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Zak Haynes

Wrestling season begins this week

By Michael Butler

John Mask begins his 20th season with the Tallassee wrestling program in 2019, his 18th as head coach. He'll have his youngest team yet with just one senior, Zak Haynes.

"The year after 2014, we had one or two seniors. Any time you have a large class like we had last year, typically behind it you're not going to have a large class," said Mask. "Zak Haynes and Mason Bell will be our captains this year. Both are coming back with a lot of experience."

Haynes was a state placer for the fourth straight year last season. He was fourth in the 132 pound weight class. Bell finished sixth in the state last season at 152.

"We have a lot of good young men, five or six that have wrestled before. Will Lackey, Brendan Emfinger, Preston Tidwell, Jake DeBardelaben, Christian McCary and Thomas Battles have gotten some work. The seventh grade group coming up is going to be good."

Tallassee will be hosting two tournaments this season.

"We're having the junior high duels and our Thanksgiving duels."

Mason Bell

Like in other sports this school year Reeltown is on the schedule; however, the Rebels have been a common opponent in wrestling in recent years.

"They've been in our region. We've been wrestling them for years and have done camps together. Everybody over there you know. They're your family."

The season gets underway against 7A schools Auburn and Prattville on Thursday, Nov. 21 at 5:30 in Tallassee.

2019-20 Schedule