Blackman's Matthew Sells confident in state wrestling repeat bid
It would be easy to say Blackman senior Matthew Sells has been living in the shadows of another legendary wrestler from Murfreesboro during his career.
That suits Sells just fine.
"Maybe (it would bother me) if we weren't such good friends," said Sells, referring to Riverdale senior heavyweight Nick Boykin, who is a two-time defending state champ. "We've wrestled together for years."
While Boykin has been highly publicized for his two state titles, 127 wins in a row and future at the Olympic Training Center, Sells has made quite a name for himself as well.
Sells is the defending 160-pound Class AAA state champ and has not lost a match this season. He will attempt to defend his crown at the TSSAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament, held Thursday through Saturday at Williamson Ag & Expo Center in Franklin.
Sells is 44-0 this season and 93-2 over the past two seasons. He has four consecutive Region 5-AAA championships, including titles at 145 pounds his freshman year and 152 his sophomore season.
He wrestled early this season at 170 pounds before going back down to his more familiar 160-pound weight class.
"He moves a lot better at 160," said Blackman coach Ronnie Bray. "That's where his body feels best."
Sells' success can be attributed to one major ingredient — his work ethic.
"He hasn't missed a practice in his career," said Bray. "Four straight years he's never missed. He's also gone over to MTSU and gotten practice there; he's gone to numerous camps. He's still improving every day. He's trained all over the place to get better."
Added Sells, "Practice is valuable to winning matches. I try to get in extra practice when I can. During the season we have so many matches, but I've gotten in most of my work in the offseason."
Sells, the No. 1 seed at 160, will wrestle Tennessee High's Will Poore in the first round Thursday. He is one of 35 boys from the area competing in Class AAA. Included are nine from Blackman, nine from Stewarts Creek and seven from Oakland. Eagleville will be represented with two wrestlers in A-AA while Smyrna will have one participant in the girls state tournament.
"It's going to be a tough road (for Sells)," said Bray. "There are some good wrestlers (in 160)."
Two other medalists return in the bracket, including Bradley Central's Caleb Adkins (No. 2 seed) and Walker Valley's Mikel Gregory.
And while confidence is certainly not an issue with Sells, he realizes anything can happen in wrestling, so staying on top of your game is essential.
"I know if I wrestle well, I should win," said Sells, whose state title last season was helped when Soddy-Daisy's two-time champ Tucker Russo (one of Sells' two losses a year ago) was disqualified from an earlier state match. "A lot of guys haven't worked as hard. I just have to focus on staying solid."
Sells has committed to wrestle at Cumberland University. Until then he has a repeat on his mind. He'll be keeping an eye on his buddy Boykin as well.
"I'll definitely be in his corner," Sells said, unless Boykin's opponent is Blackman 285-pounder Jamil Hughes.
Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.
Rutherford County wrestlers at state
Class AAA boys
106-pound division: Kenny Harless (Stewarts Creek), Evan Smart (Blackman)
113-pound division: David Medina (Riverdale), Kenny Pranaphong (La Vergne)
120-pound division: Jaylen James (Stewarts Creek), Semaj Burton (Oakland), Austin Swink (Riverdale)
126-pound division: Cameron Henderson (Smyrna), Carson Helton (Stewarts Creek)
132-pound division: Daniel Bradford (Blackman), Gabe Rogers (Stewarts Creek), Nathan Potter (Riverdale), Andrew Farrar (Oakland)
138-pound division: Brooks Sacharczyk (Blackman), Treavor South (Stewarts Creek), Sean Eastman (Oakland)
145-pound division: Jason Chambers (Stewarts Creek), Jalen Brown (Blackman), Michael Moultry (Siegel)
152-pound division: Landon Fowler (Blackman), Eli Haynes (Stewarts Creek)
160-pound division: Matthew Sells (Blackman), Ryder Gebhardt (Oakland), Levi Silvers (Stewarts Creek)
170-pound division: Justin Chambers (Stewarts Creek), TK Green (Oakland)
182-pound division: Christian Salter (Siegel), Spencer Layne (Blackman), Josh Rowland (Smyrna)
195-pound division: Delantay Isaac (Smyrna), Ryan Bruley (Oakland)
220-pound division: Brandon Boone (Oakland), Dylan Heath (Blackman)
285-pound division: Nick Boykin (Riverdale), Jamil Hughes (Blackman)
Class A-AA boys
113-pound division: Wyatt McLemore (Eagleville)
120-pound division: Blaine Fussell (Eagleville)
Girls
105-pound division: Kalea Sandberg (Smyrna)