Inspiring for coaches and wrestlers...

[Sommers]

The value of feeders in Blount, Knox, Sevier and Greenville areas...

 

Congrats to Gibbs and both PF & Alcoa... as well as Greenville for hard fought region tournament results...

 

http://www.knoxnews.com/sports/high-school/pigeon-forge-bounces-back-for-region-wrestling-title-2bac7146-7504-44e3-e053-0100007f780e-368783891.html?d=mobile

 

Pigeon Forge bounces back for region wrestling title

 

By John Shearer of the Knoxville News Sentinel

 

Yesterday 6:10 p.m.

 

Pigeon Forge High School wrestling coach Greg Foreman was feeling disappointed after the Class A-AA state duals on Feb. 6, when his team was edged by Chattanooga Red Bank, 34-30, in the finals.

 

This was in part because Tigers' standout Jacob Ruiter was disqualified for what was ruled an illegal move in the deciding match at 120 pounds.

 

But Saturday in the traditional Region 1-A/AA tournament, there was no controversy, and Foreman was back to smiling after Pigeon Forge finished ahead of runner-up and host Alcoa, 242-207.

 

"They did a good job of bouncing back," Foreman said. "I was definitely pleased. Sometimes, when unfortunate situations happen, the reaction can be very different."

 

Ruiter also bounced back to win a region title, joining teammates Matthew Kieta at 138 and Josh Croley at 160 atop the podium. The Tigers qualified 12 wrestlers for this week's state tournament at the Williamson County Expo Center in Franklin, making Foreman thankful for another shot at a state title.

 

"The unique thing about our sport is that you get a shot at two state titles," he said.

 

Greeneville (169) finished third in Region 1-A/AA, while Christian Academy of Knoxville had the best finish among Knox County teams with 99 points for fifth place.

 

Other area Region 1-A/AA individual champions were Zach Griffin of Catholic (103), Ryan Verhulst of Alcoa (132), Garrin Shuffler (145) and Josh Vance (152) of Greeneville, Karim Shereef (170) and Jack Warwick (182) of Alcoa, John Zavracky of CAK (195), Nick Foster of Greeneville (220), and Samson Evans of Alcoa (285).

 

Region 2-AAA: Team-wise, Gibbs coach Tim Pittman was happy his Eagles won their first traditional region title since the split to large and small schools. With 192.5 points, Gibbs finished ahead of Halls (152), Hardin Valley (146.5), host Bearden (89) and Farragut (62).

 

But looking at the individual results, he was a little disappointed all his wrestlers did not make the state tournament.

 

"We took 13 kids to the region, but we are coming out with 10 kids, all of whom made the finals," he said. "It broke my heart the three other kids didn't make it, though."

 

Individual region champions for Gibbs were Landon Adzima at 120, Matthew Maxwell at 132, Angel Leyva at 145, Hunter Fortner at 182, John Lawson III at 195, and Jonathan Davis at 285.

 

Among the other champions, 160-pounder Tate Homes of Anderson County won his fourth region title. Other Region 2-AAA winners were Tyler McKeefery (106) of Farragut, Tolliver Justice (113) and Chris Nielsen (126) of Halls, Ian McNitt (138) of Hardin Valley, Sirrel Robinson (152) and Colton McMahan (160) of Halls, and Charles Chappell (220) of Hardin Valley.

 

 

Region 3-AAA: Host Heritage, with individual titles by Juan Hernandez (126), Joshua Teaster (138), Michael Diemer (145), Josh Carpenter (182), and Javier Salvador (220), claimed the team victory over William Blount, 205-177.5.

 

Behind them were Stone Memorial (149), Maryville (94) and Seymour (74).

 

Other local Region 3-AAA individual champions were William Blount's Calvin Martin (113), Wesley Nuchols (152), Dawson Satterfield (160) and Nolan Kennedy (170). Jared Henshaw of Seymour won at 106.

 

Region 1-AAA: Jefferson County, with individual titles by Josh Booker (182) and Logan Townsend (285), finished third in the team race behind winner Tennessee High at Morristown East.

[Sommers]

Top Ten Newspaper, AJC, Covers Wrestling in Ga...

 

http://highschoolsports.blog.ajc.com/2016/02/13/2016-ghsa-traditional-state-wrestling-recapresults/

 

2016 GHSA Traditional State Wrestling Recap/Results

 

The dual and traditional high school state wrestling titles were swept in each classification for consecutive years Saturday at the Infinite Energy Arena in Gwinnett. Class AAAAAA Archer, Class AAAAA Camden County, Class AAAA Gilmer, Class AAA Jefferson, Class AA Social Circle and Class A Commerce successfully defended their traditional titles while crowning a combined 35 of the 84 individual state champions across the 14 weight classes and six classifications.

 

Commerce secured the program’s third consecutive Class A traditional title in record-setting style. After dominating last year’s field with 283 points and placing a wrestler in the top four of every weight class with a school-record eight individual champions, the Tigers accumulated a massive 322-point total. All 14 wrestlers advanced to the finals and the team crowned 11 individual state champions. Tucker Flint (106), Kole Burchett (113), Jacob Brewer (120), Dylan Deaton (126), Dalton Flint (132), Owen Brown (145), Nick Patrick (152), Chase Forrester (160), Knox Allen (170) Cole Chancey (182) and Michael Patton (220) each took home titles, while teammates Austin Brock placed second behind Landmark Christian’s Colin Greer (138), Dontavious Mosley fell to Treutlen’s Cody Calhoun in the 195-pound final and sophomore Cade Ridley finished second behind Mt. Zion’s Chandler Butler at 285.

 

In Class AAAAAA, Archer’s 172.5 total held off second-place North Forsyth (106) and third-place Mountain View (94) to bring home the program’s fourth straight sweep of dual and traditional titles. Brothers and Archer standouts Thomas Bullard (170) Daniel Bullard (182) capped off their perfect seasons and became the 31st and 32nd four-time individual state champions in Georgia state history. Chris Diaz took home the 145-pound title after winning gold at 132 pounds a year ago.

 

Class AAAAA Camden County successfully defended its first traditional state title with 268.5 points as Woodland-Bartow finished second with 187.0. Raydan Wilder (120), Bunmi Smith (160), Antonio Stewart (170), Dominique Hargrave (182) and Gabe Smith (285) gave the Wildcats five individual champions. Woodland-Bartow crowned three individual champions, including Kyle Golhoffer (106), Logan Sims (132) and Cody Cochran (152).

 

Class AAAA Gilmer (152.5) edged North Hall (141.0) and Buford (124.5) for the program’s fourth-straight traditional title. Lucas Patterson (132), Matthew Waddell (182) and Levi Seabolt (285) repeated as individual champions and senior Albert Perez scored a 5-4 decision over Madison County’s Cody Bond for the 120-pound title.

 

In Class AAA, Jefferson won the program’s 16th straight traditional title and 20th all-time, outscoring second-place Ringgold 273-119. The Dragons crowned six individual champions. Murray County’s Marcelino Lopez joined the Indians for his senior year after spending three seasons as a former champion with Class AAAA Gilmer. Lopez won the 113-pound individual Class AAAA title in 2014 over Heritage-Catoosa’s Charles Thurman. The next year, however, Thurman beat Lopez in the 120-pound final. This time, both former champions brought home titles as Lopez took home the 126-pound title in Class AAA and Thurman clinched Class AAAA’s 126-pound title.

 

Social Circle (235) edged second-place Bremen (184) to claim the program’s second traditional title at Class AA. Levi Leach (126), Travis Tyson (132), James Corasaniti (138), Reid Harris (145), Cameron Paschal (182) and David Engstrom (195) won individual titles for the Redskins.

 

Final Team Standings

 

Class AAAAAA

 

Archer 172.5, 2. North Forsyth 106, 3. Mountain View 94, 4. Lambert 88, 5. Lee County 83, 6. Collins Hill 76.5, 7. Brookwood 74, 8. Kennesaw Mountain 67.5, 9. Central Gwinnett 58.5, 10. Tift County 54.5

 

Class AAAAA

 

Camden County 268.5, 2. Woodland-Bartow 187, 3. Union Grove 102.5, 4. Cass 94, 5. South Paulding 81, 6. Cambridge 75, 7. Creekview 68.5, 8. Clarke Central 62.5, 9. Allatoona 59, 10. Ola 41.5

 

Class AAAA

 

Gilmer 152.5, 2. North Hall 141, 3. Buford 124.5, 4. West Laurens 100.5, 5. Marist 92, 6. Heritage-Catoosa 85, 7. Locust Grove 80.5, 8. Chestatee 77, 9. Carrollton 76.5, 10. St. Pius 63

 

Class AAA

 

Jefferson 273, 2. Ringgold 119, 3. Morgan County 107, 4. Banks County 84, 5. Rockmart 72, 6. Oconee County 67.5, 7. Sonoraville 67.5, 8. Elbert County 62, 9. Jackson County 58, 10. Calhoun 55

 

Class AA

 

Social Circle 235, 2. Bremen 184, 3. Lovett 97.5, 4. Darlington 90, 5. Greater Atlanta Christian 54, 6. Model 49, 7. Fitzgerald 48, 8. Pace Academy 38, T9. Armuchee 34, T9. Gordon Lee 34, T9. Wesleyan 34

 

Class A

 

Commerce 322, 2. Trion 109, 3. Mt. Zion 106, 4. Turner County 88, 5. Treutlen 83, 6. St. Francis 60.5, 7. Eagle’s Landing Christian 56, 8. Irwin County 46, 9. Mount Vernon Presbyterian 34.5, T10. Mt. Pisgah 29, T10. Tattnall Sqaure Academy 29

 

 

 

Class AAAAAA

 

106 pounds: 1. Aaron Maxfield Lee County, 2. Ahkeem Lewis Central Gwinnett, 3. Payton Mitchell Lambert, 4. Tariq Malik Collins Hill

 

113 pounds: 1. Hasan Krigger Central Gwinnett, 2. Eric Diemert Lambert, 3. Paul Watkins North Forsyth, 4. Vinnie Rosatti Kennesaw Mountain

 

120 pounds: 1. Todd Small North Gwinnett, 2. Aslan Kilic Wheeler, 3. Gavin Smith Archer, 4. Jason Caldwell Marietta

 

126 pounds: 1. Codi Russell Collins Hill, 2. Andrew Burpee Habersham Central, 3. Xavier Rodriguez Pope, 4. Tray Walton Valdosta

 

132 pounds: 1. Matthew Sheetz Lambert, 2. Quen Campbell Tift County, 3. Stephen Hart Rockdale, 4. Spencer Wilson Lakeside DeKalb

 

138 pounds: 1. Denver Stonecheck West Forsyth, 2. Jason Moore Newnan, 3. Slater Cruz Lee County, 4. Tyrone Hearn Rockdale

 

145 pounds: 1. Chris Diaz Archer, 2. Leon Jarda Mountain View, 3. Jesse DeJames North Paulding, 4. Josh Parr Peachtree Ridge

 

152 pounds: 1. Justin George Mountain View, 2. David Key Brookwood, 3. Chandler Miele Mill Creek, 4. Conner Carroll North Forsyth

 

160 pounds: 1. Abe Elias Pope, 2. Gabriel Lee Archer, 3. Justin Lewis North Gwinnett, 4. Brennan McCrum South Forsyth

 

170 pounds: 1. Thomas Bullard Archer, 2. Miles Nolan Brookwood, 3. Matt Picus Chattahoochee, 4. Tr`Sean Williams Marietta

 

182 pounds: 1. Daniel Bullard Archer, 2. Eric Kohlins Lambert, 3. Brandon Reibly Etowah, 4. Michael Thurman Alcovy

 

195 pounds: 1. Carlin Powell Hillgrove, 2. Hunter Loyd North Forsyth, 3. Austin Brown Mountain View, Cole Anderson Roswell

 

220 pounds: 1. Bronson Rechsteiner Etowah, 2. Quinn Miller Archer, 3. Collins Tensley Lee County, 4. Aaron Johnson Kennesaw Mountain

 

285 pounds: 1. Jackson Bardall North Forsyth, 2. Kobe Gadson Kennesaw Mountain, 3. Nathaniel Wellington Collins Hill, 4. James Monteiro Lee County

 

Class AAAAA

 

106 pounds: 1. Kyle Golhoffer Woodland-Bartow, 2. John Watts Coffee, 3. Bryson Neace Union Grove, 4. Tyler Crew Camden

 

113 pounds: 1. Bryce Davis Creekview, 2. Cleveland Belton Clarke Central, 3. Lucas Nelson Camden, 4. Michael Parker Dutchtown

 

120 pounds: 1. Raydan Wilder Camden, 2. Davion Fairley Union Grove, 3. Jackson DiSario Ola, 4. Pierre Dowling Cross Creek

 

126 pounds: 1. Isiah Royal Effingham County, 2. Will Formato Allatoona, 3. Dawson Woods Woodland-Bartow, 4. Noah Isley South Paulding

 

132 pounds: 1. Logan Sims Woodland-Bartow, 2. Will Moon South Paulding, 3. Zion Graham Camden, 4. Ronald Link Flowery Branch

 

138 pounds: 1. Hunter Quinn Cass, 2. Denton Spencer Camden, 3. Brandon Filosi Cambridge, 4. Ryan Camp Creekview

 

145 pounds: 1. Justin Ruffin Union Grove, 2. Adrian Hughes Camden, 3. Logan Chastain Northgate, 4. Spencer Cooper Woodland-Bartow

 

152 pounds: 1. Cody Cochran Woodland-Bartow, 2. Will Britain Cambridge, 3. Brian Stanford Camden, 4. Jack Woods Allatoona

 

