By Charles Prince

The North Jefferson News



HUNTSVILLE — It was a wild ending. Most observers thought the 5A, 135-pound championship match between Fultondale’s Brett Pennington and Walter Welborn’s Alex Jerome was headed to an overtime period, tied at 8-all. After all, that’s how the scoreboard read when the third period timer ran out.

After the officials consulted, Jerome, who had been warned on two previous occasions for stalling, was penalized for locking hands (a stalling violation) in the final 10 seconds of the third period. The third offense of match by Jerome proved to be the difference as the score was corrected to 9-8 in Pennington’s favor.

“I don’t know how I pulled this off,” Pennington said after his hand was raised as the winner. “I was thinking I it was going to overtime and I was thinking about getting any score I could in overtime and then they told me I won.”

Many people mat side weren’t sure what had happened until day’s later.

“I didn’t see the locked hands,” Fultondale head coach Billy Hughes said. “I thought it was going to overtime and I had already told Brett, he had a minute to score. I saw a replay on the internet on Monday that showed it. I didn’t see it from my angle, but you could on the replay.”

For the Wildcats sophomore, it was his first state title. Last season as freshman, Pennington had been a state runner-up.

“This feels so great,” Pennington said. “I had worked too hard to get this close and not win.”

Hughes pointed out, Pennington’s preparation is second to none among high school wrestlers.

“He’s got such a good work ethic,” Hughes said. “It’s brought him a long way since he’s started. He’s at all extra practices and if we hold a camp or a clinic, he’ll be here. He puts in the extra work it takes to succeed.”

Pennington trailed Jerome, 4-1, early in the second period, but closed the gap to 4-3 by the end of the period. Down 6-3 in the third period, Pennington used an escape and takedown to tie the match at 6-all with 44 seconds left to wrestle.

Pennington, who was proud of the individual title, was disappointed the Wildcats couldn’t over take Jerome’s club for the state crown. But he promised things would turn out differently next season.

“We didn’t get it done this year,” Pennington said. “But it’s ours next year. I’m sure we’ll get the team title.”