Jesuit, Lanosga, Shaw in position to repeat as state wrestling champs

BOSSIER CITY – Spencer Lanosga has competed nationally against many of the very best heavyweights in the nation.

Most recently, the Jesuit senior lost to Cody Merrill of Gilroy 5-0 in the final of the Louisiana Classic. Merrill, most recently, was the second-ranked heavyweight in the country.

Suffice it to say that the experience has benefited Lanosga.

In three matches Friday, Lanosga, a U.S. Naval Academy commit, dispatched three opponents by fall in a total of 48 seconds of mat time, winning his first two matches in 10 seconds each and his quarterfinal match with Caleb Mills of Lafayette in 28 seconds.

“Coach (Jon Orillion) had to give a ‘take no prisoners order’ and I wanted to get the job done quickly,” Lanosga said. Wrestling national competition like that was beneficial,” Lanosga said. “Every time you have a new experience, it adds to your game. We’re totally confident in our ability.”

That was the most impressive of a very impressive team of Jesuit wrestlers, who performed brilliantly Friday at Brookshire Grocery Arena.

Jesuit is poised to repeat as champion in Division I, with 12 wrestlers out of 14 in the semifinals Saturday morning. Holy Cross advanced eight into the semifinals.

The Blue Jays have 182 points with Holy Cross second with 167.5 points. Brother Martin is third with 159.5 points.

Leading the way for the Blue Jays into the semifinals are top seeds Michael Barnett (106), defending state champion Bodi Harris (120), Jackson Calderaro (215) and Lanosga.

“Our boys wrestled well, they showed up,” Orillion said. “We know we have a good team this year. You’ve got to go perform in those matches. They’ve been feeding off each other. It’s a fun round to see all of it come together for us. I think we’ve put ourselves in a really good position.”

In Division II, North DeSoto is in great position to end the dominance of Teurlings Catholic. The Rebels have won the last four Division II state championships, nine of the last 10 and 11 of the last 13 titles. The Griffins advanced 13 of 14 wrestlers to the semifinals.

North DeSoto has 171 points while Archbishop Rummel, with five wrestlers in the semifinals, is second with 158 points. Defending champion Teurlings Catholic is third with 151 points.

Leading the charge in the final four wrestlers for the Griffins are top seeds Jacob Kershaw (113), defending state champion Dalton Compton (144), defending state champion Lake Bates (175) and Cauden Burns (285).

Archbishop Shaw is in position to repeat as state champion in Division III.

Shaw carries a 5-point lead over Basile into Saturday. The Eagles have 130 points while Basile has 125 points. John Curtis Christian is third at 104 points.

The Eagles have 10 wrestlers in the semifinals, positioned well to repeat as champion for the first time.

Top seeds Jayden Jamison (113) and Masen Wilson (175) lead the way for Shaw into the semifinals for head coach Brandon Surrency.

“We’ve got 10 guys in the semis and two guys in the consolation bracket,” Surrency said. “Tomorrow is a big day for us. We’re winning right now but no one remembers the team in first place after day one. Every kid, we’re grinding it out. It’s the old Sean Payton speech to do your job. We’ve been there before but it’s a different team. No Shaw program has ever bone back-to-back. We’re trying to be the flagship for the school.”

The semifinals are set for 10 a.m. Saturday morning with the finals at 5 p.m.

Team Standings through Friday:

Division 1 Team Scores

Division 2 Team Scores

Division 3 Team Scores