LITTLE ROCK -- It took a little longer than normal, but Bentonville's Aaron Grigsby came away with his third consecutive state wrestling title Saturday night in the Jack Stephens Center.
The senior notched the 9-3 win over Greenwood's Caleb Erskine to win the Class 6A-7A crown at 132 pounds.
Grigsby acknowledged he struggled with nervousness going into the final match, but fought through it to get the win.
"It's definitely pretty nerve-racking," Grigsby said. "I obviously didn't go out there and wrestle my best but what really matters at the end of the day is coming out with the win. I could have looked better out there."
However, the Bentonville senior has the state record for career wins (182) and pins (150). It was also only the second time all season in 47 wins Grigsby had a match go all three periods.
Bentonville coach Bill Desler acknowledged a little surprise at Grigsby not finishing with a pin, but the end result was no shock.
"You know he's a good enough wrestler he can fight through," Desler said. "That's what you've got to do as a wrestler. You've got to fight through those tough days, tough matches. He finished it out the way he wanted."
Grigsby was part of a good run by area wrestlers, claiming state titles in eight of 14 weight classes. His teammates Luke Brandon and Cash Jones joined Grigsby at the top of the podium. Jones, a freshman, won at 106, while Brandon took the crown at 138. The trio buoyed Bentonville to a fifth-place finish in the team race.
Springdale Har-Ber's Kimble Jennings won his second state title, winning at 120 this year and earning the Outstanding Wrestler award in the lower weight classes. He edged top-seeded and defending champion Richard Buzzitta of Little Rock Catholic 3-2. Jennings won the state title a year ago at 113.
Rogers High walked away with the 6A-7A team title, edging crosstown rival Rogers Heritage. Christian Brummett was the Mounties' lone state champion at 170, but he also claimed the Outstanding Wrestler award for the middle weight classes.
Brummett won all five of his state tournament matches by fall. Fayetteville's Jaxson Nolen also won the title at 160, giving him back-to-back state titles as well. He won at 152 a year ago.
Crosstown rival Rogers Heritage finished second in the team race, but junior Shae Chafin (152) and senior Caleb Royal (126) each won individual titles. Both wrestlers finished second a year ago.
Chafin finished off an incredible return to action, after suffering serious injuries from a four-wheeler accident about a month after the state tournament last year.
In the 1A-5A division, Gentry teammates Zach Ellis (285) and Cody Watson (182) each finished second, while Shiloh Christian's C.J. Bottorff was second for the second consecutive year at 138. Watson missed all of last season because of a knee injury suffered during football.
Sports on 02/22/2015