Shaw 3rd Annual Wrestling Showcase

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Shaw's 3rd Annual Wrestling Showcase a delight for fans and coaches

October 24th, 2018| Written by: Editor

This was not a typical early season practice for the Shaw Eagles' wrestling team. On Saturday evening, October 20th, Shaw had its 3rd Annual Preseason Wrestling Showcase, comprising seven intramural matches between two varsity squads followed by exhibition matches including both varsity and junior varsity wrestlers.

The stands were full of green and white clad spectators, although many chose to wear purple and gold as an area was set-up with four sofas and two large-screen televisions to broadcast the LSU-Mississippi State football game. Pulled pork and jambalaya were at the concessions table. Rock music resounded prior to the matches.
It was a Shaw wrestling party!

The Shaw cheerleading squad was present, and younger children played by the sofas.

After a prayer and an excellent rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner by miss Hannah Marques, the main event started.

Miss Hannah Marques

First-year head coach and 2009 Division II state champion Brandon Surrency appointed senior captains Justin Gaubert and Anthony Ribando to pick from 12 varsity wrestlers to comprise a seven-match event. Ribando chose Raheem Bonnet, Caleb Dufrene, Brandon Vega, Devin Skipps, Jude Monaco and Beau Riley. Gaubert chose Glenn Price, Ashton Surrency, Michael Seal, Armando Amaya, Jason Scholar and James Chapman.

In the 2018 LHSAA State Wrestling Championships, Ribando and Surrency, now a sophomore, placed third in Division II. Junior Raheem Bonnet placed 4th as a sophomore and Gaubert placed 5th. Coach Surrency was a runner-up in 2008 and a state champion in 2009. Among the spectators were former Eagle state champions Alex Rutledge and Brandon Savoie.

The varsity matches consisted of three two-minute rounds and were officiated by Shaw's 2016 state runner-up Brad Albarado.

Plenty of fans were in attendance and pulled pork and jambalaya was served. Former Shaw state champions on hand included Alex Rutledge and Raymond Savoy.

With the exception that in the seven varsity matches Team Gaubert defeated Team Ribando 18-6, scores of actual matches were inconsequential to the coaches. As the wrestlers were competing against teammates, there was a jovial comradery between them before the matches. The coaches could allow that due to the festive atmosphere, but what they wanted to see was what happened between the official's whistles. They should not have been disappointed - during the matches the Eagle wrestlers were "all business." Most competed in two matches but some wrestled as many as three. For an early season Saturday night, that's a full practice for many.

After the seven challenge matches were completed, exhibition and junior varsity matches were held. Those matches consisted of a two-minute first round followed by two one-minute rounds.

Main Event Matches

Match # 1

Michael Seal (TG) vs. Brandon Vega (TR)

Match # 2

Armando Amaya (TG) vs. Devin Skipps (TR)

Match # 3

Jason Sholar (TG) vs. Jude Monaco

Match # 4

James Chapman (TG) vs. Beau Rutley (TR)

Match # 5

Glenn Price vs. Todd Ritter

Match # 6

Ashton Surrency vs. Raheem Bonnet

Match # 7

Justin Gaubert (TG) vs. Anthony Ribando (TR)

Exhibition Matches

(At the time of publishing the names of the participants in the exhibition matches were not fully known by the editor. The names will be added as they are ascertained.)

Exhibition Match # 1

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Exhibition Match # 2

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Exhibition Match # 3

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Exhibition Match # 4

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Exhibition Match # 5

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Exhibition Match # 6

Ashton Surrency vs. Michael Seal
This was the only match of the evening that went into a Sudden Victory period. Surrency won with a takedown after 31.6 seconds elapsed.

Exhibition Match # 7