Stewart (144 lbs.) secured a rapid 16-second pin.
- Class 6A: Gardendale’s Demarcus Poe (175 lbs.) extended his streak to 49-0 with two pins, while Spain Park’s Bradley Williams (157 lbs.) kept his 106-match win streak alive.
- Class 7A: Vestavia Hills’ Stone Phillips (126 lbs.) advanced with two wins, while Huntsville’s Yanik Simon (150 lbs.) remained undefeated at 36-0.
Looking Ahead
The action resumes Friday at 10 a.m. with consolation quarterfinals across all divisions. Wrestling will culminate on Saturday, with placement matches in the morning and championship finals beginning at noon. All matches are streamed live on the NFHS Network’s subscription-based platform.
Stay tuned for updates as the AHSAA Wrestling Championships continue to showcase Alabama’s top high school talent.
FEATURED IMAGE: Daphne’s Alana Girard lands first match win and first pin as Girls’ Wrestling opens its first sanctioned AHSAA State Championship Meet. (AHSAA PHOTO | David Holtsford)
