Four (or More) Time State Champions In College = Alabama

 One of the ultimate pinnacles of high school wrestling is to win a state title. To win four (or more) of them is an ultimate accomplishment that most can only dream of. Curious to see how all of the four (or more) time champions fared in college, I decided to take a look at each state (Mississippi excluded at this time because they only recently started sanctioned high school wrestling) to see how they fared in college. 

Steve Mordecai

Winning his four Alabama high school state titles for Gardendale during the mid to late 70's, Mordecai took a 141-0 record to Auburn. During his time at Auburn is when Pat Dye as athletic director decided to discontinue wrestling. To my knowledge, he did not continue on elsewhere. 

Marty Willingham 

To my knowledge Willingham who won four Alabama state titles in the early 80's opted out of wrestling in college to go straight to the Marines post high school. 

Patrick Aaron 

Patrick Aaron who we unfortunately lost during Hurricane Katrina won four Alabama high school state titles for Hewitt-Trussville in 86', 87', 88' & 89'. To my knowledge he did not wrestle in college. 

Chad Laxton 

Another standout of Deschler, Laxton won his state titles from 91' to 94'. Today an outstanding coach in Tennessee at Bradley Central, Laxton did not wrestle in college. 

Frank Hartzog 

Winning four Alabama High School state titles for Weaver from 93'-96', from what I have found, Hartzog did not wrestle in college. 

Josh Jackson  

A graduate of Oak Grove, Josh Jackson won Alabama High School State titles from 95'-99'. He competed collegiately for Cumberland. 

B.G. Overstreet 

Wasn't able to find out much about B.G. Overstreet beyond his four titles won for Grissom in 99', 00', 01' & 02'. From my findings, he did not wrestle in college. 

Derek Carmichael 

A four time Alabama high school state champion for Pratteville, Derek Carmichael wrestled collegiately for Appalachian State. 

Seth Garvin 

Going 128-1 over his High School career, Seth Garvin won four Alabama High School State titles for Homewood.  He began his collegiate career at Wisconsin & then transferred to UT-Chattanooga. He won back to back SOCON titles in his junior & senior seasons, also taking a 7th place finish at CKLV as a sophomore. 

Justin Reynolds 

Reynolds is another wrestler I wasn't able to find out much about beyond his high school credentials. Took four in Alabama between 06' & 09'. 

Dalton Carroll 

Competing for Wellborn, Dalton Carroll won Alabama High School State titles in 07', 08', 10' & 11'. He wrestled collegiately for a short time at Newberry before deciding to take his life in other directions. 

Dillan Campbell 

Winning 308 matches for Oak Grove in four Alabama High School state titles, Dillan Campbell wrestled for Shorter University for a short amount of time as unfortunately his career was cut short due to knee injuries. 

Brandon Brindley 

A four time state champ for Mortimer Jordan in 09', 10', 11' & 12, Brindley competed for Southern Illinois-Edwardsville where splitting time with other members of the Cougar wrestling team, he won 12 varsity matches. 

Jordan Simpson 

Jordan Simpson won four Alabama High School State titles for Oxford from 10'-13'. He had a rather successful career at Newberry, highlighted by a NCAA Division II All American performance of 7th place his sophomore year of 2016. 

Jeremiah Wells 

Wells won 5 Alabama High School State titles for Weaver from 92-96. To my records, he did not wrestle in college. 

Michael Cuthbertson 

Cuthbertson won five Alabama state titles for legendary Scottsboro. Collegiately he competed for Boise State. Unfortunately his career was hampered by injuries but he did manage to take a 5th place showing at the Reno Tournament of Champions & a 4th place finish at the PAC-12 tournament his freshman year of 2010. 

Tyler Osborn 

Winning five Alabama High School State titles for Hoover from 03'-07', Osborn began his collegiate career at Northwest College in Wyoming, but I believe he decided to take his life in another direction before the start of the season. 

Chase Cuthbertson 

Like brother Michael, Cuthbertson won five state titles for Scottsboro. He too was unfortunately a victim of injuries during his collegiate career, but he did manage to garner some impressive wins during his time at Utah Valley.  Cody Pack, Spartak Chino & Mitch Polowske among his more notable victories. 

Kyle Cuthbertson 

Like Michael and Chase before him, Kyle Cuthbertson also won 5 state titles for Scottsboro.  With Chase, he wrestled at Utah Valley. 

John Hayden Countryman 

Winning 5 Alabama State titles for Prattville, the late John Hayden Countryman wrestled for one season at Virginia Tech. 

Michael Sutton 

Sutton won 6 Alabama High School State titles for Weaver from 99 to 04. To my knowledge he did not wrestle in college. 

Brandon Womack 

As luck would have it, perhaps I saved one of the best for last. Womack who won 6 Alabama High School State titles for Scottsboro between 09-13 had an outstanding career at Cornell (NY). While competing for the Big Red he earned All American honors as a freshman in 2017 with an 8th place finish.  Winning an EIWA title that season, he was 3rd as a sophomore & runner-up as a junior.  He also placed twice at the CKLV invitational, taking 6th as a freshman & 8th as a senior. 

Haden Ryals 

A four time Alabama High School State champion for Southside, Haden Ryals wrestled collegiately for Air Force. 





Christian Knop of Alexandria currently wrestles for North Carolina State as Gabe Hixenbaugh of Thompson is currently at Campbell & Zach Van Alst is currently at Coker. 


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Cory Land of Moody will be at Northern Iowa this upcoming season

Jaden New of Alexandria will be competing at Life this upcoming season

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Why so many from Alabama that did not wrestle in college?  Well for one, sometimes college wrestling jus isn't for everyone. Even the elite. I also think that it didn't help that for the longest time Alabama didn't have any opportunities, nor were there that many available in surrounding states. While Huntingdon provides a great Division III opportunity today, there was a period of over 30 years where there was no collegiate wrestling in the state at all.  The internet and exposure helped as well.