Tournament Brackets

KENNER – Jesuit’s Carlos Bertot would rather be leading the Division I wrestling tournament by more than 9½ points, but he’ll take it.

By Bradley Handwerger

St. Paul's Anthony Lacava takes down Hahnville's Charles Lauland during Friday's state wrestling tournament.

With eight wrestlers in the semifinals, Jesuit and Rummel have more players in the big bracket than any other school. Brother Martin has seven guys still alive, and Catholic is sitting with six in the championship bracket, with the Red Raiders holding down three No. 1 seeds.

All have reason to be happy with where they stand after the first day at the Pontchartrain Center.

“I’m excited,” Rummel head coach Rod Cusachs said. “We match up with Catholic, Brother Martin and Jesuit one time each. I like our chances of getting some kids into the finals. I think we can get five or six guys in the finals.”

Still, Jesuit is alive for more points heading into the second and final day. Of the 14 divisions, the Blue Jays carry 13 wrestlers into competition. Catholic is playing with two fewer, Brother Martin three and Rummel is going with four fewer competitors.

“I like where we’re at now,” said Bertot, Jesuit's head coach. “The guys have really wrestled well today. Our guys are also wrestling well in the wrestle-backs.”

Jesuit leads with 107.5 points, while Catholic-BR (98), Brother Martin (96.5) and Rummel (95.5) all are within reach. Mandeville sits a distant fifth with 76 points.

One of the surprises came in the 103-pound division, where Brother Martin’s third-seeded Josh Raley bowed out in the round of 16 by forfeit, and then forfeited his consolation match. There were no other major upsets beyond that.

But despite that loss, Brother Martin coach Matt Lambert is confident his charges can rally and have a chance at defending their state title.

“We’re in striking distance. That’s all you can ask for after day one,” Lambert said. “I think our guys in the semis are going to be ready.”

Not a single first or second seed has lost in the Division I tournament, and that includes Brother Martin’s Nick Shields, the top seed in the 125-pound class. He has lost only once in-state this year, and the man who defeated him – Korey Miller – lost in the quarterfinals, ending any chance for Shields to get his rematch.

In Division II, Shaw led after the morning session, but fell to third after the night session. Having no wrestlers lose their championship level matches didn’t help Friday night, but it certainly could come Saturday, when nine Eagles vie for a state championship.

Northside leads the division with 106 points, while St. Michael (101) and Shaw (96.5) trail. Teurlings sits in fourth with 89 points. Of the nine Eagles left in the tournament, seven are the top seeds.

In Division III, Brusly is well on its way to repeating as champion, leading by nearly 50 points heading into the second day of competition