City wrestling tournament returns after 18-year absence, Brother Martin takes team title

Pat Mashburn, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune, February 02, 2013 4:45 p.m.

Holy Cross' Collin Guerra faces off against Quinn Perret of St. Paul's in an earlier bout in the 126-pound class. - (Pat Mashburn, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

The New Orleans City High School Wrestling tournament is back for the first time since 1995 and not only are area coaches excited about its return, they are ready to make it an annual event.

Brother Martin staked its claim to the team title, placing a finalist in each of the 14 weight classes, and scoring 275.5 points to emerge victorious.

Altogether, the Crusaders won 10 weight class titles to finish ahead of Jesuit (199), Holy Cross (114), Fontainebleau (86), John Ehret (58), Thomas Jefferson (42.5), Mandeville (36), De La Salle (33.5), Rummel (33), and Shaw (32).

Many current coaches competed in the tournament as wrestlers, including Brother Martin Coach Robbie Dauterive and Eric Desormeaux of Holy Cross, and they hope there will be many more future.

“The city tournament was a big deal when I was wrestling in high school,” Dauterive said. “If we keep it where it is in the season, I think it can be very big again.”

Crusaders winning weight class titles included Taylor Gambill (113), Paul Klein (120), Mason Williams (132), Dominic Casadaban (138), Tyler Robertson (145), Patrick Hoppe (160), Kyle Delaune (170), Yehia Riles (195), Joshua Tapia (220), and Ross Brister (285).

Riles met Fontainebleau’s Daniel Priola in the championship, and it took every ounce of concentration to emerge with the win after Priola had reached the final with an upset over Holy Cross’ Daniel Relayson, ranked third in the All-New Orleans area weight class rankings.

“Last week I was sick and only had two days of practice,” Riles said. “I just had to get my body up more on Thursday and Friday. I had wrestled Priola in the Louisiana Classics and knew he was a strong wrestler. I knew he was going to be difficult, and had to do my best.”

Jesuit’s Nicky Charles earned the first weight class title, competing in the 106-pound class as he outlasted Brother Martin’s Mason Mauro, The two are very familiar with each other, and boiled down to a mismatch change in strategy which turned the tables. “He was really tough and strong in neutral, and always pushing the engagement,” Charles said. “I realized I had to push the engagement if I wanted to win the match.”

In the 126-pound class, John Ehret’s Stefon Foster defeated top ranked Austin Meyn on a 3-2 decision in what proved to be an emotional victory. With little margin for error, both competitors were on even footing for much of the match. “He was a very strong upper body wrestler, so I stayed back and waited for the shot, taking them when I had the chance,” Foster said. “I was thinking that I had to wrestle smart and do what was necessary to win. Before the match, my coach told me he was proud of me no matter what happened.”

Team Standings - 1. Brother Martin; 2. Jesuit, 199; 3. Holy Cross, 114; 4. Fontainebleau, 86; 5. John Ehret, 58; 6. Thomas Jefferson, 42.5; 7. Mandeville, 36; 8. De La Salle, 33.5; 9. Rummel, 33; 10. Shaw, 32; 11. St. Paul’s, 29; 12. Chalmette, 25; 13. Destrehan, 24.5; 14. Fisher, 22; 15. South Plaquemines, 18; 16. Pearl River, 12; 17. Holy Rosary, 9; 18. Hahnville, 6; 19. Helen Cox, 3.5

Individual Weight Class Final Standings

106 - 1. Nicky Charles, Jesuit; 2. Mason Mauro, Brother Martin; 3. Beau Bush, Holy Cross; 4. Logan Griffin, Thomas Jefferson

113 - 1. Taylor Gambill, Brother Martin; 2. Peyton Markey, Jesuit; 3. Spencer Savoie, Thomas Jefferson; 4. Troy Bourgeois, Fisher

120 - 1. Paul Klein, Brother Martin; 2. Dano Miller, Chalmette; 3. Zach Lawson, Fontainebleau; 4. Max Grosch, Jesuit

126 - 1. Stefon Foster, John Ehret; 2. Austin Meyn, Brother Martin; 3. Collin Guerra, Holy Cross; 4. Gabriel Geer, Fontainebleau

132 - 1. Mason Williams, Brother Martin; 2. Jackie Robinson, Jesuit; 3. Michael Hart, Fontainebleau; 4. Cameron Bertot, Shaw

138 - 1. Dominic Casadaban, Brother Martin; 2. Gaston Eymard, Jesuit; 3. Brent Matherne, Thomas Jefferson; 4. Justin Kass, Pearl River

145 - 1. Tyler Robertson, Brother Martin; 2. Efosa Egoigbe, Jesuit; 3. Jack Fontenot, John Ehret; 4. Darby Fabre, Fisher

152 - 1. Alex Martin, De La Salle; 2. Jordan Wright, Brother Martin; 3. Ashton Queyrouze, Jesuit; 4. Derron Harris, John Ehret

160 - 1. Patrick Hoppe, Brother Martin; 2. Brice Duhe, Holy Cross; 3. Guy Patron, Jesuit; 4. Josh Gauthe, Destrehan

170 - 1. Kyle Delaune, Brother Martin, 2; Jack Ingalls, Mandeville; 3. Collin Kersker, St. Paul’s; 4. Jimmy Brown, Jesuit

182 - 1. Gage Grush, Jesuit; 2. Daniel Albrecht, Brother Martin; 3. Porter Dazet, Holy Cross; 4. Jaime Balleza, Shaw

195 - 1. Yehia Riles, Brother Martin; 2. Daniel Priola, Fontainebleau; 3. Daniel Relayson, Holy Cross; 4. David Thompson, Destrehan

220 - 1. Joshua Tapia, Brother Martin; 2. Dominic Carmello, Jesuit; 3. Michael Yeatman, Holy Cross; 4. Christian Ponson, Fontainebleau

285 - 1. Ross Brister, Brother Martin; 2. Zachary Creel, Jesuit; 3. Lyle Greary, Holy Cross; 4. Travis Gardner, Holy Cross