Hixson Wins Vandergriff Duals

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For coach Garrick Hall and the Hixson Wildcat wrestlers the third time was the charm as they defeated defending TSAA small school state duals champion Chattanooga Central, 30-25, Wednesday to win the Vandergriff Duals.

 

Central (7-3) beat host Hixson in the finals of this tournament last December and again in the state duals semis on the way to its first state championship since 1990.

 

“This is a nice win for us to beat the defending state champs but we most likely will have to beat Central again in February to win it all,†said coach Hall. “And they have two starters out of the line-up who could be back wrestling in February.â€

 

Barring upsets, the top four teams from last year’s duals should be seeded in the same order which would put No.1 Central and No.3 Hixson in opposite brackets.

 

Last year’s runner-up Pigeon Forge would be on Hixson’s side of the bracket and No.4 Stone Memorial would be with Central.

 

In Wednesday’s final (match started at 138), Central jumped to a 10-0 lead after three matches, only to see the Wildcats reel off a trio of victories themselves to lead 15-10 on the strength of a forfeit win, a pin and regular decision.

 

In a match which had five lead changes, Central regained the advantage at 16-15 on a forfeit win for Sam Sledge (195) and then won three of the next four to lead 25-18 with three matches remaining.

 

But the hosts picked up a forfeit win and two decisions and secured the win in the final bout as Ameer Jibron decisioned Mike West, 10-3, at 132.

 

Post-Match Meal: Coach Hall has a tradition where once all the mats are rolled up and put away and the gym cleaned up, the wrestlers get to consume the food in the hospitality room.

 

“They don’t have to make weight for a few days so they might as well enjoy the good food supplied by our boosters tonight.â€

 

Prayer for Carson Eslinger: Coach Hall led the team in prayer during the post-tournament meal for two-month-old Carson Eslinger, the son of UTC coach Heath Esliner ... Carson has been in the hospital for the last 10 days and has been diagnosed with botulism.

 

Father-Son Wrestlers: Clarence Hawthorne, father of Hixson junior Isaiah Hawthorne, wrestled at Oregon State in the early 1980s … he was a 1980 state champion and tournament outstanding wrestler at LaGrande (Ore.) High School as a senior …he was a two-time Pac 10 champion ... The Beavers come to Chattanooga Jan. 1-2 to compete in the Southern Scuffle at McKenzie Arena ... Isaiah is in his third year wrestling for Hixson and won the city-county championship while wrestling for the Mighty Warriors and was teammates with current state champs Campbell Lewis (Soddy Daisy) and Zach Watson (Baylor) and state medalist Jack Boone (Notre Dame).

 

Black Division

Hixson 50, Dalton 20

Hixson 49, East Ridge, 27

Hixson 76, Ridgeland 3

East Ridge 55, Ridgeland 0

Dalton 54, East Ridge 20

Dalton 72, Ridgeland 12

Standings: Hixson (3-0), Dalton (2-2), East Ridge (1-2), Ridgeland (0-3)

 

Gold Division

Central 44, Signal Mtn 22

Central 38, Walker Valley 25

Central 46, Stone Memorial 24

Stone Memorial 52, Signal Mtn 24

Walker Valley 69, Signal Mtn. 9

Walker Valley 50, Stone Memorial 12

Standings: Chattanooga Central (3-0), Walker Valley (2-1), Stone Memorial (1-2), Signal Mtn. (0-3)

 

Championship Final

Hixson 30, Chattanooga Central 25

 

Third Place

Walker Valley 45, Dalton 27

 

contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net

also posted on chattanoogan.com

[cheezi]

"But the hosts picked up a forfeit win and two decisions and secured the win in the final bout as Ameer Jibron decisioned Mike West, 10-3, at 132."

 

I believe that the Hixson wrestler's name is spelled "Jibrin"