Newer wrestlers stepped up to get Alcoa to state duals
ALCOA — William Carter hadn’t wrestled since elementary school. It took Alcoa coach Brian Gossett several conversations before Carter decided to join the team as a sophomore this year.
It’s a good thing he did. Carter has turned out to be a key piece in Alcoa’s fifth consecutive trip to the state Class A-AA dual meet, which starts Friday in Franklin.
“This is the most inexperienced team we’ve taken to state duals in terms of how much wrestling the kids have done,” Gossett said. “We just have had a little bit more situational things outside of our control. Several kids have had to get going to get us there.”
Carter was one of those wrestlers; Gossett said he probably was the one who has taken the biggest steps. Originally, Carter saw wrestling as a way to keep in shape for soccer. But as the Tornadoes adjusted to injuries and transfers, Carter went from a backup learning how to do things to a starter.
Carter had been at the low end of the 160-pound weight class, so he dropped down into the 152 class to fill a hole. He’s made strides and improvements to make an impact for Alcoa.
“He stepped into the lineup for us and really done really well,” Gossett said. “Technique is the first thing but also just getting the opportunities on the mat and getting the opportunity to get into a lot of matches.”
Carter isn’t the only new wrestler for Alcoa. The team is split between returners from last year’s quarterfinal team and newcomers, with seven each. The team heading to Franklin isn’t the team Gossett originally accounted for.
“You plan on a certain group of kids, then you make adjustments when that’s not how it ends up,” he said. “Everyone in our division has probably dealt with some level of that.”
Alcoa still has some strong returners in that bunch, led by Grant Brace (220) and Noah Evans (182), both two-time individual medalists.
A different look
There will be a different look at Williamson County Expo Center this weekend, an effect of TSSAA’s realignment.
Greeneville, Alcoa and Gibbs will represent the Knoxville area in A-AA. Halls, Anderson County, William Blount and Heritage will compete in AAA. Grace Christian will wrestle in Division II.
Noticeably absent is Pigeon Forge, which won three out of the past four A-AA titles but was knocked off by Gibbs, which previously competed in AAA.
Overall, Gossett thinks this is the most balanced field he’s seen in A-AA. There are a few teams that are better but then others that could make a move with a little luck or the right circumstances.
The realignment has changed some things, though. After winning Region 1, Halls’ Ian Morgan commented it wasn’t the same without a rivalry with Gibbs.