BY MATT VINES 

STONEWALL – For the second straight season, the North DeSoto boys wrestling team set a North Louisiana Region record en route to a region title.

The Griffins compiled 278 points as North DeSoto won 11 of the 14 weight classes and placed finalists in 13 different classes. Benton (156 points) and Parkway (111 points) finished second and third, respectively.

“This was an expectation we had, and we knew we were capable of doing that,” said North DeSoto coach Dustin Burton. “Going in, we expected all 14 wrestlers to make the finals, and last year, we set the points record with 11 in the finals, with seven or eight winning their weight class.

“We’ve challenged our guys by traveling to places like Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Iowa to find the best competition, and that prepared us well for our regional and state tournaments coming up.”
North DeSoto will be a serious contender in Division II at the upcoming LHSAA State Championships, taking place Feb. 2-3 at Bossier City’s Brookshire Grocery Arena.

The Griffins finished second this past year and will be seeking their first wrestling state title in the program’s 10-year history.

At regionals, Jacob Kershaw was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the meet, dominating the 113-pound weight class.

Burton said a lot of wrestlers dominated their respective weight classes, but Kershaw stood out in the bunch.

“If someone walked in not knowing anything about wrestling, and they saw the guys wrestle, Jacob would stand because he’s ‘that dude,’” Burton explained. “His style of wrestling, his technique, the way he carries himself – he’s on another level.”

The Griffins particularly dominated the lighter weight classes, winning all eight classes from 106-150 pounds.

Lathan Tabor (106), Kershaw (113), Michael Washington (120), Nathan Adams (126), Collin Bell (132), Dylan Compton (138), Dalton Compton (144), and Chase Smart (150) took home gold in their respective weight classes.

Other North DeSoto gold medalists included Lake Bates (165), Caden Robison (190), and Caiden Burns (285).

Silver medalists included Hayden Bell (157) and Andrew Arinder (175), meaning they reached the finals and lost.

North DeSoto has prided itself on its wrestling prowess, which starts at the elementary and middle school levels. That bore out in the junior varsity ranks as well, with seven wrestlers winning gold medals with another three earning bronze medals.

Gold medals included Jaxon Morgan (106), Davison Dorriety (120), Joshua Turner (126), Jace Burns (138), William Erdelac (150), Anthony Erdelac (157) and Kade Tinsley (175).

Bronze medalists at the junior varsity level included Sam Jones (132), Nicholas Bailey (138), and Jacob Brown (144).