Wrestling Sees Threes at State: 3rd Place, 3 Finalists, and a 3-Timer

Posted February 11, 2019 / Last updated February 14, 2019

It was a season of threes for the Jesuit wrestling team. After finishing third in the District Championships behind Holy Cross and district champion Brother Martin, the Blue Jays battled St. Paul’s and Catholic to take third on February 8-9 at the 2019 LHSAA Division I State Championships in Bossier City, La. The Catholic League once again dominated the state tournament as Brother Martin took the title and Holy Cross won the runner-up trophy.

Senior co-captains Sam Dreuil (106), Luke Eccles (126), and Perry Ganci (285) advanced to the semifinals, and all three won their matches to give Jesuit three finalists. Eccles and Ganci won their finals matches with Ganci becoming the 9th wrestler in Jesuit history to win three individual state titles. Eccles, who made the finals in 2018, earned his first gold medal in arguably the most talented weight class of the tournament—126—that included two defending state champions from Brother Martin and Holy Cross. Dreuil, who finished 4th in 2018, earned his first silver medal after falling 7-3 in the finals.

Senior Colby Queyrouze (145) fought for third in the consolation rounds and came up just short of his Day 2 goal, finishing fourth. Senior co-captain DJ Ferrier (170) advanced to the consolation semifinals with a win in his first match Saturday morning. Ferrier finished 5th by defeating a St. Paul’s wrestler, 3-2, in the 170-lb. 5th place match.

Top 5 Division I Team Scores:

1	Brother Martin	331.5
2	Holy Cross	306.5
3	Jesuit	184.5
4	Catholic, BR	180
5	St. Paul’s	178.5

View Full Team Scores

Through the Lens…

View the Photo Gallery from the 2019 State Championships

With the pin and the win in the state finals, Perry Ganci becomes the 9th wrestler in Jesuit history to win three individual state titles. Ganci joins the following list of Jesuit three-timers: Raymond Richards ’52†, Lester Alfortish ’58, Glenn Harris ’60, John Martin ’60, Charles O’Boyle ’68, Spencer Harris ’89, Michael Hanemann ’93, and Marshall Delesdernier ’02.

By the Numbers…

The following are results for the five placing wrestlers who advanced to Day 2:

106 – Sam Dreuil (28-9) placed 2nd and scored 24.0 team points.

Quarterfinal – Sam Dreuil (Jesuit) 28-9 won by fall over JW Fuller (C.E. Byrd) 39-14 (Fall 1:58)
Semifinal – Sam Dreuil (Jesuit) 28-9 won by decision over Chase Scott (Brother Martin) 36-12 (Dec 6-0)
1st Place Match – Evan Frost (Holy Cross) 38-0 won by decision over Sam Dreuil (Jesuit) 28-9 (Dec 7-3)

126 – Luke Eccles (41-6) placed 1st and scored 30.0 team points.

Quarterfinal – Luke Eccles (Jesuit) 41-6 won by major decision over Martin Helouin (Catholic, BR) 28-16 (MD 11-3)
Semifinal – Luke Eccles (Jesuit) 41-6 won by decision over Connor Hoffman (Brother Martin) 31-9 (Dec 5-1)
1st Place Match – Luke Eccles (Jesuit) 41-6 won by major decision over Peyton Bass (Airline) 46-7 (MD 10-2)

145 – Colby Queyrouze (42-14) placed 4th and scored 21.0 team points.

Quarterfinal – Tucker Almond (Airline) 24-5 won by decision over Colby Queyrouze (Jesuit) 42-14 (Dec 9-3)
Cons. Round 4 – Colby Queyrouze (Jesuit) 42-14 won by fall over Elijah Lanigan (John Ehret) 11-13 (Fall 2:02)
Cons. Round 5 – Colby Queyrouze (Jesuit) 42-14 won by decision over Jarreth Wheeler (Covington) 34-14 (Dec 11-5)
Cons. Semi – Colby Queyrouze (Jesuit) 42-14 won by major decision over Hunter Gustin (Sulphur) 30-13 (MD 9-0)
3rd Place Match – Tucker Almond (Airline) 24-5 won by decision over Colby Queyrouze (Jesuit) 42-14 (Dec 7-4)

170 – Darren “DJ” Ferrier (32-17) placed 5th and scored 14.0 team points.

Cons. Round 2 – Darren Ferrier (Jesuit) 32-17 won by fall over Logan Lewis (C.E. Byrd) 33-17 (Fall 1:54)
Cons. Round 3 – Darren Ferrier (Jesuit) 32-17 won by decision over Andrew Evans (Catholic, BR) 38-24 (Dec 12-7)
Cons. Round 4 – Darren Ferrier (Jesuit) 32-17 won by major decision over Kaleb Cavalier (Acadiana) 16-13 (MD 10-2)
Cons. Round 5 – Darren Ferrier (Jesuit) 32-17 won by decision over Austin Reason (Central BR) 25-15 (Dec 6-3)
Cons. Semi – Jarin Meyer (Baton Rouge) 27-11 won by decision over Darren Ferrier (Jesuit) 32-17 (Dec 5-2)
5th Place Match – Darren Ferrier (Jesuit) 32-17 won by decision over Evan Ulfers (St. Pauls) 27-15 (Dec 3-2)

285 – Perry Ganci (40-0) placed 1st and scored 34.0 team points.

