PackMentality

6 of those are back next year (assuming no Chittum) along with some pretty darn good back-ups who would start at almost any other school and a few talented freshmen.

Yeah. Tree trunks for legs - but can he score on Davis?

Very very good.

He has looked really good today.

Cleveland with a finalist in every weight through 145. Not really surprising except maybe Randall.

Great win by Brenot but Laxton did not look right.

I agree. The matches against Todd were about as dominant a 1-0 match as you can have. Strange things can happen but I think Ashton wins it again. But that’s why they have the matches.

I understand the argument but returning medalists doesn’t necessarily make for a strong weight class. There are solid wrestlers but not one or two dominant guys. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see a good 220 lbs kid win or do well. If Davis went 285 I’d probably favor win to win it.

Not saying his prediction will play out but I do not think 285 is particularly strong this year.

I really see this as a three man bracket. Fowler wrestled Nadeau twice this year and it wasn’t close (both 1st period pins). I haven’t seen Baltz wrestle but see he split with Nadeau. I realize the transitive property theory doesn’t always work but I think Fowler actually has a fairly easy path to the finals. The Terrell v. Ford match should be a good one. Terrell looked really good in the Region finals against Fowler.

I think this will almost certainly be a Bradford v. Ellison final. Lipsey will have a tough time just getting by his first match with Mercante. If he does I think Bradford wins that one pretty easily. Little and Stokes are about even and Ellison handled Little easily. The final will be a great match.

Got it.

Interesting. Any reason given?

Pretty reasonable picks. Don’t see Fort beating Belcher though. I believe Belcher beat him in the State duals something like 10-5 but could be wrong on the score. 132 is a deep weight and I could see any of five kids winning it.

138 and 145 are locks. 220 is probably a lock but Ashton has had some close matches with Todd. Also, Ellison will have a tough one with Bradford who has looked great this year. 132 is a deep weight but Jackson has a favorable draw. If Cael is 100% he definitely has a chance. Fowler should make the finals at 106 but will have to pull a big upset to beat either Ford or Bryson. Also, Arlo has a shot at 120. His last match with Borders was a battle. Boyd got a favorable draw and has an outside shot at 182 - if he keeps the offensive pace up. Cleveland could easily have 9 in the finals.

Fowler got a nice draw with Ford getting put on the side with Terrell.

Yes, should be on opposite side from other wrestler in their region but don’t they otherwise get a random draw? So they could meet a high seed from another region very early, correct? It happened to Belcher last year.

What could be interesting is the draw of very good wrestlers who are not former placers and did not win their region. Two examples are Ethan Lipsey and Luke Belcher from Bradley and Logan Fowler from Cleveland. All are good enough to be finalist.

How many did Wilson qualify? Cleveland qualified 11 and I think Bradley qualified 9. Barring injury, Cleveland has 2 locks to win at 138 and 145. 2 other likely finalists at 113 and 220. A few other potential finalists. I would think Cleveland places at all qualified weights except maybe 160.

Deep region at that weight.

Ha ... was it also uphill both ways to practice? The level of wrestling in TN is way better than it was then. Heck, it’s way better than it was 5-10 years ago.

Bradley wins 106 and then Cleveland follows with a win at 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145 and 152. That includes a minor upset of Randall over Lipsey at 126.

Actually there is a chance the kids who lose in semis could advance because they are doing true second.

Boyd takedown on Lewis with 7 seconds left and rides out for win. Lewis will not go to state. Really good match.

Knox Watson pinned in Semis and will not advance to State. Not really sure it was an upset as I was never sure why Watson was ever ranked. He had to win in sudden victory OT just to get to semis.