Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Bentonville cruises to state title
LITTLE ROCK — A change in coaches didn’t faze the Bentonville High wrestling team.
The Tigers led from start to finish to easily claim the Class 6A division team title and earned their third straight title at the 11th annual Arkansas High School State Wrestling tournament on Saturday at the Stephens Center on the campus of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock.
They rolled up 263 points to easily outdistance crosstown brethren Bentonville West, which finished with 174.5.
Jason Adams assumed the coaching reins at Bentonville when James Rappe opted to take a job in administration after last season, but the Tigers didn’t miss a beat.
Bentonville overwhelmed the other 6A teams, putting 10 wrestlers into the semifinal and seven into the finals and proved too tough for anyone to overcome.
“Our goal was to come down here and beat the guys we were supposed to beat, everybody try to pull one upset,” Adams said. “For a lot of guys, that worked out and got them on the podium. Other guys it got them into the finals.
“Our kids wrestled really well the first two rounds and set us up to have 10 in the semis. I’m really proud of the effort. About the last month, these guys have really been wrestling well and that’s what you want to do every year. You want to be on top and that’s where we are.”
Adams, a veteran coach from Oklahoma, served as an assistant at Bentonville West last year, but made the move when Rappe got out of coaching. He also brought his son, Jake, with him and that didn’t hurt either.
The younger Adams, a sophomore, was one of four Tigers to claim an individual title. He also claimed his second consecutive title and is undefeated over the past two seasons and earned 6A Outstanding Wrestler honors for the lighter weights. Senior Zane Sims won his second straight state title, too.
Sims admitted this year’s didn’t feel as strong early in the season, but that changed.
“Towards the end, I feel like we really pulled through,” Sims said. “We just kinda bonded towards the end a lot stronger and helped the team along. It definitely felt like a family.”
Jason Adams thought the team came together, echoing Sims’ sentiments.
“The kids I think bought in early on and I just feel like you first have to establish a relationship and I think I did that. The way we practice up and are able to get better throughout the season. It comes down to the hard work and the competition in the practice room.
“Having a lot of good kids competing with each other every day. That’s what gets you to the next level.”
The Wolverines had two champions, but medaled only seven and couldn’t keep up the with the Tigers’ depth.
West’s Charles Easterling won at 113 and Zack Ireland (120) won his second state title. Fayetteville’s Matthew Muller also repeated at 182.