State Wrestling: BGA's Mitchell reigns in DII; Spell of BA adds heavyweight title

Wrestling fans likely walked away Saturday night with some harder hearing thanks to Conner Mitchell and the Battle Ground Academy community.

In front of a packed section of supporters, the senior won BGA’s first Division II wrestling title since 2013 and just fourth individual title ever, according to TSSAA records, with a 6-5 decision over Joseph Vogelpohl of Father Ryan in the 152-pound championship at the Williamson County Ag Expo.

“It’s crazy, it’s absolutely crazy,” Mitchell said after claiming the title. “This is unreal, I just thank God for giving the opportunity to do this.”

Mitchell was locked up with a 5-5 score inside the final 30 seconds of the championship match, but broke free of Vogelpohl’s grip. The BGA fans erupted in cheers. Seconds later, Mitchell hoisted his hands as a state champion – the first for the Wildcats since Pierce Olson won at 138 five years ago. Records show the only other state champions for BGA came from Steve Harvey (1993) and Randy Uselton (1982).   

“I love this school and I love this community and the fact that they came out to watch me win was just awesome,” Mitchell said. “It was just something I only see in my dreams … throwing my hands up in the air and it finally happened. It was a dream come true and I’m forever blessed.”

Mitchell’s final year was riddled with injury, but coach Robert Jemison said he kept battling. Jemison called Mitchell the “blueprint” for future wrestlers at BGA.

“It’s a great feeling. Everything he got tonight he deserved,” the beaming coach said of his lone senior. “When practice was over, Conner kept working. When we didn’t have practice, Conner kept working.

“This was a lifetime dream of his and he wanted this all so bad, awfully proud of him and his family.”

Dolan Eckhart placed fifth at 170 earlier in the day for the Wildcats.

Brentwood Academy had two wrestlers reach the finals in Airin Spell (285) and Jordan McCoy (220).

Spell battled Christian Brothers’ Patrick Healy to the end to score an 8-5 decision and take the state championship. He held a long embrace with coach Scott Wells afterward, bettering his runner-up finish from last year. Wells accomplished the feat at 275 20 years ago for BA, when he was a back-to-back champ.

McCoy, who closed fourth last year, dropped a 2-0 decision to Grayson Walthall of Christian Brothers in the title match. Other Eagles who placed included Logan Spell (138), who placed fourth, and Billy Brooks (126), who placed sixth.

Division II Championships

Division II 106

1st Place Match – Christian Morris (McCallie) 5-0, . over Dayne Dalrymple (Christian Brothers) 35-13, Fr. (MD 15-1); 3rd Place Match - Tyler Holland (Father Ryan) 19-13, So. over Ethan Madaris (Chattanooga Christian) 31-4, So. (Dec 6-1); 5th Place Match – Hunter Bankes (Baylor) 9-5, 8th. over Ethan Rhoden (Franklin Road Academy) 18-8, So. (Fall 3:49).

Division II 113

1st Place Match – Emory Taylor (McCallie) 5-0, . over Jeremy Holloway (Notre Dame) 26-3, Jr. (MD 9-1); 3rd Place Match – Carlo Guinocor (Memphis University) 41-12, Sr. over Charles Salvaggio (Christian Brothers) 9-4, Jr. (Dec 12-5); 5th Place Match – Frank Perazzini (Montgomery Bell) 28-14, Fr. over Maverick Rorie (Briarcrest) 27-8, So. (Dec 4-1).

Division II 120

1st Place Match – Cody Chittum (McCallie) 5-0, . over Will Higgins (Montgomery Bell) 30-13, So. (Fall 2:53); 3rd Place Match – Luke Spencer (Christian Brothers) 21-26, Jr. over Harrison Nichol (Notre Dame) 15-13, Sr. (Fall 4:09); 5th Place Match – Jacob Weekley (Baylor) 15-22, So. over Ryan Aghabeg (Memphis University) 28-18, Sr. (Dec 6-0).

Division II 126

1st Place Match – Alex Whitworth (McCallie) 6-0, . over Evan Anthony (Christian Brothers) 40-12, Fr. (TF-1.5 4:00 (15-0)); 3rd Place Match – Tanner Thornton (Grace Christian - Knoxville) 49-10, Sr. over Bailey Rush (Father Ryan) 12-6, Jr. (MD 11-1); 5th Place Match – Joseph Curley (Nashville Christian) 32-15, Jr. over Billy Brooks (Brentwood Academy) 24-22, Jr. (Fall 4:39).

Division II 132

1st Place Match – Garrett Bowers (Christian Brothers) 47-6, So. over Zach Ward (McCallie) 5-2, (MD 10-2); 3rd Place Match – Hayden Hartline (Baylor) 33-8, Sr. over Joseph Tarquine (Montgomery Bell) 9-5, Sr. (Fall 3:21); 5th Place Match – Carlyle McAfee (Father Ryan) 24-19, Fr. over Brendan Jarvis (Christian Academy Of Knoxville) 18-7, Sr. (SV-1 2-0).

Division II 138

1st Place Match – Andrew Pace (Baylor) 35-8, Jr. over Lawrence Madson (Father Ryan) 30-14, So. (Fall 1:05); 3rd Place Match – Grant Speer (Notre Dame) 26-5, Sr. over Logan Spell (Brentwood Academy) 36-11, Fr. (MD 10-2); 5th Place Match – Austin Brooks (Christian Brothers) 23-18, Fr. over Mason Hughes (McCallie) 4-4,(Fall 1:46).