Quarterfinal – Perry Ganci (Jesuit) 40-0 won by fall over Alejandro Nunez (Bonnabel) 30-19 (Fall 2:49)
Semifinal – Perry Ganci (Jesuit) 40-0 won by fall over Connor Finucane (Catholic, BR) 27-7 (Fall 1:17)
1st Place Match – Perry Ganci (Jesuit) 40-0 won by fall over Mack Brown (Brother Martin) 34-5 (Fall 5:32)

View Jesuit’s Full Individual Results from the State Tournament (PDF)

They Said It…

The last Jesuit wrestler to win three individual state titles was Marshall Delesdernier ’02 (2000-2002). This year, Perry Ganci pinned his way to and through the finals in order to join Delesdernier as the second Jesuit wrestler in this century to win three titles. But unlike his earlier matches in the state tournament, Ganci’s last match did not come easy for him.

“When I went to my back, I just knew this wasn’t how it was supposed to end,” Perry Ganci said, replaying the finals match in his head. “From that point on, I fought off my back and had to show everyone that I could overcome this…to show everyone that I am a winner. My coaches were in my ear the whole time, saying, ‘you need to wrestle like a champion.’ So, my mindset was not only to win, but to pin. And once I got the opportunity, I took it. I pinned him and got the job done, and I have my coaches to thank for that.”

On becoming Jesuit’s ninth 3-time state champion, Ganci added, “It’s a lot harder than people think. Obviously, when I won my sophomore year, becoming a 3-timer was the goal. But the turning point for me was actually in the Louisiana Classic that year, before the state tournament, when I lost to the guy I eventually upset in the finals.”

After the state tournament, head coach Sheridan Moran told his team, “Every wrestler scored points to help us finish third. Yes, we only had five placers, but let me tell you something. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard of a team in Louisiana, Division I, to place just five people and still take third. That’s a pretty impressive feat.”

Galleries

Wrestling State Championships, CenturyLink Center, Bossier City, Feb. 8-9, 2019

Sam Dreuil (106) gets the pin.
Anthony Rosevally (113)
Rosevally works toward an eventual pin.
Tony Serio (120)
Ashton Stevens (132)
Ashton Stevens wrestles in between nine other mats.
Luke Battaglia (138)
Luke Battaglia (138) picks up a win against his Hahnville opponent.
Charlie Cyrus (152)
Mason Murret (160)
Dennis Dougherty (182)
Dennis Dougherty (182)
Jack Grady (195)
Jacob Kieff (220)
Perry Ganci pins his Catholic opponent in the first period of the 285-lb. semifinals.
Colby Queyrouze (145) wins by major decision over Hunter Gustin (Sulphur).
Queyrouze secures a takedown in the 3rd place match.
Queyrouze comes close to earning back points.
DJ Ferrier (170) takes a shot on his Baton Rouge opponent in the consolation semifinals.
In the 170-lb. 5th Place match, DJ Ferrier wins by a 3-2 decision over Evan Ulfers of St. Paul's.
Blue Jay parents and friends celebrate Ferrier's win.
In the 170-lb. 5th Place Match, Ferrier wins by a 3-2 decision over Evan Ulfers of St. Paul's.
The finals presentation is underway as Marines present the colors.
Blue Jay fans in the crowd cheer on the three finalists.
First up for the Jays is senior co-captain Sam Dreuil (106).
Dreuil takes down Evan Frost in the finals.
Dreuil works on top in the finals.
Head coach Sheridan Moran and assistant coach Brian Barry (left).
Dreuil fights hard in the final period, but falls, 7-3.
The remaining Jesuit finalists, Eccles and Ganci, console Dreuil after his defeat.
Luke Eccles starts his finals match against Peyton Bass of Airline.
Eccles gets a takedown.
Eccles secures his back points.
Eccles holds onto his opponent's leg.
Smiling towards his coaches, Eccles wins by a 10-2 major decision over Peyton Bass of Airline.
Eccles looks up as...
...the Jesuit crowd goes wild.
Eccles's hand is raised after winning.
Dreuil is awarded the silver medal.
Eccles is awarded the gold medal and the 126-lb. championship bracket.
Queyrouze is given the 4th place certificate.
Perry Ganci wrestles in the finals against Mack Brown of Brother Martin.
Ganci works toward the pin with under 1:00 remaining in the match.
PIN! The referee blows the whistle and hits the mat as Perry Ganci secures the pin with 26 seconds left in the 285-lb. state finals. Ganci won by fall over Mack Brown of Brother Martin.
The Jesuit crowd goes wild!
Ganci's hand is raised.
Ganci on the podium
Ganci is awarded the gold medal and his 285-lb. championship bracket.
Assistant coaches Brian Barry, Paul Hatty, and Sean Gayton join head coach Sheridan Moran as they stand behind 2019 state champions Luke Eccles and Perry Ganci.

Jesuit High School of New Orleans