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St. Amant showed off their new wrestling mats on Tuesday, courtesy of the Dollamur Sports Surfaces "Mat Makeover" contest.  Dollamur executives let the voters of the nationwide contest decide who should win the free mat and wall pads, and were overwhelmed with reasons to award the mat to the wrestling Gators.  The St. Amant response was so large that Dollamur decided to award two other schools with very discounted mat rates. 

The mats consist or roll-away sections attached by Velcro seals, eliminating the need for mat tape.

On hand to say a few words about what the mat means to the flood-ravaged St. Amant High School were St. Amant's principal Mia Edwards, St. Amant athletic director David Oliver and Ascension Public Schools superintendant David Alexander.

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St. Amant coach Brian Hess was asked to say a few words.  Obviously overwhelmed by the generosity of Dollamur and the support of people of the Louisiana wrestling community who pleaded St. Amant's case, he only said a few before he felt he could not continue.  His emotions said all that was needed.

Speaking for Dollamur was Mr. David Rossi, Dollamur vice-president for Marketing, and Dollamur spokesperson Adeline Gray, a three-time women's world champion and Olympic wrestler.

Coach Ernest Brown and Adeline Gray cut the ceremonial ribbon

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(Left) Three geneations of St. Amant wrestling coaches: Founder, Coach Ernest Brown, current coach Brian Hess and assistant coach and 2015 St. Amant graduate Josh Averette; (Center) David Rossi and Adeline Gray of Dollamur with Coach Hess; (Right) Adeline Gray with her world championship medals and Coach Hess.

The Gators, minus Ms. Gray, look to be one of the top public school placers in this weekend's state championships. Gators seeded in the top-eight in Division I are as follows: Sage Nugent (Sr.) is the #1 seed @ 182 lbs:; Brier Babin (Sr.), is #3 @ 126 lbs.; Tyree Morris (Jr.) is #4 at 113 lbs.; Nakia Brown (Jr.) is #6 @ 145 lbs.; Cameron Hyde (Sr.) is #4 @ 152 lbs.; Hunter Hawkins (So.) is #4 at 160 lbs.; Rounding out the Gator squad are juniors Joseph Cagayao (132 lbs.) and Karl Mires (220 lbs.), sophomores Seth Signorelli (138 lbs.) and Murphy Savoy (285 lbs.), Jestin Dunn (170 lbs.) and Murphy Savoy (285 lbs.), and freshmen Corey Brownell (106 lbs.) and Lucien Naquin (120 lbs.).  The Gators do not have an entry in the 195 lbs. weight class.

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