160 pounds: 1. Bunmi Smith Camden, 2. Braden Johnson Creekview, 3. Ian Darling Starr`s Mill, 4. Liam Quigley Riverwood

 

170 pounds: 1. Antonio Stewart Camden, 2. Blake Meadows Ola, 3. Zebrandon Gant Effingham, 4. Jake Mctyre South Paulding

 

182 pounds: 1. Domonique Hargrave Camden, 2. Owen Graham Clarke Central, 3. Sam Ashway Kell, 4. Daniel Curry Jones County

 

195 pounds: 1. Torres Finney Jones County, 2. Tripp Breeden Cass, 3. Camden Johnson Union Grove, 4. Matt Wall of Camden

 

220 pounds: 1. Michael Farmer South Paulding, 2. Brooks Alfred Carver-Columbus, 3. Richard Walker Heritage, 4. Trey Wolfe Cambridge

 

285 pounds: 1. Gabe Smith Camden, 2. Dalton May Woodland-Bartow, 3. Seven Richards Cass, 4. Daniel Gothard Dunwoody

 

Class AAAA

 

106 pounds: 1. Koby Milner Pickens, 2. Logan Ashton Buford, 3. Matt Glenn North Hall, 4. Ricardo Romero Locust Grove

 

113 pounds: 1. Andrew Pace Marist, 2. Jake Lee Sandy Creek, 3. Dre Porter Crisp County, 4. Logan McGowan West Laurens

 

120 pounds: 1. Alberto Perez Gilmer, 2. Cody Bond Madison County, 3. Chase Seals Troup, 4. Bryan Gembe Northwest Whitfield

 

126 pounds: 1. Charles Thurman Heritage-Catoosa, 2. Grady Pastor Woodward Academy, 3. Reed Bethune Marist, 4. Robby Earick Cartersville

 

132 pounds: 1. Lucas Patterson Gilmer, 2. Jacob Mariakis Ridgeland, 3. Daniel Jernagin Heritage-Catoosa, 4. Blake Beasley West Laurens

 

138 pounds: 1. Marvin Cunningham Chestatee, 2. Nick Voiles of Carrollton, 3. Trent Ferguson Buford, 4. Dylan Jernagin Heritage-Catoosa

 

145 pounds: 1. Jack Barber Buford, 2. Max Spearman St Pius, 3. Keegan Sharpe Gilmer, 4. Tucker Sippola Carrollton

 

152 pounds: 1. Ben Deal West Laurens, 2. TK Clay Crisp County, 3. Jacob Oneal Locust Grove, 4. Johnny Pamphile Hampton

 

160 pounds: 1. Michael Carew North Hall, 2. Cole Ingram Lafayette, 3. Cameron Butler West Laurens, 4. Henson Gibbs Northwest Whitfield

 

170 pounds: 1. Nick Whitmire North Hall, 2. Jack Marsh St. Pius, 3. Champ Leddon Locust Grove, 4. Jaime Arroyo of Chestatee

 

182 pounds: 1. Matthew Waddell Gilmer, 2. Isaiah Hale North Hall, 3. Robert Larmore Marist, 4. Isaac Alarcon Chestatee

 

195 pounds: 1. Jaquan Stinson Howard, 2. Jack Ness Buford, 3. Jordan Lewis Northwest Whitfield, 4. James Teague Whitewater

 

220 pounds: 1. Chris Henderson Ridgeland, 2. Lazavier Moore Upson Lee, 3. Tim Hall Cook, 4. Randy Galvan North Hall

 

285 pounds: 1. Levi Seabolt Gilmer, 2. Hudson Newton Troup, 3. Tanner Nance Heritage-Catoosa, 4. Martez Hudson Carrollton

 

Class AAA

 

106 pounds: 1. Trevor Burdick Sonoraville, 2. Ian Statia Jefferson, 3. Tanner Stone Ringgold, 4. Salvador Grimaldo Adairsville

 

113 pounds: 1. Hunt Tyler Sonoraville, 2. Dawson Bates Jefferson, 3. Ricardo Santana Toombs County, 4. Truett Bowman Rockmart

 

120 pounds: 1. Mitchell McGhee Jefferson, 2. Tillman Chesnutt Westminster, 3. Luke Gonzalez Jackson County, 4. Aguirre Aaron Calhoun

 

126 pounds: 1. Marcelino Lopez Murray County, 2. Noah Kile Blessed Trinity, 3. Cole Potts Jefferson, 4. Will Davisdon East Hall

 

132 pounds: 1. Tanner Thurmond Jefferson, 2. Muadh As-Siddiq McNair, 3. Chandler Saine Jackson County, 4. Devin Darden Rockmart

 

138 pounds: 1. Jody McAlister Morgan County, 2. Chris McCrackin Banks County, 3. Vincent Baker Blessed Trinity, 4. Jacob Callahan Calhoun

 

145 pounds: 1. Griffin Green Ringgold, 2. Jacob Lindenmeyer East Jackson, 3. Connor Crump Jackson County, 4. Abe Hafez Franklin County

 

152 pounds: 1. Will Ballard Jefferson, 2. Kevin Almond Elbert County, 3. Mason Woodham Morgan County, 4. Jared Cannon Dodge County

 

160 pounds: 1. Chris Couch Oconee County, 2. Antonio Robinson Morgan County, 3. Daelen Harrison Adairsville, 4. Chris Guthrie Banks County

 

170 pounds: 1. Rexx Hallyburton Oconee County, 2. Dylan Gouine Banks County, 3. Caleb Johnson Appling County, 4. Tielor Johnson Murray County

 

182 pounds: 1. Caleb Little Jefferson, 2. Dmonta Wright Morgan County, 3. Deaundre Wilson Decatur, 4. James Copeland Rockmart

 

195 pounds: 1. Deshon Lester Jefferson, 2. AJ Edmond Elbert County, 3. Robert Usey Westminster, 4. Brice Craig Calhoun

 

220 pounds: 1. Zach Matthews Lumpkin County, 2. Jesse Wade Ringgold, 3. Draven Smith Rockmart, 4. Cole Lewis Brantley County

 

285 pounds: 1. Nick Holman Jefferson, 2. Enrique Maravilla Ringgold, 3. Aaron Spires Dodge County, 4. Hinton Bolinger Pepperell

 

Class AA

 

106 pounds: 1. Dalton Blankenship Darlington. 2. Josh Engstrom Social Circle, 3. Walker Byrd Model. 4. Jordan Oaks Bremen

 

113 pounds: 1. Colton Woods Darlington. 2. Keegan Smith Bremen. 3. Kyle Morris Social Circle, 4. Harrison Dearth Wesleyan

 

120 pounds: 1. Grainger Reeves Lovett, 2. Easton Mathis Armuchee, 3. Austin Capes Bremen, 4. Cam Mack Dublin

 

126 pounds: 1. Levi Leach Social Circle. 2. Davis Peek Darlington, 3. Austin Phan Greater Atlanta Christian, 4. Chase Kelly Wesleyan

 

132 pounds: 1. Travis Tyson Social Circle, 2. Frank Houser Pace 3. Morgan Mitchell Fitzgerald, 4. William Delk Wesleyan

 

138 pounds: 1. James Corasaniti Social Circle, 2. Rhett McDurmon Darlington, 3. Zach Murdock Gordon Lee, 4. Payton McKie Fitzgerald

 

145 pounds: 1. Reid Harris Social Circle, 2. Ian Politz Greater Atlanta Christian, 3. PJ Johnson Lovett, 4. Trent Blankenship Darlington

 

152 pounds: 1. Joseph Stroud Bremen, 2. Braden Jarvis Gordon Lee, 3. Mitchell Clegg Social Circle, 4. Eliot Layson Lovett

 

160 pounds: 1. Drew Cook Bremen, 2. Trey Paschal Social Circle, 3. John Austin Robinson Temple, 4. Jack Carbery of Benedictine

 

170 pounds: 1. Jacob Bumgardner Bremen, 2. Cade Lackey Social Circle, 3. Brooks Layson Lovett, 4. Wyatt Montgomery Jeff Davis

 

182 pounds: 1. Cameron Paschal Social Circle, 2. Jacob Henderson Armuchee, 3. Noah Liles Bremen, 4. Hamp Dykes Lovett

 

195 pounds: 1. David Engstrom Social Circle, 2. Dakota Willerson Model, 3. Devin Johnson Vidalia, 4. Christian Afoa Chattahoochee County

 

220 pounds: 1. Aiden Jarrett Greater Atlanta Christian, 2. Jack Walsh Pace Academy, 3. Markarius Lundy Fitzgerald, 4. Jaquil O`Neal Dublin

 

285 pounds: 1. Paul Robinson Bremen, 2. Peyton Backer Rabun County, 3. Trenton Mathis Jeff Davis, 4. Keith Jones Dade County

 

Class A

 

106 pounds: 1. Tucker Flint Commerce, 2. Karlos Nadal Mt. Pisgah, Chandler Crawford Turner County, 4. Brandon Shelnutt, Strong Rock Christian

 

113 pounds: 1. Kole Burchett Commerce, 2. Josh Frager Turner County, 3. Que Beasley Turner County, 4. Andy Meyer Eagle’s Landing Christian

 

120 pounds: 1. Jacob Brewer Commerce, 2. Payton Brooks Treutlen, 3. Jamey Floyd Trion, 4. Jack Kirpatrick St. Francis

 

126 pounds: 1. Dylan Deaton Commerce, 2. Jack Hale Mt Vernon, 3. Ashton Robinson Mt. Zion, 4. Tyson Brooks Treutlen

 

132 pounds: 1. Dalton Flint Commerce, 2. Cole Luallen Trion, 3. Ethan Sparks St Francis, 4. Crofford Helton Mt. Zion

 

138 pounds: 1. Collin Greer Landmark Christian, 2. Austin Brock Commerce, 3. Trent Johnson Eagles Landing Christian Academy, 4. Demetrice Smith Turner County

 

145 pounds: 1. Owen Brown Commerce, 2. Cal Helton Mt. Zion, 3. Aaron Hilliard Tattnall Square Academy, 4 Brandon Smith Georgia Military College

 

152 pounds: 1. Nick Patrick Commerce, 2. Nathan Shirley Fellowship Christian, 3. DJ Pollard Irwin County, 4. Pierce Erhardt Mt. Pisgah

 

160 pounds: 1. Chase Forrester Commerce, 2. Scott Frazier Trion, 3. Bryson Wilcher Treutlen, 4. John Franke St Francis

 

170 pounds: 1. Knox Allen Commerce. 2. Ian Blankenship Telfair County, 3. Daulton Rogers Towns County, 4. Dalton Hardeman Eagles Landing Christian Academy

 

182 pounds: 1. Cole Chancey Commerce. 2. Logan Blevins Trion, 3. Matthew Fezza St Francis, 4. Jared Knight Turner County

 

195 pounds: 1. Cody Calhoun Treutlen. 2. Dontavious Mosley Commerce, 3. Garret Harris Mt. Paran Christian, 4. Harrison Taylor Eagles Landing Christian Academy

 

220 pounds: 1. Micheal Patton Commerce, 2. Christian Rodgers Tattnall Square Academy, 3. Daniel Anderson Mt. Zion, 4. Brayden Rush Eagles Landing Christian Academy

 

285 pounds: 1. Chandler Butler Mt. Zion, 2. Cade Ridley Commerce, 3. Zyon Ross Irwin County, 4. Seth Cox Trion

[Sommers]

Decent Mid-Tn Press Coverage...

 

http://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/high-school/2016/02/15/10-midstate-wrestlers-try-repeat-state-champs/80416210/

 

HIGH-SCHOOL

 

10 Midstate wrestlers try to repeat as state champs

 

Staff reports5 hours agoFacebookTwitterGoogle Plusmore

 

Pic

 

File / Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

 

Father Ryan's Kirby Simpson celebrates during last year's state wrestling more

 

Ten Midstate wrestlers will try to repeat as TSSAA state champions this weekend as the individual state tournament is held at Williamson County Ag Expo Park in Franklin.

 

Pic

 

Father Ryan returns to the state six wrestlers who captured state titles last season. Trey Chalifoux, who won the 120-pound crown, and Ben Stacey, who captured the 220-pound division, will both defend their title in the same weight groups.

 

Four Irish grapplers have moved up in weight classes after winning titles a year ago. Christian Simpson (106 last year) will battle in the 113-pound division, while Raymond Eason (113) is competing in the 126-pound class. Kirby Simpson (126) will seek a state title in the 132 class, while Eli King (132) will vie for a 138-pound championship.

 

Pic

 

Riverdale standout Nick Boykin, who captured the Class AAA state title in the 285-pound division as a sophomore last year, will be a favorite to repeat as a junior. Brentwood's Tristan Roa, who won the 120-pound class last season, will seek a second-straight title, this time in the 126-pound class.

 

On the girls' side, Clarksville Northwest's Jessica Elery (138) and Clarksville Northeast's Jaydn Sayre-Adona (155) will also attempt to defend state titles.

 

 

THE TENNESSEAN

 

Ravenwood’s Chris Rowland trying to prove doubters wrong

 

Ravenwood's Chris Rowland, who is currently unbeaten at 15-0, was involved in the "Best Match" of the state meet last year when he fell 4-3 to Cleveland's Ezra Taylor in the finals of the 138-pound division. Rowland has moved up to the 152-pound division this season and is coming off a best wrestler honor after winning last weekend's Region 6-AAA meet.

 

The tournament gets underway at 3 p.m. Thursday with Class AAA rounds of 32 and 16, along with consolations for the first two rounds.

 

At 10 a.m. Friday, the AAA quarterfinals, the Class A-AA round of 16 and quarterfinals and consolations and Division II quarterfinals will be held. The girls quarterfinals will be at 11 a.m. All championship round semifinals will be held at 6 Friday.

