By Rob Sherrill, W.I.N. High School Editor

To many, the words “Alabama” and “wrestling” seem mutually exclusive.

Not so when you see the effect the six Cuthbertson brothers of Class 5A Scottsboro High have had on wrestling in this fast-growing state.

         With the last of the brothers, twins Chase and Kyle, closing their high school careers by winning their fifth state titles Feb. 9, they completed a legacy few wrestlers – or families – can boast.

         For the third consecutive year, the two pinned their way to state titles.

         Chase, who hasn’t had a state tournament match go to the second period since his sophomore year, needed just 86 seconds to put away three opponents to win at 160 pounds; finishing 58-1.

         Kyle, who needed 2 minutes, 41 seconds to finish his title match at 171, finally pinned Jarvis Carter of McCalla McAdory High to finish 61-0 and set a national single-season record with his 58th pin. (The previous record holder was former Michigan State standout Nick Simmons, when he was at Williamston (Mich.) High.

         Over those three seasons, Chase, who had 50 pins this season, has spent just 9:34 on the mat and Kyle just 11:04 in nine state tournament matches. The two have set plenty of other records, too.

         Along with older brother Michael, who graduated in 2005 and will enroll at Boise State next fall, Chase and Kyle made the Cuthbertson family the first with three five-time state champions. With Chase finishing 267-9 in his career and Kyle 275-9 — the fourth and second highest victory totals in the record book — their 542 combined wins by twins smashed the previous record by nearly 200.

         Their 108 combined pins broke the previous record by 25 and Kyle’s 61 wins are a state record in any class.

         Add in brothers Rob, Scott (1998-99) and Jeff (1998, 2000-01) and the six sons of Bob and Teresa Cuthbertson combined to win 20 state championships (going 20-2 in finals matches), five career 100-match winners and nearly, 1,000 career wins.   Scottsboro rewrote the state record books, too, in winning its third consecutive 5A team title, setting a state record with seven state champions and scoring 211 points, more than doubling the total of runner-up Arab High (94.5).

         The two have done plenty in other venues as well. Chase is a former Cadet National freestyle All-American and Kyle was a finalist in the NHSCA National High School Juniors Wrestling Championships a year ago.

         But there’s more to this family than these almost incomprehensible numbers. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the two will embark on missions following graduation from high school before starting their college careers. Under their parents’ guidance, the brothers all put faith first, even agreeing to begin previous NHSCA National Open Championships, which once began on Sunday, in the consolation bracket rather to wrestle on the Sabbath.

         W.I.N. caught up with both of the twins for this unique interview.

         WIN: Looking at the media coverage from this weekend’s state tournament, it seemed as though it was almost a coronation of what the two of you, and your family, have done for wrestling in the state. Did it have an almost surreal feeling?

         Kyle: Yeah, it really was. I don’t know how to explain it. It was a little overwhelming, almost unreal. It really hasn’t sunk it yet.

         Chase: I just felt a lot of gratitude for the people that helped me out: my parents and my coaches. And all the fans who cheered us on.

         WIN: With all of that going on, was it ever hard to remember, ‘Hey, we’re here to wrestle?’

         Kyle: Actually, it really wasn’t. With our team, I didn’t have to worry about our team race, the team state championship. Everybody on our team did their part. They did what they had to do the first couple of rounds, and the second day, the finals, all we had to do was just go out there and have fun, just wrestle.

         WIN: Last year, after coming up short at state quite a few times, Scottsboro finally broke through. This year Scottsboro dominated, with seven state champions. Is being part of a team performance like that as satisfying as the way the two of you were able to finish it off?

         Kyle: I’d say it is. It’s two different things. It’s really nice to win an individual state title, but it’s extra special whenever you get your whole team there. It was really a big team effort. And we had it wrapped up Friday night. We didn’t even have to (come back) Saturday.

         Chase: Everybody else on our team worked really, really hard, in practices and in our matches at the state tournament. They were definitely as dedicated as we were. I knew that all of our guys would do well. Most of them were already favored to win, but we had a few upsets also. I don’t think we felt any pressure to win.

         WIN: It was quite a weekend and a long time in coming for you guys. Your dad must have started the two of you in wrestling before you could remember. What’s your earliest wrestling memory?

         Kyle: We started in kindergarten. And I can remember that my first memory of wrestling, I didn’t even have any wrestling shoes. I just used some old tennis shoes. I didn’t even have a singlet. It was just so long ago.

         WIN: Chase, you’re at different weight classes because you have to be. But at what point in your life did it become clear that you were going to be at the lighter weight classes and Kyle at the one above you?

         Chase:  Ever since we started wrestling, Kyle was about five pounds heavier than I was. I was a little taller and thinner and by the time we got to high school, he gained even a little more, to where he was about 10 pounds heavier.

         WIN: Like everybody who has older brothers in wrestling, you took your share of poundings over the years. That had to get pretty old after a while, didn’t it?

         Kyle: They did beat on us plenty. But that made us tough. They were an example for us.

         Chase: We got used to getting beat down, then just getting back up and trying harder the next time.

         WIN: According to one of the articles I read about you, both of you voted your brother, Michael, the best wrestler in the family. Why?

         Kyle: Not just because he’s a great wrestler, but he’s so dedicated to what he does. He’s just a great person and he’s been a great example to me and Chase. And he’s accomplished a lot.

         Chase: He really beat us down in practice. He’s just amazingly strong; we’re lucky to even get a takedown in practice against him.

         WIN: Not only are you both twins, but you’re the youngest in the family. Are there things the two of you share with each other, wrestling or otherwise, that you don’t share with your other brothers; things that are just your secrets?

         Kyle: I’m sure it’s different for us just having a twin. It’s something really special. Chase is the best drill partner you could ever ask for.  Chase and I, we’re best friends even though we don’t act like it sometimes.

         Chase: In our whole entire lives, Kyle and I have spent only one day apart. That was in kindergarten, when I was invited to a sleep-over. We were in different classes at the time and if he was in my class, he would have come. But we’re best friends and I’m very close to all my brothers, but more so with Kyle. We share everything.

         WIN: When you guys are at practice, do you work out with each other? Or do you work out with other guys on the team and work out with each other on your own time?

         Kyle: We wrestle each other most of the time. But we work out with other guys a lot when our coach asks us to help somebody out with a move or work on something specific. But whenever we’re in the off-season, it’s just me and him working out for the national tournaments.

         WIN: You guys both have great records, but you’ve both got some unique accomplishments. You’ve placed at Fargo; Kyle hasn’t. Kyle made the finals of the NHSCA Junior Nationals; you didn’t. Do you gig each other every once in while how it’s the other’s turn to add that little piece to the resume?

         Chase: No, we just want each other to the best that he can. And if one of us doesn’t do well, the other one’s always encouraging  to get back up and try harder.

         WIN: Talk about your styles a little bit. What does your brother do better than you, and what do you do better than him?

         Kyle: Chase has more technique. I think he’s a lot quicker than I am. I think I’m a lot more physical. I like to grind and pound, I guess.

         Chase: I think I get a little more nervous than he does, but I don’t know – I’m not him. I can be a little bit of a brawler, too, but I guess I’ve always been more of a fluid wrestler than physical.

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