Bob Jones sets individual and team records in state wrestling

Patriots place third in Class 7A with three champions and seven placers

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The Bob Jones High School wrestling team set both individual and team records at the Alabama High School Athletic Association State Wrestling tournament in Huntsville. The Patriots placed third in Class 7A, their best-ever finish, thanks to three individual champions and seven placers. Bob Jones had never before had more than one state champion in a single season.

Why it matters

The strong performance by the Bob Jones wrestling team highlights the growth and success of the program under second-year coach Joe Hill. The team's ability to come together and push each other to new heights is an impressive feat, especially considering their previous best finish was third place in the 7A North Section series.

The details

Bob Jones' three individual champions were Zander Samargia (138 pounds), Kaden Clark (157 pounds), and Sheldon Sharp (285 pounds). Samargia, a senior and four-time state qualifier, won his first state title with an 18-0 technical fall victory. Clark, a sophomore, won a close 2-1 overtime match, while Sharp, who placed fifth last year, defeated his opponent 14-3.

  • The state wrestling tournament took place at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville.
  • Bob Jones placed third in the 7A North Section series the week prior to the state tournament.

The players

Bob Jones High School

A public high school in Madison, Alabama that has developed a strong wrestling program, including winning a Duals state title in 2018 and finishing as the Duals state runner-up in 2019.

Joe Hill

The second-year head coach of the Bob Jones wrestling team, who has helped guide the program to new heights.

Zander Samargia

A senior wrestler at Bob Jones High School who won his first state title in the 138-pound weight class after previously finishing fourth.

Kaden Clark

A sophomore wrestler at Bob Jones High School who won the 157-pound state title in overtime, improving on his state runner-up finish the previous year.

Sheldon Sharp

A Bob Jones wrestler who won the 285-pound state title after finishing fifth the previous year.

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What they’re saying

“I think it was committing to everything in practice. I made that choice this year.”

— Zander Samargia (themadisonrecord.com)

“I knew that if I kept pressure, pressure, pressure; then he'd break.”

— Kaden Clark (themadisonrecord.com)

“This year was a smoother transition because they already knew me. I think the biggest thing this year is they really came together as a group. They pushed each other more.”

— Joe Hill, Second-year coach (themadisonrecord.com)

What’s next

The Bob Jones wrestling team will look to build on their strong state tournament performance and continue to develop their program under Coach Hill's leadership.

The takeaway

The Bob Jones High School wrestling team's record-setting performance at the state tournament, with three individual champions and a third-place team finish, showcases the growth and potential of the program under second-year coach Joe Hill. The team's ability to come together and push each other to new heights is an impressive feat that highlights the dedication and talent of the Bob Jones wrestlers.