 

Consolation rounds will continue beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday. Finals for all four classes will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday.

 

Here are Midstate athletes by weight group who will be competing in this year's state tournament:

 

Class AAA

 

106: Brayden Palmer (Beech), Cal Rogers (Tullahoma), Logan Powers (Summit), Nathan Manivong (Antioch), Jacob Watts (Clarksville), Luke Dezember (Lawrence County), Colton Briney (McGavock), Jordan Burgess (Northwest), Lucas Gaines (Stewarts Creek), Gabe Bbackus (Wilson Central), James Harcum (Cookeville), Gavin Schooberl (Independence), Dylan Kemmer (Stone Memorial).

 

113: Decarlos Allen (McGavock), Joshua Rodela (Siegel), Deshawn Dail (Northwest), Alex Pergande (Wilson Central), Justin Rogers (Cookeville), Graham Brothers (Brentwood), Jon Kost (Rossview), William Witt (Cane Ridge), Jaylen James (Stewarts Creek), Job Dooley (Franklin), Pedro Villalobos (Stone Memorial), Wyatt Sipe (Beech), Kevin Rogers (Smyrna).

 

120: Adam Fuller (Centennial), Cameron Henderson (Smyrna), Austin Plumlee (Mt. Juliet), Tim Smartt (Brentwood), Dylan Coggins (Stewarts Creek), Andrew Parker (West Creek), Xavier Findley (Stone Memorial), Michael Moultry (Siegel), Justin Brenot (Clarksville), Daniel Fowler (Independence), Tre’Von Thomas (Blackman), Cole Klingensmith (Summit), Simon Pergande (Wilson Central).

 

126: Tristan Roa (Brentwood), Clayton Apland (Blackman), Jeremiah Herron (Beech), Nathan Porter (Summit), Cleveland Cyree (Tullahoma), Jalen Henry (Mt. Juliet), Owen Schneider (Independnece), Gabe Rogers (Stewarts Creek), Jack Shrader (Franklin), Daniel Bradford (Siegel), DeQwendric Whiters (Northeast).

 

132: Esteban Remillard (Summit), Austin Sparks (Mt. Juliet), Jalen Brown (Blackman), Anthony Alegria (Stone Memorial), Nicholas Freeman (Ravenwood), Carson Helton (Stewarts Creek), Antonio Alejos (Northwest), Brady Ingram (Independence), William Downing (Beech), Carl Templeton (Smyrna), Nick King (Wilson Central), Nathan Potter (Riverdale), Jerome Dooley (Antioch).

 

138: Cameron Nesbitt (Cane Ridge), Caleb Berta (Wilson Central), Eric Souksavong (Stewarts Creek), Derrick Christensen (Cookeville), Diego Martinez (West Creek), Zack Wilkins (Mt. Juliet), Sean Butler (Summit), Muico Hernendez (Stone Memoerial), Dylan McElhaney (Tullahoma), Elijah Cox (Blackman), Collin Lynn (Independence), Seth Williams (Northwest).

 

145: Spencer Harvey (Centennial), Ryan Brown (Lebanon), Treavor South (Stewarts Creek), John McDonald (Stone Memorial), Enrique Gonzalez (Rossview), Haustin Parsons (Shelbyville), Sawyer Knott (Summit), Landon Fowler (Blackman), Kelvin Freeman (McGavock), Steve Weist (Mt. Juliet), Charles Savage (Independence), Jesse Saunders (Cookeville), Trevor Rippy (Beech).

 

152: Chris Rowland (Ravenwood), Charles Bos (Cookeville), Sinjin Noga (Wilson Central), Christian Salter (Siegel), Dylann Quinn (Mt. Juliet), Jose Molina (Overton), Joseph Garrett (Beech), Ryder Gebhardt (Oakland), Austin Tucker (Hillsboro), Jacob Flannery (Stone Memorial), Cole Tillman (Blackman), Taylor Pate (Centennial), Adrian Gonzalez (Rossview).

 

160: Tyron Johnson (Smyrna), Blake Spink (Northwest), Ishmael Arnold (Antioch), Jerry Maddox (Beech), Matthew Callahan (Siegel), Kemale Strong (Hunters Lane), Matthew Sells (Blackman), Austin Ryan (Independence), Chandler Brickle (Stone Memorial), Hunter Hemontolor (Mt. Juliet), Damon Smith (Wilson Central), Brenden Adkins (Tullahoma), C.J. Grissim (Brentwood).

 

170: John Williams (Siegel), Brandon Sligh (Independence), Kieran Aamski (Northeast), Calvin Branch (Antioch), Ronnie Wyllins (Stone Memorial), Kyle Smith (Beech), Vincent Cross (Blackman), Zach Linton (Wilson Central), Garrett Grissim (Brentwood), Dyllan Houser (Cookeville), Zack Carney (Summit), Anthony Currie (Kenwood), John Olivieri (Stewarts Creek).

 

182: Kaleb Rippy (Beech), Hunter Winters (Blackman), Andrew Cannon (Independence), Joshua Tobitt (Coffee County), Isiah Dunham (Kenwood), Darron Lee (Cane Ridge), Justin Brown (Lebanon), Jason Gardner (Overton), Jaxton Wallace (Smyrna), Garrett Richards (Oakland), Juan Loza (Stone Memorial), Nathan Walling (Mt. Juliet), Alex Fernandez (Ravenwood).

 

195: Jeffrey Walpole (Wilson Central), Jamal Miller (McGavock), Dre Trotter (Stewarts Creek), Andre Bravo (Blackman), Ben Kazmierowicz (Brentwood), Dylan Carney (Northwest), Marcus Ball (Hunters Lane), Dylan Pearson (Tullahoma), Zach Thomas (Rossview), Eric m Cornelius (West Creek), Brandon Boone (Oakland), Ian Grau (Independence), Justin Johnson (Stone Memorial).

 

220: Tyler Barber (Stewarts Creek), Isaiah Martin (West Creek), James Parker (Overton), Craig Barbour (Northwest), Lawrence Shelton (McGavock), Sam Luker (Blackman), Andrew Arias-Lynch (Rossview), Dylan Bargatze (Siegel), Isaiah Demello (Independence), Peyton Reinert (Beech), Cameron Vogt (Franklin), Chester Peden (Smyrna).

 

285: Nick Boykin (Riverdale), Patrick Guider (Hunters Lane), Michael Kramer (Wilson Central), Jacob Mathis (Franklin County), Taylor Harrison (Lebanon), Jordan Hardy (Antioch), Saigh Mullins (Northwest), Hunter Hancock (Summit), Luke Champion (Tullahoma), Landen Patterson (Siegel), David Dowell (Beech), Mustafa Garmavi (Cane Ridge).

 

Class A-AA

 

106: Blaine Fussel (Eagleville), Tanner Corlew (Creek Wood), Jeffrey Gross (Forrest), Dylan Becker (Harpeth).

 

113: Savaughn Orr (MLK), Nathan Ford (Greenbrier), Vincent Ha (Page), Dylan Pendley (Forrest).

 

120: James Jones (Fairview), Tanner Pharris (White House), Alek Filaroski (Page), Braxton Hunter (Harpeth).

 

126: Noah Watson (Greenbrier), Eric Foster (Stratford), Nick Oberstaedt (Page), Thomas Hatcher (Harpeth).

 

132: Destin Megna (East Nashville), Michael Coley (Nashville Christian), Chase Myatt (Fairview).

 

138: Muday Mohammad (Stratford), Tristan Heckart (Goodpasture), Liam Dougherty (Hume-Fogg), Andrew Birchett (Page).

 

145: Mitchell Camper (Sycamore), Zane Lynch (Greenbrier), Joseph Redman (Mont. Central), Mario Puki (Fairview).

 

152: Dallas Prater (Cheatham Co.), Anthony Basham (Stratford), Daelyn Rose (Harpeth), Clay Watson (Forrest).

 

160: Javonte Robinson (Pearl-Cohn), Wesley McCoy (Forrest), Drew Gill (Eagleville).

 

170: John Noe (Page), Joshua Ortiz-Derrick (Fairview), Dylan Grissom (White House), Julian Furr (Mont. Central).

 

182: James Hughes (Stratford), Ethan Rainey (White House), Houston Tywater (Page), Zach Diviney (Sycamore).

 

195: Derrico Burns (Stratford), Billy Clanton (Forrest), Kenneth Grissom (White House), Gregory Williams (Nash. Christian).

 

220: Wan Rucker (East Nashville), Toby Lynch (Greenbrier), Nikolas McGuiggan (Forrest), Devin Spence (Harpeth).

 

285: Johnny Henry (Cheatham Co.), Logan Hayes (Sycamore), Eric Lee (East Nashville), Zachary Schlessman (Greenbrier).

 

Division II

 

106: James Killian (Father Ryan), Ian McCullough (BGA).

 

113: Joseph Torquine (MBA), Gerard Bullock (Ensworth), Christian Simpson (Father Ryan).

 

120: Trey Chalifoux (Father Ryan), Tiy Reed (BGA), Connor Galvez (Ensworth), Gabriel Elkin (MBA).

 

126: John Glover (MBA), Raymond Eason (Father Ryan).

 

132: Kirby Simpson (Father Ryan), Victor Ortale (Ensworth), Thomas Bellet (MBA).

 

138: Conner Mitchell (BGA), Avery Daniels (FRA), Eli King (Father Ryan).

 

145: Daniel Wesley (Father Ryan), Alex Linthium (FRA), Perry Matthews (MBA).

 

152: Mark Floyd (MBA), Jake Wilson (Father Ryan), Teddy Holloway (BGA).

 

160: Robert Garstin (Father Ryan), Drake Mitchell (FRA), Thomas Butler (Brentwood Acad.).

 

170: Andrew Wesnofske (Father Ryan), Carter Heckle (MBA), Will Tansill (FRA).

 

182: George Hooker (Father Ryan), Sam Curry (MBA).

 

195: Sam Sullivan (MBA), Will Shaw (Father Ryan).

 

220: Ben Stacey (Father Ryan), Sam Wheeler (FRA), Wesley Miller (Brentwood Acad.), D'On Coofer (MBA).

 

285: John Kelly (MBA), Airin Spell (Brentwood Acad.), Tymon Mitchell (FRA), Jeremy Darvin (Father Ryan).

 

Girls

 

105: Annie Chemenko (Overton), Emma Allsbrooks (Mont. Central), Taylor Stewart (Mt. Juliet), Caitlyn Green (Clarksville NE).

 

112: Nena Chrestman (Sycamore), Madeline Davis (Siegel), Jessyca Nunaw (Hendersonville), Louise Mazzone (Hume-Fogg).

 

120: Elizabeth Curry (Mont. Central), Kaitlyn Lee (Mt. Juliet), Macy DeBlois (Independence), Halla Woodson (Dickson Co.).

 

125: Shantoia Blackburn (Antioch), Leilani Birtirrez (Clarksville NE), Peyton Marsh (Page), Bridgett Eleazer (Dickson Co.), Elise Dille (Cumberland Co.).

 

130: Kyah St. Marie (Stone Memorial), Dky DeWeese (White House), Adonis Dooley (Antioch), Isabel Brannan (Hume-Fogg), Hollie Yokley (Warren Co.).

 

138: Jessica Elery (Clarksville NW), Kimberly Smith (Stone Memorial), Darian Chapman (White House), Tailor Stole (Ravenwood).

 

148: Lindsey Morrison (Clarksville NW), Jaclyn Orpeoza (McGavock), Jailah Grimes (Summit).

 

155: Jaydn Sayre-Adona (Clarksville NE), Rachel Stanley (Overton), Kayla Johnson (Hillsboro), Jayanna Stokes (Mont. Central), Deyla Brito-Prez (Clarksville NW), Kaylee Diehl (White House).

 

165: Jasmine Chandler (Sycamore), Keely Sage (Mont. Central).

 

185: Jada Hoskins (Mont. Central), Kaleigh Johnson (Cumberland Co.), Leeann Widner (Smyrna), Zaferah Fortune (St. Andrews-Sewanee), Caitlyn Gilmore (Sycamore), Laura Napier (Stone Memorial).

 

 

 

Mr Robinson Covers Montgomery Co in Region 7...

 

http://www.theleafchronicle.com/story/sports/high-school/2016/02/15/northwest-lands-eight-wrestlers-state-competition/80355568/

 

HIGH SCHOOL

 

Northwest lands eight wrestlers in state competition

 

George Robinson, grobinson@theleafchronicle.com7 hours agoFacebookTwitterGoogle Plusmore

 

George Robinson/The Leaf-Chronicle

 

Northwest's Antonio Alejos (green) tries to pin his opponent during the 132-pound match of the Region 7 individual wrestling tournament Saturday at Northeast High School.

 

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — Some may look at Northwest's success in the Region 7-AAA individual championships as consolation after the Vikings failed to secure a spot in the Class AAA state wrestling duals last week.

 

But for the Vikings, Saturday's meet resulted in Northwest tying a school record for most athletes who earned a state tournament berth as eight secured trips to the 3A State Wrestling Championships next week in Franklin.

 

 

George Robinson/The Leaf-Chronicle

 

Rossview's Zach Thomas tries to gain the upper hand against Northwest's Dylan more

 

"People have patted me on the back this year," Northwest coach Ben Smitherman said. "But it's not me. It's the kids. It's their parents and my assistant coaches. It's the school, the fans and the (Northwest) community. It's everyone. I'm the lucky one. I have a great group of kids, so it's really just 'lucky me.' "

 

Beech captured the overall team individual title with 218.5 points while Wilson Central took second with 217 points. Mt Juliet (156) came in third and Northwest (144.5) took fourth. Rossview (108) finished fifth, followed by West Creek and Northeast. Kenwood took ninth and Clarksville High, which had won this event 17 straight years, took 10th.

