Four boys and five girls from Bossier Parish schools advanced to the championship semifinals of their respective weight classes in the LHSAA Wrestling State Tournament Friday at the Brookshire Grocery Arena.
Boys advancing were Airline’s Michael Finders (120 pounds), Parkway’s Larry Davis (165), Benton’s Cooper Reagan (175) and Airline’s Danon Walker (215).
Girls advancing were Benton’s Julia Raymond (107 pounds), Haughton’s Natalie Davis (120), Benton’s Caylee Brammer (120), Benton’s Audrina Wade (132) and Benton’s Keira Liesch (138).
The parish will have at least one wrestler in the girls division wrestling for a title. Davis and Brammer face off in the semifinals. Both pinned their two opponents Friday.
Airline’s Finders and Parkway’s Brayden Lobrano went head-to-head in the quarterfinals. It was a nailbiter.
Finders, the No. 1 seed, took a 1-0 lead in the second period with an escape. Lobrano tied it with an escape in the third. The match went to overtime and Finders won with an escape 17 seconds in.
Lobrano then won his only consolation match and has a chance to reach the awards stand as a top-six finisher.
Walker, the No. 2 seed, had a dominating performance in his weight class, pinning all three of his opponents in 50 seconds or less.
Larry Davis, the No. 4 seed, won his three matches by technical fall, major decision and technical fall.
Reagan was also dominant, pinning his first two opponents and winning his quarterfinal match by a technical fall.
Parkway’s Dylan Mesloh lost his first-round match in the 215-pound class then won four matches in consolation to stay alive.
Other parish wrestlers who still have a chance to make the awards stand in Division I are Airline’s Jackson Larkins (106), Benton’s Jack McGuire (138), Benton’s Camden Robinson (144) and Haughton’s Brogen Dodd (215).
In the girls 107-pound class, Raymond pinned two opponents to reach the semifinals.
Wade pinned her first opponent then defeated the second by technical fall.
Liesch pinned her only opponent after receiving a bye in the first round.
Parkway’s Heidi Stoute (100), Bossier’s A’Zerriana Jones (107) and Jyrah Hickham (235) will also be on the awards stand.
Baton Rouge High leads the history-making girls division with 105.5 points. Lafayette is second with 90.5. Benton is fifth with 55.5.
Brother Martin leads Division I with 170.5 points. Jesuit is second with 164.5. Parkway is 13th with 76.5, Benton 15th with 75 and Airline 19th with 55.5.
Teurlings Catholic leads Division II with 173 points. St. Thomas Moore is second with 133.5.
Basile leads Division III with 120 points. John Curtis Christian is second with 106.5.
Session II starts Saturday at 10 a.m. with the boys semifinal matches.
The sixth round of consolation matches in all boys divisions start at noon. The consolation place winners will be decided from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Semifinal and consolation matches in the girls division will also be held in Session II.
Session III, which features the championship matches, starts at 5.