SPORTS CARLY THOMAS

Bob Jones’ star female wrestler won her third consecutive state title, but this time it was very personal

STORY BY BOB LABBE

PHOTOS BY JOSHUA BERRY

FFor 16-year old Carly Thomas, a junior at Bob Jones High, facing adversities has been a common occurrence for the gifted student-athlete.

She began wrestling in seventh grade versus boys prior to the Alabama High School Athletic Association establishing girls wrestling across the state. She wrestled through her freshman season against girls while tending to an injured shoulder. In between her freshman and sophomore seasons she underwent surgery to repair the labrum of her right shoulder and was forced to sit out the sport for six months, during which time she gained 20 pounds during her recovery period.

Upon returning to the mats for her sophomore year Thomas had to shed those pounds she had gained to be able to wrestle in the 128-pound weight class. She accomplished that feat and in the process was named among the top 30 in the country as a female wrestler. In the just completed 2022-2023 wrestling season as a junior she won her third consecutive AHSAA State Championship with a pin over Jessalynn Allen (19-2) of Grissom at the 1:42 mark in the match. Thomas completed the season at 28-1.

Through all the blood and sweat she has put forth in her wrestling efforts to be a three-peat state champ, she also shed some tears this season.

For the last several years her father, Carlos Thomas, had been working in Washington State and had not been able to see Carly make her way onto the mats on a regular basis. Carly said the last time her father saw her in competition was her championship winning match in her freshman year. His work kept Carlos at bay while Carly lived with her mother, Mandi Manley, and her grandparents in Madison. Just prior to the State Championship Tournament Carly was presented the news every child does not want to hear-her father was killed.

On New Year’s Eve the Spokane, Wash. Police Dept. received a call a man had been shot in the East Central neighborhood of the city near East 7th Avenue and East Newark Avenue. When police arrived on the scene, they came upon one man fatally wounded. Very little is known of what happened as Carlos Thomas was gunned down early Saturday morning less than 24 hours before the New Year.

“Carly was devastated,” said Mandi, of her daughter’s learning of the murder. “It was very hard at first as her emotions of losing her father came in waves. Carly has a tremendous support system comprised of her wrestling team, fellow students at Bob Jones and of course her family. She even took it upon herself to care for her little sister, Kali, who at nine years of age looks up to Carly.”

Carlos was a mere 42 years old when he died in the streets of Spokane, Wash. Somehow Carly continued her schoolwork where she has a 4.0 grade point average and her quest for perfection on the wrestling mat. She fought through the grieving she suffered every day knowing she would never see her father again.

“As I made it to the State Tournament I kept thinking of my father,” said Carly. “It was extremely stressful being on the stage in front of hundreds who were at the CrossPlex in Birmingham. It was an amazing feeling to be in that position as I saw all my hard work paid of with a chance to win the state title in three consecutive

For Carly difficult situations has been her life as she played two years of tackle football at Discovery Middle School and currently plays for the Bob Jones flag football. In every effort she puts forth in athletics she is known as one of the toughest competitors and all the boys on the wrestling team show deep respect for her continued efforts in the grueling sport.

Once at the State Tournament Carly struggled with emotions of trying to defend her state title and the fact she had just recently buried her father. “I dedicated the entire tourney and wanted to win for him,” said Carly. “I know it had been a couple years since he saw me wrestle, but I feel he was there at the CrossPlex in spirit. When I won my third straight state championship, I know he was smiling from heaven.”

Mandi works as general manager of Subway on

Hughes Road. She’s also in her final year as a student at UAH earning her degree in business administration where she has posted a 3.88 grade point average. She smiled and said, “Carly’s in competition with me on who has the best GPA.”

Carly also works at Subway at both the Hughes Road and County Line Road locations. She’s been able to keep a constant schedule of success of athletics, school and work. Her mother attributes Carly’s outstanding attributes as a teenager to her discipline ways due to her being a high school wrestler.

“Yes, the sport has taught her discipline, responsibility and doing what is right,” said Mandi. “Athletics has kept her out of much of the normal teenage trouble. I support her 100-percent as when she began wrestling, I liked the idea and wrestling with boys was not an issue.”

Spokane police indicated suspects have been mentioned in Carlos’ murder, but no one has been arrested. Carly does not have closure with the death of her father, but being active in her many facets of life have assisted her in dealing with her loss and knowing her father will be there cheering her on in whatever she chooses to face, and when her hand is raised in victory, she will be that much closer to her father.