 

"We had eight upperclassmen this year," CHS coach Tommy Badon said. "We had five seniors and three juniors. Of those eight, only one senior and one junior managed to get through the season. The rest were injured. So it's been a difficult year. It's certainly not up to Clarksville High standards and we've got to work to get back to that high standard. The good news is we have a great freshman class."

 



George Robinson/The Leaf-Chronicle

 

West Creek's Diego Martinez (left) struggles to get Mt. Juliet's Zack Williams on his back during their 138-pound consolation match during the Region 7-AAA tournament Saturday at Northeast High.

 

Only two Clarksville High wrestlers advanced to state. Jacob Watts (106 pounds) took fourth while Justin Brenot (120) finished third.

 

In all, 24 wrestlers from Class AAA advanced to state with two more from Class A/AA advancing (both from Montgomery Central). Rossview and West Creek both had five earn state berths while CHS, Northeast and Kenwood will take two each to state.

 

The 195-pound and 220-pound weight classes supplied the most state qualifiers out of the four spots. The Vikings' Dylan Carney captured the region title at 195, beating Rossview's Zach Thomas, who took runner-up. West Creek's Eric Cornelius took third. At 220, Northwest's Craig Barbour finished region runner-up while West Creek's Isaiah Martin finished third and Rossview's Andrew Arias-Lynch finished fourth.

 

Only Carney and Rossview's Adrian Gonzalez won region titles from Montgomery County. Gonzalez knocked off Wilson Central's Sinjin Noga at 152 pounds.

 

"I don't know that this is any consolation for not getting to the state duals," Smitherman said. "This is its own accomplishment. I do know that these kids have worked extremely hard to get to this point and we're going to enjoy it. I'm sure there will be somebody who overlooks our kids at state and that's fine by me. It's going to be an interesting week down at state. I can't wait."

 

In the Region 3 A/AA tournament, Montgomery Central's Juilan Furr captured the region championship at 170 pounds, beating Joshua Ortiz-Derrick of Fairview. Joseph Redman also qualified for state, taking fourth place at 145 pounds.

 

Forrest captured the team title in the individual tournament with 173.5 points, followed by Page (172.5) and Stratford (140.5). Montgomery Central took 11th overall with 77.5 points. Twenty-three teams competed in that region tournament.

 

Reach Prep writer George Robinson at 931-245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.

 

 

Hendersonville Star Press for more of region 7...

 

http://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/high-school/2016/02/15/county-sends-19-wrestlers-state/80393740/

 

HIGH-SCHOOL

 

County sends 19 wrestlers to state

 

From Staff Reports22 hours agoFacebookTwitterGoogle Plusmore

 

Pic

 

Chris Brooks/Hendersonville Star News

 

Beech High junior Jherian Maddox was one of 11 Buccaneers to earn berths in the more

 

Nineteen Sumner County wrestlers earned berths in the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) State Individual Wrestling Championships with top finishes in their recent respective region tournaments.

 

White House High is sending seven wrestlers – four boys and three girls – to the state tournament.

 

Junior Tanner Pharris finished second in the Region 3 A-AA Tournament – which was held on Friday and Saturday at Montgomery Central High School â€“ in the 120-pound weight class, suffering a pinfall loss to Harpeth’s Braxton Hunter in the championship match.

 

Senior Austin Grissom placed fourth in the 195-pound division. Junior Dylan Grissom claimed fourth at 170 pounds, and freshman Ethan Rainey finished in fourth place at 182 pounds.

 

Pic

 

Submitted photo

 

Four White House High boys wrestlers qualified for the TSSAA State Tournament more

 

The Blue Devils placed seventh as a team.

 

Forrest won the team title by one point over Page (173.5-172.5).

 

Lady Devil junior Sky DeWeese finished fourth at the West Regional Tournament – which was held on Jan. 30 at Ravenwood – in the 130-pound division, while freshman Darian Chapman placed third in the 138-pound bracket. Sophomore Kaylee Diehl finished fifth at 155 pounds (all six wrestlers in that division advanced to the state tournament).

 

One Hendersonville representative – sophomore Jessica Mumaw – advanced in the 112-pound division through a runner-up finish, suffering a pinfall loss to Sycamore’s Nena Chrestnain in the championship bout.

 

Beech had 11 wrestlers to qualify with top-four finishes in the Region 7-AAA Tournament, which was held on Friday and Saturday at Clarksville Northeast.

 

The Buccaneers won the team title by 1.5 points over Wilson Central (218.5-217).

 

Freshman Brayden Palmer (106 pounds), freshman Jeremiah Herron (126), sophomore Trevor Rippy (145), senior Kaleb Rippy (182) and senior Peyton Reinert (220) all won the region title in their respective weight classes.

 

Pic

 

File

 

Brayden Palmer

 

Palmer defeated Northwest’s Jordan Burgess by a technical fall in his championship match.

 

Herron pinned Northeast’s DeQwendrick Whiters.

 

Trevor Rippy pinned Lebanon’s Ryan Brown.

 

Pic

 

File

 

Trevor Rippy

 

Kaleb Rippy won by a forfeit over Mt. Juliet’s Nathan Walling, and Reinert defeated Northwest’s Craig Barbour by a decision.

 

 

Kaleb Rippy

 

Senior Wyatt Sipe (113), junior Kyle Smith (170) and senior David Dowell (285) all had runner-up finishes, and junior Jherian Maddox (160) earned a third-place finish.

 

Juniors William Downing (132) and Joseph Garrett (152) qualified thanks to fourth-place showings in their respective weight classes.

 

The Williamson County Agricultural Expo Center in Franklin hosts the state tournament beginning on Thursday, with the round of 32 matches for Class AAA set for 3 p.m. They will be followed immediately by the round of 16 and also the first two rounds of the consolation bracket.

 

Class A-AA and girls action, along with the Division II Tournaments, begin at 10 a.m. on Friday.

 

Championship matches are slated for 5 p.m. on Saturday.

 

Opening matches for local qualifiers in the TSSAA State Individual Wrestling Championships

 

Class AAA round of 32

 

106: Brayden Palmer (Beech, Fr.) vs. Cal Rogers (Tullahoma, Fr.)

 

113: Wyatt Sipe (Beech, Sr.) vs. Corbin Bumgarner (Dobyns-Bennett, Soph.)

 

126: Jeremiah Herron (Beech, Fr.) vs. Nathan Porter (Summit, Soph.)

 

132: William Downing (Beech, Jr.) vs. Brady Ingram (Independence, Jr.)

 

145: Trevor Rippy (Beech, Soph.) vs. Jesse Saunders (Cookeville, Jr.)

 

152: Joseph Garrett (Beech, Jr.) vs. Donnie Beyer (Bradley Central, Sr.)

 

160: Jherian Maddox (Beech, Jr.) vs. Matthew Callahan (Siegel, Sr.)

 

170: Kyle Smith (Beech, Jr.) vs. Vincent Cross (Blackman, Sr.)

 

182: Kaleb Rippy (Beech, Sr.) vs. Brandon Fortune (South Doyle, Jr.)

 

220: Peyton Reinert (Beech, Sr.) vs. Cameron Vogt (Franklin, Jr.)

 

285: David Dowell (Beech, Sr.) vs. Mustafa Garmavi (Cane Ridge, Sr.)

 

Class A-AA round of 16

 

120: Tanner Pharris (White House, Jr.) vs. Gage Evans (Red Bank, Soph.)

 

170: Dylan Grissom (White House, Jr.) vs. Darian Smith (East Ridge, Soph.)

 

182: Ethan Rainey (White House, Fr.) vs. Dylan Bargerstock (Hixson, Sr.)

 

195: Kenneth Grissom (White House, Sr.) vs. Brian Sledge (Chattanooga Central, Sr.)

 

Girls’ quarterfinals

 

112: Jessica Mumaw (Hendersonville, Soph.) vs. Kelsi Broyles (West Greene, Fr.)

 

130: Sky DeWeese (White House, Jr.) vs. Kyah St. Marie (Stone Memorial, Jr.)

 

138: Darian Chapman (White House, Fr.) vs. Alexis Jaynes (Happy Valley, Jr.)

 

155: Kaylee Diehl (White House, Soph.) vs. Becka Stallard (Volunteer)

 

 

_________________________________

 

What will win state for you...

 

 

Possibly mental toughness, set ups to score, quickness, strength, chain wrestling with scripts...

 

Aggressiveness vs Countering???

 

This could be partially answered in the 160 AAA finals THIS WEEKEND!!!

 

here's a few examples of what it could take at least at the next level...

 

https://youtu.be/q5P855PfDzg

Edited February 16, 2016 by Sommers

[Sommers]

Vallejo California press gives Tennessee some wrestling coverage...

 

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=http://www.timesheraldonline.com/sports/20160215/benicia-high-grad-molinari-wins-national-title-with-king-university&ct=ga&cd=CAEYACoUMTI5MzY0MjUyMDA2MTgyMDI2NTkyGjM1MTdmYzc0ODA2ZTkxNDM6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNErPt3g2sq8Hf8TFfhOoIdQAd5nrA

 

Benicia High grad Molinari wins national title with King University

 

By: Matt O’Donnell modonnell@timesheraldonline.com @modonnellvth on Twitter

 

Monday, Feb. 15, 2016 - 6:46 p.m.

 



 

Molinari

 

With a 21-1 mark in the regular season, King University junior Forrest Molinari wanted to do something to avenge that one black mark.

 

That opportunity came about four months later in the championship of the Women's Collegiate Wrestling Association tournament in Oklahoma City, Okla. over the weekend.

 

Molinari, a Benicia High graduate, went 5-0 at the tournament, including a 7-0 win over top-ranked Jessica Rottier of Cumberlands in the 155-pound final. It was Molinari's first individual national championship and the second time in two years she was named an All-American. King won back-to-back national team titles as well.

 

Rottier had beaten Molinari 3-2 in October during the Emmanuel Open.

 

"I was hungry for a rematch all season and she had been dodging me," Molinari said Monday afternoon. "I wanted her to win in the semifinals so she couldn't avoid me again."

 

Advertisement

 

Molinari, 20, reached the championship with a tight 3-2 win over second-ranked Niauni Hill of Lindenwood Bellville in the semifinals.

 

"I had wrestled that girl before and she is really strong," Molinari said. "I tried to just wrestle a really smart match."

 

A year ago, Molinari took fourth at the WCWA tournament at 136 pounds. Molinari said the biggest difference for her this season was concentrating on the technical aspect of wrestling.

 

"Last year, I just tried to cut a lot of weight," she said. "This year, I decided to go up a weight class and just concentrate on becoming a better wrestler, focus more on my technique."

 

As a team, the Tornado finished first with 208 points with Oklahoma City University second with 190.5 points. Simon Fraser took third with 170 points.

 

"Our coach told us that the first national title was special because it was the first one, the second one was special because of the margin of victory and this one was special because it seemed like every team didn't like us," Molinari said.

 

After graduating from Benicia High, Molinari wrestled at Missouri Baptist for one season before transferring to King, which is located in Bristol, Tenn.

 

"I tell everyone that transferring to King is the best decision I've ever made," Molinari said. "I love the team here, I love the community and I love the community in Bristol. My team here is like my family."

 

Molinari has a double major of business administration and mathematics. Molinari said she would either like to be an athletic director someday or coach a wrestling team at the college level.

 

While King's season is over, Molinari still has two national tournaments in March and April. She qualified for the Olympic Nationals in Iowa due to her strong showings this season.

 

Molinari's teammate Ricki Liang was a freshman at King this past season. Liang went 9-4 in the regular season and was 1-2 at nationals.

 

"We knew each other a little in high school since we were in the same league," Molinari said. "She didn't transfer to Benicia until after I had left but we are good friends now. We're hoping to get Shelly Avelino to wrestle here eventually."

 

Avelino is currently a junior at Benicia High.

[Sommers]

Parker, Russo, Hicks, Goforth, Duhm among state's undefeated wrestlers...

 

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/sports/preps/story/2016/feb/17/parker-russo-hicks-goforth-duhm-among-states/350509/

 

February 17th, 2016by Ward Gossett in Sports - PrepsRead Time: 3 mins.

 

Soddy-Daisy's Tucker Russo, top, wrestles Northeast's Delrico Bowen in their TSSAA state wrestling championship A-AA 145 lb bout Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, at the Williamson County Agricultural Expo in Franklin, Tenn.

Photo by Doug Strickland /Times Free Press.

The competition is the stiffest they will have seen, and the targets pasted on more than a dozen wrestlers loom even larger as Tennessee's high school state championships begin a three-day stand Thursday in Franklin.

 

Baylor senior Ryan Parker doesn't dwell on being the target or the future competition, although he is 48-0 and also seeking to become the state's 12th wrestler to attain at least four individual championships.

 

"It's an honor to be undefeated, but it's also like a curse. You always have that on your back," said Parker, the nation's 19th-ranked 195-pounder. "It freaks me out more than it makes me happy."

 

His approach or that of other wrestling Top Guns never changes.

 

"It doesn't matter — record or reputation. I go out with the same frame of mind for every match," said Parker, who has signed to play football for Army. "I want to beat the living daylights out of whomever I happen to be wrestling."

 

That seems to be the mindset also for junior 113-pounder T.J. Hicks of Bradley Central, who'll be risking a 39-0 record as he seeks his second state title.

 

"I hate losing at anything. I'm really competitive and one of my goals was to go undefeated, but it's nothing special to me and I don't beat my chest," Hicks said.