Division II 145

1st Place Match – Bryce Wittman (Montgomery Bell) 42-2, Sr. over Austin Atchley (Baylor) 35-10, Sr. (Dec 2-0); 3rd Place Match – Garrett Lay (Grace Christian - Knoxville) 41-6, Sr. over Elijah Hodge (Christian Brothers) 37-15, Jr. (DQ); 5th Place Match – Houston Crouch (Father Ryan) 18-18, Jr. over Drew White (Franklin Road Academy) 22-8, So. (Dec 7-4).

Division II 152

1st Place Match – Connor Mitchell (Battle Ground Academy) 26-8, Sr. over Joseph Vogelpohl (Father Ryan) 31-8, Sr. (Dec 6-5); 3rd Place Match – Alex Atchley (Baylor) 35-7, Sr. over Eric Beecham (Grace Christian - Knoxville) 40-9, Sr. (Dec 8-1); 5th Place Match – Gavin Cagle (Christian Academy Of Knoxville) 42-6, Fr. over Luke Leon (Christian Brothers) 33-20, Sr. (Dec 6-3).

Division II 160

1st Place Match – Mason Reiniche (Baylor) 39-1, Jr. over Eric Hodge (Christian Brothers) 21-19, Sr. (Fall 1:25); 3rd Place Match – Hayden Rowland (McCallie) 4-2, . over Hayden Alexander (Friendship Christian) 19-10, So. (Fall 0:38); 5th Place Match – Keith Biggs (Goodpasture) 15-10, Jr. over George Hutchinson (Chattanooga Christian) 24-12, Jr. (Dec 11-6).

Division II 170

1st Place Match – Thomas Sell (McCallie) 6-0, . over Connor Duffy (Baylor) 33-7, So. (Dec 13-8); 3rd Place Match – Nikita Kousovik (Father Ryan) 12-5, Sr. over Luke Condy (Christian Brothers) 36-18, Jr. (MD 10-2); 5th Place Match – Dolan Eckhart (Battle Ground Academy) 22-9, Jr. over Nic Bass (Grace Christian - Knoxville) 46-14, Jr. (Dec 8-4).

Division II 182

1st Place Match – Riley Westlake (Baylor) 39-5, Sr. over Dominic Fisher (Montgomery Bell) 23-5, Jr. (Dec 3-1); 3rd Place Match – Montana Doty (Christian Brothers) 43-6, Jr. over Tristan Heckert (Goodpasture) 28-4, Sr. (Fall 2:26); 5th Place Match – Russell Barry (McCallie) 5-3, over Adam Truelove (Chattanooga Christian) 30-12, Jr. (TF-1.5 3:59 (15-0)).

Division II 195

1st Place Match – Tommy Brackett (Christian Brothers) 36-2, Sr. over Walker Robinson (McCallie) 5-1, (Dec 9-3); 3rd Place Match – Will Watkins (Boyd Buchanan) 21-3, Sr. over Sam Reynolds (Baylor) 30-16, Sr. (Dec 5-2); 5th Place Match – James Boyd (Notre Dame) 14-8, Sr. over Kane Kleowtis (Father Ryan) 15-9, Jr. (For.).

Division II 220

1st Place Match – Grayson Walthall (Christian Brothers) 48-4, Sr. over Jordan McCoy (Brentwood Academy) 10-2, Sr. (Dec 2-0); 3rd Place Match – Stephen Christenbury (Memphis University) 39-11, Jr. over Chase Looper (McCallie) 4-3,(Dec 3-2); 5th Place Match – Stephen Morgan (Baylor) 27-16, Sr. over Felix Wilson (Father Ryan) 18-24, Jr. (Dec 5-4).

Division II 285

1st Place Match – Airin Spell (Brentwood Academy) 14-0, Sr. over Patrick Healy (Christian Brothers) 38-5, Sr. (Dec 8-5); 3rd Place Match – Tymon Mitchell (Franklin Road Academy) 20-3, Jr. over Ryan Jackson (Friendship Christian) 31-5, So. (Fall 4:07); 5th Place Match – Matthew Chinique (Christian Academy Of Knoxville) 36-7, Sr. over Matthew Rhodes (Memphis University) 20-14, Jr. (Fall 2:54).

Division II Team Scores

1 Christian Brothers 227.0; 2 McCallie 204.0; 3 Baylor 182.5; 4 Father Ryan 100.5; 5 Montgomery Bell Academy 79.0; 6 Brentwood Academy 60.0; 7 Notre Dame 54.0; 8 Grace Christian - Knoxville 45.0; 9 Memphis University 35.0; 10 Battle Ground Academy 28.0; 11 Franklin Road Academy 25.0; 12 Friendship Christian 24.0; 13 Christian Academy Of Knoxville 21.5; 14 Chattanooga Christian 21.0; 15 Goodpasture 20.5; 16 Boyd Buchanan 14.0; 17 Briarcrest 7.0; 18 Nashville Christian 6.0; 19 Webb School Of Knoxville 0.0; 20 Ensworth -3.0.