Baylor Tops McCallie, 42-21

[bbb]

McCallie wrestling coach Mike Newman noted that Baylor won the little moments which turned into big wins.

 

Baylor wrestling coach Ben Nelson said that his guys gave themselves a chance to win at the end in most every match.

 

And in the end, Baylor prevailed, 42-21, Friday night before a standing room-only crowd at the McCallie Sports and Activities Center, winning eight of 14 weight classes.

 

“We were able to pick up swing matches at 106 and 132 and had the upper hand in bonus points (18-3), which proved to be the difference in the match,†said Nelson as Baylor improved to 22-7 on the season and leads the cross-town rivalry, 45-40 (dating back to 1946), having won the last eight meetings.

 

Swing Matches (106, 132): With Baylor leading 9-6 after five weight classes (match started at 170), Red Raider eighth grader Michael Murphy used a 2-point takedown with three seconds remaining for a come-from-behind, 4-3 win against James Westbrooks who had led 3-0 after two periods.

 

Murphy's first point came when Westbrooks was called for a second stalling (worth one point) in the third period to cut the lead to 3-1. Murphy then escaped before gaining the winning takedown.

 

“That was a big win for us as the overall match would have been tied at 12-all if Westbrooks wins,†said Nelson.

 

In reality, Baylor led, 15-9.

 

At 132, two-time state champion Brandon Bruner pinned Tim Westbooks in 3:47 to avenge a 6-3 loss to Westbrooks last weekend in Atlanta and to give Baylor a 27-15 lead.

 

Bruner led 1-0 in the second period (on a locked hands call against Westbrooks) when Westbrooks tried to tilt his Baylor opponent to gain back points, but was caught with both shoulders on the mat for the defensive pin.

 

“That was a big win as it gave us a 12-point lead with four matches to go,†Nelson said.

 

In between those two matches, McCallie had two regular decisions at 113 and 120, while Baylor four-time state champion Zach Watson gained a fall on Griffin Davis and Baylor led 21-15 prior to the Bruner-Westbrooks match.

 

McCallie senior Alex Ward pinned Blake Southerland at 138 in 1:46 before the Red Raiders won the final three weights with pins from Bryson Popp (145) and Houston Clements (152) and a regular decision from Russell Burton (160).

 

Baylor opened with a forfeit win at 170 for Matthew Cate, followed by coach Newman moving Eliot Berz up a weight to 182 and beat Spencer Craig, 6-3, with an escape and takedown in the third period. This avenged a 9-3 loss to Craig last weekend in Atlanta.

 

The teams gained an additional six points each in the next three weights as Baylor’s Matt Bodine had a fall at 195 (Baylor led 12-3), while McCallie’s Casey Cook (overtime) and Tye Youngblood had regular decision victories at 220 and 285, respectively (Baylor led, 12-9), leading up to the 106 match.

 

State Duals: Baylor finishes No.2 in the D-II East/Middle and will be in the same half bracket as the state’s No.1-ranked Christian Brothers (top seed out of the West Region).

 

McCallie (No.3 in the East/Middle) will be in the same bracket as Father Ryan who is the No.1 team from the East/Middle.

 

The state duals are Feb. 3-4 at the Williamson County Ag & Expo Center in Franklin. The pairings for D-I and D-II State Duals will be posted on the TSSAA web site Sunday or Monday.

 

Overtime: McCallie won both overtime matches

120 Pound Class – Adam Connell scored a takedown in the first overtime period for the win … Match was tied 2-2 after two periods … Connell had a reverse in the third to lead, 4-2, but was called for three cautions worth one point to Eady who escaped late in the period to tie the match, 4-4, and force overtime.

 

220-Pound Class – Casey Cook used an escape in the sudden death third overtime period for a 3-2 win against Ryan Seaberg … Cook led 1-0 in the second period, while Seaberg countered with an escape of his own in the third to force overtime ..,. no takedown in first overtime … both wrestlers gained an escape in the two, 30 second rounds in the second overtime … Since Cook scored the first point of the match, he had his choice of top, down or neutral in the suddent death third overtime … he chose down and quickly escaped for the win.

 

Baylor 42, McCallie 21

170: Matthew Cate (Bay) forfeit win … Baylor, 6-0

182: Elliot Berz (McCallie) dec. Spencer Craig, 6-3 … Baylor, 6-3

195: Matt Bodine (Baylor) pinned Nathan Hoodenpyle, 1:47 … Baylor 12-3

220: Casey Cook (McCallie) dec. Ryan Seaberg, 3-2 in 3OT … Baylor, 12-6

285: Tye Youngblood (McCallie) dec. Mitch Payne, 4-0 … Baylor, 12-9

106: Michael Murphy (Baylor) dec, James Westbrooks, 4-3 … Baylor, 15-9

113: Alex Elsea (McCallie) dec. Caleb Powell, 11-6 … Baylor, 15-12

120: Adam Connell (McCallie) dec. John Eady, 6-4, OT … 15-15

126: Zach Watson (Baylor) pinned Griffin Davis, 4:21 … Baylor, 21-15

132: Brandon Bruner (Baylor) pinned Tim Westbrooks, 3:47 … Baylor, 27-15

138: Alex Ward (McCallie) pinned Blake Sutherland, 1:46 … Baylor, 27-21

145: Bryson Popp (Baylor) pinned Austin Halleron, 1:31 … Baylor, 33-21

152: Houston Clements (Baylor) pinned Alex Kent, 4:15 …. Baylor, 39-21

160: Russell Burton (Baylor) dec. Calum McCroskey, 10-5 … Baylor, 42-21

Records: Baylor (22-7), McCallie (7-8)

 

Statistics

First Takedowns: Baylor, 6-5

Wins: Baylor, 8-6

Falls: Baylor, 5-1

Forfeits: Baylor, 1-0

Major Decisions: None

Tech Falls: None

Regular Decisions: McCallie, 5-2

Overtime Wins: McCallie, 2-0

Tie Scores: 1 (15-15)

Lead Changes: None

Edited January 28, 2012 by bbb

[bigred4life]

As always....I great article BBB. Wish I could have been there cheering on the Red Raiders. But a great win and 8 straight against McCallie. Go Baylor!

[hoosierdad]

Another great article by BB. Great job in reporting the match. It was a classic and I thought McCallie was in control after the heavywight match. I thought it was in McCallie's hand and then Murphy from Baylor secures a takedown at the end of the match to make a 6-point swing in Baylor's favor at 106 lbs. which proved to be critical. I thought McCallie would get bonus points at 113 and 120 lbs. but did not and I thought that took the air out of McCallie. If that was not enouogh, Tim Westbrooks of McCallie pins himself at 132 lbs. and the match is over.

 

Another great match and enviroment. Wrestling needs more of these type matches.

 

With Baylor's win, they will be in the same side of the bracket with Christian Brothers and I think this match in the semi-finals could be a classic like last year. Baylor looks to be more healthy and could pose some problems for Christian Brothers; however, I still believe Christian Brothers is the team to beat as they have shown all year.

 

DII is going to be great at the state, not only the Duals, but especially at the Individuals.

 

Good Luck to All! It should be exciting.

Edited January 28, 2012 by hoosierdad

[Chattcity]

What has happened to Cole Holloway? Is he hurt?