 

"He believes he's the biggest, baddest, toughest guy in the gym. He has a bullet-proof mentality," Bradley coach Ben Smith observed. "He's not the prettiest wrestler out there, but he goes out and takes what he wants most of the time. He fears losing so much that he wins, and he's strong between the ears. He has an intangible you can't coach — that level of competitor factor that a lot of kids just don't have."

 

Soddy-Daisy's Tucker Russo (37-0) has gotten used to being a reputed gunslinger. He's going after his third state title, but there is another twist this year. The senior has yet to give up either a takedown or back points.

 

Trojans coach Jim Higgins can relate. He went 47-0 as Soddy-Daisy's first undefeated wrestler on his way to a state championship in 1998.

 

"Succeeding comes from not paying attention to (the streak)," Higgins said. "It's wrestling one match at a time and living up to your own expectations. When I did it, I didn't even know I was doing it."

 

Higgins compared Russo with current Army coach Kevin Ward, a three-time champ for the Trojans.

 

"If Tucker isn't the best takedown wrestler our program has ever seen, then he'd be in the top two with Kevin," the coach said. "Brad Laxton, one of our coaches, talks about being a mat general — being in control of the competition, knowing the score, body position and position on the mat. Tucker has great mat awareness."

 

The same could be said for McCallie junior Judah Duhm and Hixson senior Landon Goforth, who hold respective 36-0 and 28-0 records.

 

Goforth had three losses a year ago, all to eventual two-time state champ Packy Mullin, and came back with a vengeance this season. He earned the outstanding wrestler award at the Father Ryan Invitational, where he was seeded seventh.

 

"I don't think he even thinks about it. He just takes every match one at a time and moves on," Hixson coach Garrick Hall said.

 

Duhm had to sit out last year, recovering from a sophomore season injury, and it's almost like he's making up for lost time.

 

"It was really hard on him when he couldn't wrestle, but he kept studying the sport, watching video and technique tapes," McCallie coach Mike Newman said. "Nowadays he's the last one out of the (practice) room every day by at least an hour. He doesn't take it for granted."

 

Few, if any talk about the past, unless there is a loss from a previous year that goads them into the extra practice. Those are the ones the Top Guns most often remember.

 

Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him on Twitter @wardgossett.

 

 

Ringgold girls win state opener with starters finally back Ringgold girls win state opener with starters finally back

[Sommers]

Wilson Co wrestling gets good concise coverage...

 

http://wilsonpost.com/wrestling----23-headed-to-state-cms-87353

 

WRESTLING -- 23 headed to state

 

Tommy Bryan

 

Published: February 17, 2016

 

Wilson Central wrestlers

 

Matches start Thursday in Franklin

Some 23 Wilson County athletes, 21 males and two females, have earned spots in the TSSAA Class AAA state wrestling championships set for Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Williamson County Ag. Expo Center.

 

Wilson Central will send 10 wrestlers to the event, five will go as Region 7-AAA champions.

 

Mt. Juliet will send eight boys (two region champs) and two girls while Lebanon High saw three wrestlers qualify.

 

Wilson Central entrants:

Region champions

113 Alex Pergande 54-7

132 Nick King 52-6 

160 Damon Smith 39-7

170 Zach Linton 60-1

285 Michael Kramer 57-5

Second place

120 Simon Pergande 40-12

152 Sinjin Noga 44-11

Third place

106 Gage Backus 38-22

138 Caleb Berta 54-11

Fourth place

195 Jeffery Walpole 2-2.

 

Mt. Juliet entrants:

Region champions

120 Austin Plumlee 19-4

138 Zack Wilkins 33-2

120 Austin Plumlee 19-4

138 Zack Wilkins 33-2 Second place

132 Austin Sparks 13-4

182 Nathan Walling 31-2

Third place

126 Jalen Henry 37-3

152 Dylan Quinn 14-4

Fourth place

145 Steven Weist 29-8

160 Hunter Hemontolor 12-6

 

Mt. Juliet girls

Second place

120 Kailyn Lee 17-6

Third place

105 Taylor Stewart 6-6

 

Lebanon qualifiers

Second place

145 Ryan Brown 36-14

Third place

182 Justin Brown 31-8

Fourth place

285 Taylor Harrison 13-8

 

Two Lebanon wrestlers did not compete in the region, Nathan Shields was injured and Sean Sesnan did not make his weight (108). 

Sheilds, a sophomore, and Sesnan, a junior, both qualified for the state in 2015 with Sesnan earning a second place finish.

 

Wilson Central's standout at 195, Kolin Miller, was unable to compete in the regionals due to a rib injury.

 

Ninth grader Jeffrey Walpole was inserted into the lineup in his place, picking up two wins by way of forfeit to earn a fourth place finish and a state berth.

 

Competition starts Thursday with each wrestler assured of at least two matches.

[Sommers]

East Tn Coverage...

 

http://m.heraldcourier.com/sports/tssaa-state-wrestling-tournament-begins-thursday/article_66b99f72-d5ca-11e5-b1dc-5385c7eea8bd.html?mode=jqm

 

Prep Wrestling

 

TSSAA state wrestling tournament begins Thursday

 

Pic

 

Trio of grapplers long for gold

 

Bristol Herald Courier

 

DAVID CRIGGER/BHC

 

Tennessee High's Dewey Pendley works against Battle's Jake Mumpower. Pendley won the match with a pin.

 

 

BHC Sports Desk | Updated 47 minutes ago

 

Tennessee high school wrestlers will converge on the Williamson County Expo Center in Franklin Thursday for the start of the TSSAA state tournament.

 

Action begins with the boys Class AAA Round of 32 and Round 16 matches.

 

The AAA tournament will continue Friday, with the all-classes girls and boys Class A/AA brackets competitions commencing.

 

Champions in all divisions will be crowned Saturday.

 

Twenty wrestlers in total from Tennessee High and Sullivan East will be chasing championships.

 

The Vikings have 10 boys in the AAA bracket, while East has six representatives in the boys A/AA competition.

 

Each local school has two girls apiece competing in the female competition.

 

East’s Allison Davis is the only returning state champion among the locals as the junior will try to prevail in the 120-pound girls bracket a season after becoming one of the inaugural girls champions in the first year of the officially sanctioned TSSAA female tournament.

 

Corbin Hurley (boys AAA, 132 pounds) will go after the first-ever Tennessee High state title a season after finishing as a state runner-up. East’s Logan Chase (boys A/AA, 126 pounds) and Tennessee High’s Krista Martin (girls, 130 pounds) will also attempt to earn championships after earning state silver last year.

[Sommers]

44 State Qualifiers out of Rutherford County...

 

http://www.dnj.com/story/sports/high-school/2016/02/17/tssaa-state-wrestling-primer/80466818/

 

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HIGH SCHOOL

 

TSSAA state wrestling primer

 

Tom Kreager, tkreager@dnj.com2 hours agoFacebookTwitterGoogle Plusmore

 



 

Submitted

 

Drew Gill

 

The TSSAA individual state wrestling championships begin Thursday at the Williamson County Ag Expo Park in Franklin with 44 Rutherford County wrestlers competing.

 

That list includes 40 in Class AAA, two Eagleville wrestlers in Class A/AA and two in the girls tournament.

 

Riverdale junior Nick Boykin is the defending state champion at 285 pounds and is 40-0 this season.

 

The Class AAA tournament begins at 3 p.m. Thursday. The Class A/AA tournament begins at 10 a.m. Friday with the girls tournament starting at 11 a.m.

 

Below is a look at each county qualifier:

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Lucas Gaines

 

Lucas Gaines

 

Stewarts Creek, Fr.

 

Weight Class: 106

 

Region finish: Third place

 

Record: 28-10

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Jaylen James

 

Jaylen James

 

Stewarts Creek, Jr.

 

Weight class: 113

 

Region finish: First place

 

Record: 18-6

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Joshua Rodela

 

Joshua Rodela

 

Siegel, So.

 

Weight class: 113

 

Region finish: Third place

 

Record: 20-9

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Kevin Rogers

 

Kevin Rogers

 

Smyrna, Sr.

 

Weight class: 113

 

Region finish: Fourth place

 

Record: 17-16

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Michael Moultry

 

Michael Moultry

 

Siegel, So.

 

Weight class: 120

 

Region finish: First place

 

Record: 41-3

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Dylan Coggins

 

Dylan Coggins

 

Stewarts Creek, Sr.

 

Weight class: 120

 

Region finish: Second place

 

Record: 32-5

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Cameron Henderson

 

Cameron Henderson

 

Smyrna, Fr.

 

Weight class: 120

 

Region finish: Third place

 

Record: 45-8

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Tre'von Thomas

 

Tre’von Thomas

 

Blackman, Sr.

 

Weight class: 120

 

Region finish: Fourth place

 

Record: 28-19

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Daniel Bradford

 

Daniel Bradford

 

Siegel, So.

 

Weight class: 126

 

Region finish: Second place

 

Record: 34-12

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Gabe Rogers

 

Gabe Rogers

 

Stewarts Creek, Jr.

 

Weight class: 126

 

Region finish: Third place

 

Record: 25-9

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Clayton Apland

 

Clayton Apland

 

Blackman, Sr.

 

Weight class: 126

 

Region finish: Fourth place

 

Record: 15-15

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Carl Templeton

 

Carl Templeton

 

Smyrna, Sr.

 

Weight class: 132

 

Region finish: First place

 

Record: 40-9

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Carson Helton

 

Carson Helton

 

Stewarts Creek, Jr.

 

Weight class: 132

 

Region finish: Second place

 

Record: 21-5

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Jalen Brown

 

Jalen Brown

 

Blackman, Fr.

 

Weight class: 132

 

Region finish: Third place

 

Record: 40-10

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Nathan Potter

 

Nathan Potter

 

Riverdale, Jr.

 

Weight class: 132

 

Region finish: Fourth place

 

Record: 27-10

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Eric Souksavong

 

Eric Souksavong

 

Stewarts Creek, Sr.

 

Weight class: 138

 

Region finish: Third place

 

Record: 15-14

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Elijah Cox

 

Elijah Cox

 

Blackman, Jr.

 

Weight class: 138

 

Region finish: Fourth place

 

Record: 20-20

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Landon Fowler

 

Landon Fowler

 

Blackman, Fr.

 

Weight class: 145

 

Region finish: First place

 

Record: 40-6

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Treavor South

 

Treavor South

 

Stewarts Creek, Fr.

 

Weight class: 145

 

Region finish: Third place

 

Record: 19-12

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Christian Salter

 

Christian Salter

 

Siegel, So.

 

Weight class: 152

 

Region finish: First place

 

Record: 41-3

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Ryder Gebhardt

 

Ryder Gebhardt

 

Oakland, So.

 

Weight class: 152

 

Region finish: Second place

 

Record: 29-5

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Cole Tillman

 

Cole Tillman

 

Blackman, Jr.

 

Weight class: 152

 

Region finish: Third place

 

Record: 20-15

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Matthew Sells

 

Matthew Sells

 

Blackman, Jr.

 

Weight class: 160

 

Region finish: First place

 

Record: 44-2

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Matthew Callahan

 

Matthew Callahan

 

Siegel, Sr.

 

Weight class: 160

 

Region finish: Second place

 

Record: 27-14

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Tyrone Johnson

 

Tyrone Johnson

 

Smyrna, Sr.

 

Weight class: 160

 

Region finish: Third place

 

Record: 20-8

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

John Olivieri

 

John Olivieri

 

Stewarts Creek, Sr.

 

Weight class: 170

 

Region finish: First place

 

Record: 35-2

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

John Williams

 

John Williams

 

Siegel, Sr.

 

Weight class: 170

 

Region finish: Second place

 

Record: 23-6

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Vincent Cross

 

Vincent Cross

 

Blackman, Sr.

 

Weight class: 170

 

Region finish: Third place

 

Record: 33-12

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Garrett Richards

 

Garrett Richards

 

Oakland, Sr.

 

Weight class: 182

 

Region finish: First place

 

Record: 13-2

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Hunter Winters

 

Hunter Winters

 

Blackman, So.

 

Weight class: 182

 

Region finish: Second

 

Record: 34-12

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Jaxton Wallace

 

Jaxton Wallace

 

Smyrna, Jr.

 

Weight class: 182

 

Region finish: Fourth place

 

Record: 22-17

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Andre Bravo

 

Andre Bravo

 

Blackman, Sr.

 

Weight class: 195

 

Region finish: First place

 

Record: 40-6

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Branson Boone

 

Branson Boone

 

Oakland, So.

 

Weight class: 195

 

Region finish: Third place

 

Record: 26-10

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Dre Trotter

 

Dre Trotter

 

Stewarts Creek, So.

 

Weight class: 195

 

Region finish: Fourth place

 

Record: 17-18

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Tyler Barber

 

Tyler Barber

 

Stewarts Creek, Sr.

 

Weight class: 220

 

Region finish: First place

 

Record: 33-5

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Dylan Bargatze

 

Dylan Bargatze

 

Siegel, Sr.

 

Weight class: 220

 

Region finish: Second place

 

Record: 26-10

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Chester Peden

 

Chester Peden

 

Smyrna, Sr.

 

Weight class: 220

 

Region finish: Third place

 

Record: 33-10

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Sam Luker

 

Sam Luker

 

Blackman, Sr.

 

Weight class: 220

 

Region finish: Fourth place

 

Record: 27-11

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Nick Boykin

 

Nick Boykin

 

Riverdale, Jr.

 

Weight class: 285

 

Region finish: First place

 

Record: 40-0

 



 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Landen Patterson

 

Landen Patterson

 

Siegel, Sr.

