CBHS' Brown wins state wrestling title

FRANKLIN — CBHS saved the best for last at the TSSAA state wrestling championships Saturday.

Trevor Brown, wrestling in the final match of the evening, won the Division 2 state championship in convincing fashion at 138 pounds, posting a 21-5 major-decision victory over Jospeh Vogelpohl of Nashville Father Ryan. Brown was one five CBHS wrestlers who entered the final day at the Williamson County Ag Expo Center with a chance to win a championship but the only one who got it done.

"Wow, that was the longest three hours of my life," said Brown, who finished in second place at 138 last year and runner-up at 132 in 2015.

"So many things are going through my mind right now ... it just really hasn't even sunk in yet."

Brown — who is being recruited by Missouri and West Virginia — said his confidence was bolstered by wrestling an opponent that he had already handily beaten twice this year, including in the region finals. Brothers coach Chris Lewis said he expected nothing less.

"He's just a hard-working son-of-a-gun," he said. "He really put it all together this year."

Elsewhere, it was a frustrating night for the Brothers, none more so than Tommy Brackett who removed his runner-up medal as soon as he left the stand.

The junior dropped a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime decision to Father Ryan's Andrew Wesnofske to finish in second for the second straight year. Brackett moved up to 195 this season after competing at 160 in 2016.

"I think I did what I could to score, (but) ... you can always do more," he said. "Maybe I could have pushed the pace a little bit. It's just very frustrating."

Five CBHS wrestlers advance to finals

Grayson Walthall also didn't waste any much time removing his medal after a 5-1 loss to Father Ryan's George Hooker in the 220-pound final.

"It hurts," he said. "You work hard all year and to end like this ... it hurts. I have to get back to the drawing board. You think you're training hard but you can always train harder."

Eric Hodge dropped a controversial decision at 160. The junior was leading Connor Duffy of Chattanooga Baylor with less than a minute to go before his opponent was awarded a point on a questionable stall call. Duffy then earned a point with a late escape to take the match, 2-1.

"I felt like I was wrestling strong, but I've just got to get better," Hodge said. "I've got one more year ... just have to put in more effort."

Freshman Jackson Herring was the fourth runner-up, dropping a 13-3 decision at 113 to Christian Simpson of Father Ryan.

CBHS wrestling on course for postseason

Several other CBHS wrestlers earned medals to help the Brothers pile up 179 points, good for third place. Father Ryan took the title.

Montana Doty (170), Andrew Sweatt (182) and Patrick Healy (285) all finished third. Charles Salvaggio and Connor Rasberry earned fourth-places at 106 and 132 while Tyler Lubin grabbed fifth at 120. Russ Palmer was sixth at 126.

In AAA, it was a good day for Arlington as the Tigers placed a school-record four wrestlers on the medal stand.

Aaron Moore and Alan Roaten finished in third at 182 and 220 respectively. Reed Cannon was fifth at 113 and Harrison Phillips placed sixth at 138. Dawson Johnson of Bartlett placed fourth at 195.

"I think Arlington is doing some pretty good things," said Moore, who lost in the semis to eventual champion Hunter Fortner of Gibbs. "We have a coach (Jonathan Simpson) that's always pushing us to do better. I could have done better but I can sleep at night."

Briarcrest also had a good showing with five medalists, led by Maverick Rorie and Ian Tiatian, who took fifth at 106 and 182 respectively. Baylor Harrington (160), Josiah Fahhoum (195) and Alex Green (285) took sixth.

Two MUS wrestlers also placed, Carlo Cuinocor (third, 113) and Thomas Wells (fifth, 160).

Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @johnvarlas