 

Weight class: 285

 

Region finish: Second place

 

Record: 37-8

 



 

Submitted

 

Blaine Fussell

 

Blaine Fussell

 

Eagleville, So.

 

Weight class: 106

 

Region finish: Third

 

Record: 22-5

 

 

Drew Gill

 

Eagleville, Sr.

 

Weight class: 160

 

Region finish: Fourth

 

Record: 25-5

 



 

Submitted

 

Madeline Davis

 

Madeline Davis

 

Siegel, Fr.

 

Weight class: 112

 

Region finish: Third place

 

Record: 11-4

 



 

Submitted

 

Leeann Widner

 

Leeann Widner

 

Smyrna, Sr.

 

Weight class: 185

 

Region finish: Third place

 

Record: 4-6

[Sommers]

Good one Ward...

 

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/sports/preps/story/2016/feb/18/higgins-nelson-smith-succeed-following-coachi/350688/

 

 

Pic

 

Chattanooga area wrestling coaches succeed in following coaching legends

 

Higgins, Nelson, Smith have learned the pitfalls of following legends

 

February 18th, 2016by Ward Gossettin Sports - PrepsRead Time: 4 mins.

 

Pic

 

Baylor wrestling coach Ben Nelson.

 

Photo by Robin Rudd /Times Free Press.

 

Gallery: Higgins, Nelson, Smith succeed in following coaching legends

 

more photos

 

It's hard enough following a coaching legend without tripping on your own shoelaces.

 

Ben Smith struggled at Bradley Central as he took over a high school wrestling program brought to statewide prominence by Steve Logsdon, and Jim Higgins, though enjoying every moment — even those that wrenched his soul — found similar pitfalls while succeeding Steve Henry at Soddy-Daisy.

 

Baylor's Ben Nelson was the only one of a legend-succeeding trio of local coaches who avoided a stumble when he stepped in to fill the shoes of Jim Morgan, who himself followed a legend when he took over for Luke Worsham.

 

"It was humbling to come in and see what he meant and what this program means to this school and this community, especially following Jim," Nelson said. "You always remember what the expectations are."

 

There is always pressure, whether external or internal, when following a strong presence.

 

"All I ever knew as a Bradley wrestler and assistant coach was winning, and I wanted to make Steve and (program founder) Turner Jackson proud and do the program justice," Smith recalled. "I spent the first couple of years feeling that I had a huge weight on my back."

 

After the Bears won the TSSAA Class AAA duals championship two weeks ago — handing Smith his first state title as a head coach — he said, "Now I can look Coach Logsdon and Coach Jackson in the eye."

 

Nelson came to Baylor as an assistant coach, but insiders knew he would be groomed to take the program's reins from Morgan and longtime wrestling strategist and assistant coach Schaack Van Deusen, a Worsham disciple. They were, each in his own right, legends, attested by the numerous championship trophies in the Worsham Hall adjacent to the wrestling practice room at Baylor.

 

"They were mentors," Nelson said. "They're what this program is all about, and my hat's off to Schaack. When I took over, he stayed on two years, and he never said 'This is the way we have always done it,' or 'This is what you need to do.'

 

"Schaack was a great mentor and a great assistant coach, not a member of the old guard wanting to hold on. Jim and Schaack were unbelievably helpful for a new coach coming in and learning the ropes."

 

Higgins sought to follow Henry, who coached him to an unbeaten state championship senior season, and Smith had almost identical feelings about following Logsdon.

 

"It's a challenge that I wanted, but there is definitely inherent pressure that comes with it," Higgins said. "There were people who tried to talk me out of taking the job. I'm aware there's a history of coaches struggling when following special coaches, and I've had moments when I thought I would be getting credit rather than expectations, but I'd rather be at a place with high expectations than none."

 

Smith was also aware of the old saying that the smart man never follows a legend, though that didn't deter him.

 

"When the job came open, I wanted to be the guy to follow the legend," he said. "I wanted to continue to succeed and change lives the way mine was changed. It took a while because of the maturation process for a young coach."

 

Higgins' Soddy-Daisy program has dogged Bradley along the rebuilding trail. This season, the Trojans finished second to the Bears at region and state duals and then again last weekend in the region traditional tournament.

 

It was there that Higgins tripped over his laces, much as Smith did at a state tournament several years ago because of a spirited encounter with a belligerent fan from an opposing team. Smith, then an assistant coach, spent the evening on the team bus as Bradley wrestled to a state championship.

 

Higgins, though, won't be on site tonight or Friday at the state tournament in Franklin (which continues through Saturday) after losing his seat at last weekend's region tournament because of an unsportsmanlike conduct call. He felt the need to protect a wrestler from near-certain injury, and the official took offense at his actions.

 

"I don't regret standing up for one of my kids. It was in his best interest," Higgins said. "In hindsight, I wish I had dealt with the situation in a more appropriate manner. I never had an intention of displaying or conveying poor sportsmanship, and I regret bringing negativity to our program, my town, my school and my school system."

 

So it's good in a way that his legendary mentor is still around and can help coach the Trojans this week.

 

"It's sort of like Michael Jordan coming out of retirement," Higgins said. "Anytime you have him in the corner, it's a really good thing. That said, I have great confidence in our coaching staff. Brad Laxton is a great coach in his own right, and Ashley Brooks has been an integral part of this program for a long time."

 

The past few days have been especially tough for Higgins, who expressed the thought that he had fallen short of expectations — his own and those of the legend he followed.

 

That legend — his mentor — put the situation into perspective.

 

"He's so far ahead in his career from where I was. The biggest problem is that he cares so much," Henry said. "This week has devastated him, and justifiably so. Yet there are lessons in everything. That's what I tried to tell him, and he's handling it with class."

 

Following a legend, as Smith put it, can be a curse and also a blessing.

 

Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him on Twitter @wardgossett.

[Sommers]

Thanks Mr Hunt...

 

http://www.chattanoogan.com/2016/2/17/318201/Bradley-Looking-For-Another-Traditional.aspx

 

Bradley Looking For Another Traditional State Mat Title

 

Bears Will Be Challenged By Soddy Daisy, Cleveland Among Others

 

Wednesday, February 17, 2016 - by John Hunt

 

The spacious Williamson County Agricultural Exposition Park is relatively quiet today.

 

Various folks are scurrying around making sure everything is in place and TSSAA workers are checking their lists to guarantee that all will be ready for action on Thursday afternoon.

 

But once that time arrives, this place will turn into a hub of activity as some 448 prep wrestlers will put their best foot forward in an attempt to win a Class AAA state wrestling title.

 

Oh, it’s one of those places where some dreams will be realized while others are smashed. There are 32 individuals in 14 weight classes and all are shooting to be standing at the top step of the podium on Saturday night when state champions will be honored and recognized.

 

Just which team is the favorite this weekend in the AAA division?

 

The Cleveland Blue Raiders are the three-time defending state champs and they will surely be in the thick of the race, but all hands are pointing to the Bradley Bears as the team to beat.

 

Soddy Daisy, Tennessee High, Wilson Central and Beech are all hoping to be challenging, but the Bears are the early favorites to add the traditional trophy to the State Duals title they took home two weeks ago.

 

There are a dozen returning medalists from Region 4, including six from Bradley, three from Cleveland, two from Soddy Daisy and one from Walker Valley.

 

Three of those young men are defending state champs and two of those are currently unbeaten. Bradley’s T.J. Hicks is 39-0 and looking for a title at 113 pounds after winning at 106 a year ago. Teammate Knox Fuller is 38-1 and looking for his third straight state title, this time at 138 after winning at 126 last year and 120 in 2014.

 

Soddy Daisy’s Tucker Russo is unbeaten at 40-0 and will be looking for his third-straight title as well. He’s favored at 160 pounds after claiming titles at 145 and 138 the last two years.

 

But for a bunch of young men who have paid the price through hard work in the practice room and lots of days watching their weight, this is the end of the rainbow for the 2016 season.

 

“I’m always excited about the traditional tournament as it’s a fun time for everyone,†said Bradley coach Ben Smith, who earned his first state title as a coach two weeks ago.

 

“It’s fun to see these kids achieve their goals and to see others accomplish what they’re not sure they’re capable of doing, but I feel like we have as good a shot as anyone. We all know that anything can happen, but we should be in the middle of it.

 

“We have pretty good firepower up and down our lineup and a good group who should make the finals. If everyone else wins a match or two, we should be in pretty good shape. This has been a five-year process for us, but we have 13 qualifiers who have paid their dues. It should be a fun weekend,†Smith added.

 

While Hicks and Fuller are both defending champs, Brett Brown returns at 195 after finishing second and fifth at 182 the last two years. D.J. Adams is hoping to improve on last year’s third-place finish at 285 while Ryan McElhaney and Donnie Beyer are looking to improve on last year’s fifth-place finishes as they will be competing at 120 and 152 this weekend.

 

Other Bradley qualifiers are Bryson Bishop at 106, Joshua LaCoe at 126, Hunter Parker at 132, Austin Matthews at 145, Henley Headrick at 160, Ed Elkins at 170 and D.J. Gibson at 220.

 

The Soddy Daisy Trojans were runner-up to Bradley at the Region 4 tournament last Saturday. Coach Jim Higgins will have a dozen individuals wearing the blue and gold singlets and he feels good about their chances.

 

“I like our draws as we’re ready to go,†Higgins said earlier this week.

 

“I think we’ll be okay and I’m confident right now. If the same guys show up like they have been all season, the results will take care of themselves. The hay’s in the barn. Now is the time to reap the benefits of all our hard work,†he continued.

 

Russo and Chase Payne are the only two returning medalists for the Trojans. Russo is looking for another state title while Payne is back at 113 and hoping to improve on last year’s fifth-place finish.

 

“Tucker Russo is a special athlete and a pleasure to coach. He’s what we look for in a wrestler and it will be painful to see him graduate, but he’s one of the best we’ve ever had at Soddy Daisy.

 

“Tucker hasn’t been taken down all year and hasn’t allowed a single offensive point, so it’s been fun watching him compete,†praised Higgins.

 

Joining Russo and Payne as Soddy Daisy qualifiers are Landon Wheaton at 106, Jacob Kilgore at 120, Tony Wilson at 132, Emory Holcomb at 138, Conner Stiles at 145, Chase Rogers at 170, Ty Boeck at 182, Dylan Aslinger at 195, Dakota Ables at 220 and Trace McNew at 285.

 

Colton Landers was runner-up for Cleveland last year at 126 while Triston Blansit was third at 120 and Cody Matthews fourth at 106.

 

Coach Jake Yost will be taking eight total and he feels like they have the ability to make some noise before all is said and done.

 

“We have eight who can score a bunch of points and who will hopefully be on the podium Saturday night. We’ve had some great practices this week and we’re where we need to be for this time of year,†Yost expressed.

 

“There’s no pressure on us at all. This is a new team and a new year. We don’t talk about what we did in the past. All will have to perform their best and that’s possible, but we’ll need all eight in the medals for us to have a chance,†he added.

 

Additional qualifiers for the Blue Raiders are Bryce Pond at 106, Logan Whiteside at 120, Austin Sweeney at 145, Greg Wilson at 160 and Jack Hicks at 170.

 

Nobody is giving East Hamilton much of a chance in the team race, but coach Ryan Cooper is just thrilled that his team will be taking nine representatives after a previous high of four in years past.

 

“We’re glad to have as many as we have going, but we’re just excited about having the opportunity to compete. We just want to see if we can build on what we did last weekend,†Cooper suggested.

 

“They know what it’s like to be at the big show, but it’s still wrestling. We’ve competed with the best in the state all season in this region, but we’ll go up on Wednesday and look around a little. I don’t want them to be star struck when they walk in there on Thursday,†he added.

 

The nine Hurricanes include Cade Meeks at 113, Briar Potter at 120, Grant Lundy at 126, Matt Meeks at 138, Andrew Sturdivant at 152, Kirby Sailors at 170, Kevin Siniard at 182, Hiacham Yun at 195 and Blake Cason at 285.

 

Walker Valley has seven qualifiers while Ooltewah has five and Rhea County two.

 

Walker Valley’s include Chandler Davis at 106, Gatapun Jur at 113, Zane Smith at 126, Joseph Munoz at 132, Mikel Gregory at 152, Jaylon Martin at 182 and C.J. Schwark at 285.

 

Ooltewah’s five include Jordan Massengill at 145, Jordan Chafi at 160, Nick Lett at 182, Tyler Reid at 195 and Victor Bednarski at 220 while the two from Rhea County include Jay Graham at 152 and Garret Smith at 220.

 

(email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)

 

 

 

And to Mr Ward Gossett...

 

Coach Marshall @ Tn High finishing strong along with The Hill resurgence in Region 1, but for this weekend's odds, he pulls no punches with many others in who he sees taking the crown...

 

Beech's Jeff Roberts shares BC's secret to success...

 

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/sports/preps/story/2016/feb/18/challengers-ready-chase-bradley-aastate-wrest/350715/

 

Challengers ready to chase Bradley for AAA state wrestling title

 

February 18th, 2016by Ward Gossett in Sports - PrepsRead Time: 2 mins.

 

Bradley Central High School wrestling coach Ben Smith heads into the TSSAA's Class AAA state traditional tournament with 13 qualifiers, including seven region champions.

Photo by Tim Barber /Times Free Press.

TSSAA CLASS AAA WRESTLING STATE TRADITIONAL TOURNEY align=

Today-Saturday; at Williamson County Agricultural Expo, Franklin

 

Admission: $10 per person per day; parking $5

 

Today’s Schedule

 

1 p.m. — Doors open

 

2 p.m. — Class AAA weigh-ins

 

3 p.m. — AAA round of 32, round of 16; two consolation rounds

 

There are likely a dozen prep wrestling teams that have moved beyond simply having aspirations for a Tennessee state championship.

 

At the head of the list — for the first time since 2010 — is Bradley Central, which has won 10 traditional tournament team titles, including a five-year run from 2001 to 2005.

 

Following the Region 4-AAA tournament last weekend, Bears coach Ben Smith expressed guarded optimism about his team's chances at this year's Class AAA state tournament, which starts late this afternoon at the Williamson County Agricultural Expo in Franklin.

 

"We focused this week on staying healthy, getting our weight down, fine-tuning and keeping the mood light," Smith said Saturday. "It's one of those things if we get (to Franklin) healthy and on weight, then we could do good things. Today was proof of that."

 

The Bears will roll into state with 13 qualifiers, including 10 finalists from the region tournament, where they stacked up 233.5 points.

 

Region 8-AAA member Arlington, though, enters state with one more qualifier and region place-finishes comparable to those of the Bears.

 

The Tigers have the same number of region champions (seven) and runners-up (three) but had two fourth-place finishers, compared to one for Bradley. Each team had two third-place medalists.

 

"I hope we can come out this weekend and wrestle well," Arlington coach Jonathan Simpson said. "I hope we can keep the momentum going."

 

Simpson, though, was of like mind with numerous other AAA coaches across the state.

 

"I think Bradley is the team (to beat). They won their region in convincing fashion and appear to be wrestling very well going into the tournament," he said. "I think everyone will be chasing after them and hoping we can catch them if they stumble."

 

Blackman coach Ronnie Bray agreed, simply responding, "I would say so," when asked if Bradley was the favorite.

 

Several coaches across the state were asked to predict a top 10, and the 10 teams most often mentioned (in alphabetical order) were Arlington, Beech, Bradley, Cleveland, Gibbs, Heritage, Stewarts Creek, Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee High and Wilson Central.

 

Tennessee High, which captured Region 1 with a statewide-best 270 points, was especially impressive in the state duals two weeks ago. After losing to Soddy-Daisy in the quarterfinals, the Vikings rebounded to beat Centennial, Arlington, Science Hill and Wilson Central to finish third.

 

"If we have the showing we expect, we could fit in the top five," Vikings coach Tim Marshall said. "Some are picking as many as six of our wrestlers to medal. Bradley Central is the odds-on favorite to win the team race, but it will be a very tight team race from second through seventh."

 

Beech, which has finished in the top 10 the last few seasons, qualified a school-record 11 wrestlers.

 

"I'm hoping for a strong finish," Buccaneers coach Jeff Roberts said. "We have some kids who can make some noise. I agree that Bradley is the favorite. They have 13 very strong qualifiers, several of which medaled or won it last season. There is no secret to their success. They just try to outwork everyone else."

 

Next-tier teams hopeful of a top-10 finish include Blackman, Independence, Halls, Siegel and Walker Valley.

 

Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him on Twitter @wardgossett.

 

More Articles

Read next article

 

Chattanooga area wrestling coaches succeed in following coaching legends Chattanooga area wrestling coaches succeed in following coaching legends

 

 

Outstanding Pre-State Coverage from Bristol Press...

 

Nice Video on returning state hopefuls...

 

http://m.heraldcourier.com/sports/tssaa-state-wrestling-tournament-begins-thursday/article_66b99f72-d5ca-11e5-b1dc-5385c7eea8bd.html?mode=jqm



Prep Wrestling

 

TSSAA state wrestling tournament begins Thursday

 

Trio of grapplers long for gold

 

Bristol Herald Courier

 

 

DAVID CRIGGER/BHC

 

Tennessee High's Dewey Pendley works against Battle's Jake Mumpower. Pendley won the match with a pin.

 

 

BHC Sports Desk | Updated 17 hours ago

 

Tennessee high school wrestlers will converge on the Williamson County Expo Center in Franklin Thursday for the start of the TSSAA state tournament.

 

 

Action begins with the boys Class AAA Round of 32 and Round 16 matches.

 

The AAA tournament will continue Friday, with the all-classes girls and boys Class A/AA brackets competitions commencing.

 

Champions in all divisions will be crowned Saturday.

 

Twenty wrestlers in total from Tennessee High and Sullivan East will be chasing championships.

 

The Vikings have 10 boys in the AAA bracket, while East has six representatives in the boys A/AA competition.

 

Each local school has two girls apiece competing in the female competition.

 

East’s Allison Davis is the only returning state champion among the locals as the junior will try to prevail in the 120-pound girls bracket a season after becoming one of the inaugural girls champions in the first year of the officially sanctioned TSSAA female tournament.

 

Corbin Hurley (boys AAA, 132 pounds) will go after the first-ever Tennessee High state title a season after finishing as a state runner-up. East’s Logan Chase (boys A/AA, 126 pounds) and Tennessee High’s Krista Martin (girls, 130 pounds) will also attempt to earn championships after earning state silver last year.

 



 

Three local wrestlers have one last shot at TSSAA wrestling titles

 

Silver shines – and silver stings.

 



 

Tennessee High enjoys program-best finish in state duals

 

The toughest wrestlers in Tennessee High history celebrated with “Tiny Dancer†as their soundtrack of success.

 

Vikings bring home TSSAA duals bronze

 

Tennessee High avenged its only loss of the TSSAA Class AAA state duals tournament and capped a banner day for the program Saturday with a 39-33 victory over Wilson Central to earn third place.

 



 

THS sets sights on regional duals

 

The Vikings are in it. Now they’re in it to win it.

 

 

Vikings make it four straight wins at annual Best of Bristol meet

 

Tennessee High has gone from irrelevant to indomitable at the Best of Bristol wrestling meet.

 

 

As THS wins Cressel Classic, East's Hicks gets some redemption

 

Sullivan East senior wrestler Luke Hicks took time for a quick celebration Saturday after winning in the finals of the Ed Cressel Classic.

 

 

Great to see am old traditional power back...

 

Could be a Top 5-10 AAA Finish If Combined...

 

http://www.chattanoogan.com/2016/2/18/318264/Red-Bank-Wrestlers-Hoping-To-Add.aspx

 

Red Bank Wrestlers Hoping To Add Another State Title

 

Lions Will Face Big Challenges From Pigeon Forge, Alcoa

 

Thursday, February 18, 2016 - by John Hunt

 

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Red Bank wrestling head coach Shane Turner, left, gives some pre-match instruction to Devin Crawl during the recent Region 2-A/AA tournament. With a record of 38-1 and the number one seed in the 195-pound weight class, Crawl is looking to repeat as a state champion after winning the gold in the 182 weight class in 2015. The state traditionals kick-off Thursday in Franklin, Tenn. at the Ag Expo Center.

- photo by Dennis Norwood/File

 

The Red Bank Lions have been on the outside looking in for a few years, but they finally got past that biggest hurdle a few weeks ago and took full advantage of their opportunity.

 

The Lions had one of the best Class A-AA wrestling teams in the state last year, but had to stay home after Hixson won their region.

 

That wasn’t the case a few weeks back and the Lions responded by winning their first A-AA State Duals Title with a somewhat-controversial 34-30 victory over defending champ Pigeon Forge.

 

Now two weeks later, the Williamson County Agricultural Exposition Park will again be the scene as 224 wrestlers in 14 weight classes gather for a two-day event that will conclude with the championship finals on Saturday night.

 

Pigeon Forge is the defending champ for the traditional tournament as well. The Tigers may well have a chip on their shoulders after losing to the Lions two weeks ago.

 

Red Bank, Pigeon Forge are surely the two early favorites, but what about Alcoa? The Tornadoes have plenty of reason to be considered as well, but it looks like a two-team race between the first two mentioned.

 

The Lions will be taking 13 back to Franklin for the event that begins on Friday with the Round of 16 and quarterfinals at 10 a.m. (CST).

 

Three of those Red Bank guys are returning medalists, including Devin Crawl who won a state title at 182 last year. Gabe McDuffie was fifth a year at 152 after winning it all at 138 in 2014. Kaine Kell was fifth last year at 160.

 

“We’re excited and looking forward to the opportunity. Hopefully, we’ll be competing for another state title this weekend,†said Red Bank coach Shane Turner between classes Wednesday.

 

“It’s been business as usual this week, but we’ll have to win the ones we’re supposed to win and also win a few we’re not supposed to win, but I feel like we have a legitimate shot to win it all.

 

“We had five region champs and got some decent draws, but you just never know what will happen. Pigeon Forge has a great team and Alcoa too and I know they won’t just give it to us.

 

“We’ll have to take their best shot and I hope we respond. I’m sure they’ve had plenty of motivation these last two weeks,†Turner added.

 

Joining Crawl, McDuffie and Kell will be Zack Gee at 106, Blake Reichel at 113, Gage Evans at 120, Trent Comeaux at 126, Jonah Bird at 132, Jackson Hash at 160, David Johnson at 170, Robert Perry at 182, Devon Suddeth at 220 and Anthony Ottinger at 285.

 

Crawl and Ottinger both enter the weekend with one loss. Crawl is now 38-1 while Ottinger is 35-1.

 

The Hixson Wildcats finished second to Pigeon Forge last year, but things just didn’t turn out as planned for coach Garrick Hall and his team this season. Despite that fact, Hixson will have nine individuals, including two state medalists who were both runners-up a year ago.

 

Landon Goforth is the only unbeaten Wildcat and will take his 28-0 mark into the competition at 145 pounds. He was second at the same weight last year after finishing third at 152 in 2014.

 

Dylan Bargerstock, one of four Hixson wrestlers who is a senior, was second at 195 last year after finishing runner-up at 182 in 2014.

 

Other Hixson qualifiers include Rylie Hart at 106, Jacob Newman at 113, Jordan Lewis at 120, Konnor Zeigler at 126, Isaac Yates at 132, Jonas Shackleford at 138 and Guillano Palacio at 285.

 

“We’re healthy, our spirit is up and we’re ready to get started,†said Hixson coach Garrick Hall on Wednesday.

 

“I’ve been coaching for a long time and have never had an individual state champion. Maybe I’ll get the monkey off my back and get one this weekend.

 

“We have good and bad draws, but unless you’re a region champ, you’ll just be in the mix with everyone else. But that’s better than sitting at home. At least we have a shot.

 

“We’ve worked hard and we want to see them all do well, but it’s bittersweet for some of them because it’s their last chance. I’m not worried about the team scores. I just want to see as many on that podium Saturday night at possible,†Hall expressed.

 

While Red Bank, Pigeon Forge and Alcoa are among the early favorites, always keep your eyes on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish as they’ve been a heavy hitter at the state level in wrestling for many years.

 

The Irish have qualified five young men and they probably won’t be in the team race, but they do have one Luke Mullin, who is one of the best in any weight class and will be competing for his third straight state title.

 

Mullin is 35-1 as he enters the competition at 126 pounds and he’ll be joined by teammates Cade Holloway at 106, Grant Speer at 113, Camden Dickens at 126 and Ned Warwick at 132.

 

“I’m excited for the kids,†said Notre Dame coach Rocco Mansueto early Wednesday morning.

 

“We’re somewhat inexperienced this year, but the work is done and it’s time to have a little fun. Some guys are really glad to be going while others are just ready for the season to end. Our guys are really pumped and we’re expecting them to compete when they step to that line on Friday morning.

 

“It’s all about being ready to go when that whistle blows,†the first-year coach added.

 

Mullin comes from a long line of great Notre Dame wrestlers and Mansueto is the first to admit it.

 

“Luke is so detail oriented and always looking for new technique. He’s a diligent, hard-working kid who loves the sport and pushes a competitive pace. I try to get on the mat with him every chance I get and it’s all I can do to keep up with him,†the coach praised.

 

Tyner will have five individuals while East Ridge, Signal Mountain and Boyd-Buchanan will all have four. Central, Sequatchie County and Whitwell have three apiece with Chattanooga Christian taking two and Howard one.

 

Tyner’s five include Chaysen Patrick at 152, Juan Camacho at 170, Kevin Cortes at 195, Deontae Tyson at 220 and Keith Thomas at 285.

 

Those representing East Ridge include Kashawn Cosey at 120, Logan McDonald at 132, Darian Smith at 170 and Christian Castro at 285 while Signal Mountain’s four include Isaac Tate at 106, Daniel Dawson at 138, Hunt Drennan at 145 and Seth Petarra at 182.

 

Boyd-Buchanan will have Scott Weaver at 113, Zane Williams at 160, Kell Stott at 195 and Will Watkins at 220 while Central’s three include Isaac Coffman at 138, Alonzo Heyward at 152 and Brian Sledge at 195.

 

Sequatchie County will have Jay Brock at 126, Cameron Weaver at 138 and Jarred Keener at 152 while Whitwell’s trio includes Avery Shrum at 160, Daniel Mikel at 170 and William Carter at 182.

 

Chattanooga Christian will have Justin Wheeler in the field at 145 while teammate Michael Nelson is entered at 220. Howard’s lone qualifier is Niejel Billingsley at 160 pounds.

 

Central’s Heyward was second at 152 last year while Signal Mountain’s Petarra was fourth at 170. Boyd-Buchanan’s Watkins was fifth at 220 a year ago.

 

The tournament begins for the A-AA division on Friday with the Round of 16 and quarterfinals at 10 a.m. (CST). The semifinals are set for 6 on Friday with the championship finals for all classifications set for Saturday at 5.

 

(email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)

Edited February 19, 2016 by Sommers

[Sommers]

We are very fortunate in what the TSSAA has sanctioned here in Tennessee increasing awareness and popularity of our sport...

 

Girls wrestling is still more niche than mainstream. Florida still doesn’t recognize it through its official sports sanctioning body, the FHSAA. Only Texas, Hawaii, New York, California and Tennessee have governing bodies that oversee the sport.

 

http://usatodayhss.com/2016/mackenzie-more-wins-riverdales-first-girls-wrestling-state-title

 

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 FIND A SCHOOL

 

WRESTLING

 

Mackenzie More wins Riverdale's first girls wrestling state title

 

By Cory Mull cmull@news-press.com, February 17, 2016

 

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Riverdale’s Mackenzie More won the girls wrestling state championship in the 132-pound weight class in her first full season as a wrestler.

 

It wasn’t until later, after Mackenzie More stood atop the podium and raised her wrestling state championship trophy on Saturday at Osceola High School, that Riverdale assistant coach Jack Gunn calculated how long it took the senior to win the program’s first girls title.

 

He counted the exact time she spent on the mat to win her crown: Five minutes, three seconds.

 

“It goes to show the hard work she put into it,†said Gunn, a 2007 state champion at heavyweight who mentored More this year. “She put in the time.â€

 

In four matches over two days in Kissimmee at the Florida girls state championships, More strung together four pins at 132 pounds, each seemingly faster than the next.

 

She earned her place among 21 other state wrestling champions at Riverdale High, a program where wrestling can take on a life of its own inside the sweatbox training room the Raiders call home.

 

“It’s something you’ll never forget,†Gunn said. “It’s a great experience.â€

 

Only, More is a trendsetter, too — the next in line of a growing list of girls wrestlers in Lee County. She followed Ida Baker’s Korynna Gacad, who won a state title at 97 pounds in 2015, and was one of seven local wrestlers who took part in the championships on Friday and Saturday.

 

Alexis Simpson, of East Lee County, placed sixth at 99 pounds and Ellie Zubrowski, of Fort Myers, finished third at 147.

 

“It’s really cool now that I’m a part of Riverdale history and that I helped pave the way for girls who want to do wrestling in the future but who might be scared,†More said.

 

She was one of four girls training with the Raiders this season.

 

“Over the last two years, I was impressed that she always did what the guys did, she never complained, she never took any shortcuts,†Riverdale head coach Kris Hayward said. â€œAnd being in that environment, it really helped her excel when she competed.â€

 

Girls wrestling is still more niche than mainstream. Florida still doesn’t recognize it through its official sports sanctioning body, the FHSAA. Only Texas, Hawaii, New York, California and Tennessee have governing bodies that oversee the sport.

 

But nationally, it’s steadily finding its legs. Exposure from public figures like Ronda Rousey, a famous mixed martial artist, have shown that mat sports aren’t only for the boys. At least 21 colleges run women’s programs. Hayward said.

 

Osceola, Orange and Seminole county schools operate girls’ programs, with some even offering stipends for coaches. At the state championships, Liberty High from Kissimmee led the way with 18 girls competing and ultimately won the team competition.

 

The National Federation of High Schools reported a nearly 2,000-participant increase (11,496) nationally in the number of girls on the mat in 2014-15 from the previous year. In Florida, participation in girls wrestling rose 2.8 percent from the previous year to 239. In comparison, 8,097 boys competed in the state.

 

Pic

 

Mackenzie More, center, is lifted by her Riverdale wrestling teammates. More just won the 132-pound weight class in the girls wrestling state tournament.

 

And with more championships being earned by Lee County wrestlers, the sport will continue to grow, Hayward said.

 

“I will tell you, the interest is definitely growing and with her success, I absolutely believe it will promote more girls to participate,†he said. â€œThere’s more outlets. … It’s definitely a good thing.â€

 

More joined the Riverdale wrestling team as a junior, following in the footsteps of her brother, Dillon, who graduated in 2013. She became the first girl in Riverdale history to wrestle in varsity boys matches this season. She even won a few intrasquad matches against boys, Gunn said.

 

While a shoulder injury sidelined her during the state championships last year, Gunn said she developed quickly on the mat as a senior, absorbing details and employing groundwork with confidence. She picked up those ground maneuvers through her training in judo, a mixed martial art that features similar techniques, six years ago.

 

“Her having a judo background, sometimes it hurt her early on but she really started to find a rhythm the more she was on the mat,†Gunn said. “She became really good with several moves, like the leg sweep.â€

 

Pic

 

Mackenzie More, center, is lifted by her Riverdale wrestling teammates. More just won the 132-pound weight class in the girls wrestling state tournament.

 

More credited Rousey and MMA champion Holly Holm as inspirations in the sport. She said women mixed martial artists continue to give girls a reason to get on the mat.

 

“I look up to her,†More said of Rousey.

[Sommers]

No Surprise: Bradley Leading AAA State Wrestling

 

Soddy Daisy's Tucker Russo Loses On Questionable Disqualification

 

http://www.chattanoogan.com/2016/2/18/318321/No-Surprise-Bradley-Leading-AAA-State.aspx

 

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Breaking NewsOpinionSportsCommunityLeisuretimeObituariesClassifiedsAdvertise

 

Friday, February 19, 201638.7°F  Clear

 

Sports

 

Thursday, February 18, 2016 - by John Hunt

 



 

The weariness of competition and pushing through pain is evident on the faces of wrestlers Devin Gibson, top. of Bradley Central and Ethan Fedesco of Clinton as they battle in a 220-pound consolation bout at the Class AAA state wrestling championships Thursday at the Williamson County Ag Exposition Park in Franklin, Tenn. Gibson earned a 4-0 decision for the Bears as Bradley led all teams with 83.5 points as the first day of competition ended.

- photo by Dennis Norwood

 

FRANKLIN, Tenn. – There were a few surprises on the first day of the TSSAA Traditional State Wrestling Tournament, but things went according to plan for the most part.

 

The Bradley Bears are the team leaders after two championship and two consolation rounds with 83.5 points.

 

Arlington, Heritage, Tennessee High and Gibbs are all battling for second place as they have 54, 52, 51 and 50 points following Thursday’s action here at the Williamson County Agricultural Exposition Park.

 

Perhaps the most shocking and heartbreaking news on this first day involves Soddy Daisy senior Tucker Russo, an unbeaten young man who has yet to yield an offensive point and who was working toward a possible third-straight state title.

 

Russo won his first match in a lickety-split time of 45 seconds and appeared well on his way to victory in the second round against Smyrna’s Tyrone Johnson, leading 5-0 in the second period.

 

Russo was called for an illegal slam to stop the match. Both the trainer and Johnson himself said that he was okay and ready to continue minutes later, but the Smyrna coach wouldn’t let him continue and took the match by disqualification.

 

Russo came back later and won by a technical fall in his first consolation match, but the talk of the evening was about the way all of that unfolded and the unethical decision of the Smyrna coach.

 

“I just want to throw up,†said Soddy Daisy’s Steve Henry, who was filling in for Trojan head coach Jim Higgins.

 

“We go from the possibility of being the Outstanding Wrestler to battling for third. I had a long talk with him when it ended and he’s deflated and devastated, but we just have to fight through adversity and see what we’re made of.

 

“Tucker is like one of my own children and is the same age as my daughters. I’ll never forget how bad I felt when he lost in the semifinals as a freshman. That’s how I feel right now. I tried to fight for him, but there was nothing I could do as we’re tied by the rules. It just isn’t a just world,†Henry added.

 

Brad Laxton is a Trojan assistant and was much more outspoken than Henry.

 

“That Smyrna coach is nothing more than a coward. His kid was getting totally dominated at the time. The trainer said he was okay and the kid said he was ready to continue, but that wasn’t the choice the coach made,†Laxton added, still fuming over the unfortunate turn of events.

 

But on a day when Bradley once again looked like the great Bear teams from the past, it was a near-perfect beginning for coach Ben Smith and his guys.

 

The Bears won 11 of 13 matches in the Round of 32, including eight by pin and one by forfeit. Then in the Round of 16, Bradley prevailed in nine of the 11 matches with bonus points in eight of the nine wins.

 

Henley Headrick, Ed Elkins and D.J. Gibson all came back to win in the consolation rounds, so the Bears still have a dozen youngsters alive in the medal rounds, including nine in Friday morning’s quarterfinal round.

 

Smith isn’t superstitious, but he his realistic and he’s not about to put his neck on the line as far as Friday’s possibilities.

 

“I’m just hanging out as we’ve had a pretty good day,†Smith said after Gibson had won his second consolation match after losing a 7-2 decision in his first match.

 

“We had a lot of positives today and it always helps when you get a lot of bonus points. All of my guys are alive except Bryson Bishop and I hate it for him. He’s a senior and a real success story, but I hate to see his career end like this.

 

“We didn’t have any upsets as I thought we wrestled pretty well today. I don’t know if we can win all nine in the quarters, but we have a chance to put a bunch in the semifinals and that’s a lot of points.

 

“We can’t get too comfortable right now as we’ve had a bad round in the quarters before. But I would like to see us put a little distance between us and the others at some point tomorrow,†the emotional Smith added.

 

And what about the situation with Russo?

 

“If there’s a kid in this tournament who can handle a tough situation like that, it’s Tucker Russo. There aren’t many who could or would, but he can and will. I have no doubt that he’ll come storming back and do well the rest of the way,†he nodded.

 

While Bradley is alone at the top, Soddy Daisy and three-time defending champ Cleveland are tied for seventh with 47.5 points apiece.

 

Cleveland won five of eight matches in the first round and claimed four wins out of five in the Round of 16. Coach Jake Yost didn’t seem to bothered one way or the other.

 

“We still have four guys who are fighting for a championship while we have others who are fighting to stay alive in the tournament. We lost a close one at 120, but we’ll be alright. We just need to hang in there and keep battling,†he offered while the consolation matches continued.

 

Bradley’s nine in the quarters include T.J. Hicks at 113, Ryan McElhaney at 120, Joshua LaCoe at 126, Hunter Parker at 132, Knox Fuller at 138, Austin Matthews at 145, Donnie Beyer at 152, Brett Brown at 195 and D.J. Adams at 285.

 

Henley Headrick, Ed Elkins and Gibson are still alive in the consolation rounds.

 

Soddy Daisy’s three in the championship round include Landon Wheaton at 106, Emory Holcomb at 138 and Ty Boeck at 182 while Cleveland’s four include Bryce Pond at 106, Triston Blansit at 126, Colton Landers at 132 and Jack Hicks at 170.

 

Walker Valley is currently 18th place with 32 points while East Hamilton is 27th with 23 and Ooltewah 29th with 21.

 

Walker Valley’s two in the quarters include Joseph Munoz at 132 and Mikel Gregory at 152 while Ooltewah has Tyler Reid at 195 and Victor Bednarski at 220.

 

Rhea County’s Jay Graham won both of his matches and is still a contender at 152 pounds.

 

East Hamilton had nine entries but didn’t win a match in the opening round.

 

Friday’s action will begin at 10 a.m. (CST) with AAA quarters and the first two rounds in the A-AA class. The Division II quarters will start at the same time. The always-exciting championship semis for all classifications will begin at 6 p.m.

 

(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)

 

 

 

Cleveland's Bryce Pond (bottom) attempts to roll his opponent, Jared Hinshaw of Smyrna, over the top for a possible pin. Pond did not get the win by fall but did manage a 7-3 decision for the Blue Raiders, who ended the first day tied for seventh with Soddy Daisy.

- Photo2 by Dennis Norwood

 

 

 

Tennessean makes space on their sports page...

 

9 Seconds...

 

http://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/high-school/2016/02/18/boykin-makes-quick-work-state-wrestling-meet/80590438/

 

HIGH-SCHOOL

 

Boykin makes quick work at state wrestling meet

 

Tom Kreager/Gannett Tennessee

 

Riverdale junior Nick Boykin pinned Hunters Lane's Patrick Guider in nine seconds in his first-round match on Thursday in the TSSAA Class AAA individual state championships.

 

FRANKLIN — It didn’t take long for Riverdale junior standout Nick Boykin to advance past the first two rounds of the TSSAA State Wrestling Tournament Thursday at the Williamson County Expo Center.

 

It took 32 seconds, to be exact.

 

Boykin, the defending Class AAA state champ in the 285-pound class, pinned Hunters Lane’s Patrick Guider in nine seconds and took down Walker Valley’s C.J. Schwark in 23 seconds to reach the quarterfinals.

 

Several Midstate grapplers advanced to Friday’s quarterfinals, including Wilson Central freshman Michael Kramer, who will battle Boykin in the 285-pound round of eight. Antioch’s Jordan Hardy, Summit’s Hunter Hancock and Siegel’s Landen Patterson also moved on in the class.

 

Brentwood’s Tristan Roa, who was the 120-pound state champ last season, reached the 126-pound quarterfinals.

 

One defending state champ went down on the first day, as Soddy-Daisy’s Tucker Russo was disqualified during the round of 16 in the 160-pound class. Russo slammed Smyrna’s Tyrone Johnson, and after it was ruled by medical staff that Johnson couldn’t continue the match, Russo was disqualified.

 

That opens the door for Johnson and a pair of Midstaters — Hunters Lane’s Kemale Strong and Blackman’s Matthew Sells. Both advanced to the quarterfinals after a pair of wins Thursday.

 

Ravenwood’s Chris Rowland kept his perfect season going, improving to 17-0 with a pair of wins in the 152-pound division. Rowland was runner-up in the 138-pound division last season.

 

The Midstate has at least one wrestler alive in each weight class going into Friday’s quarterfinal round.

 

 

 

http://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/high-school/2016/02/18/boykin-makes-quick-work-state-wrestling-meet/80590438/

 

 

First- and second-round results are as follows:

 

Class AAA

 

Round of 32

 

106: Brayden Palmer (Beech) p. Cal Rogers (Tullahoma) 3:00; Dillon Lemons (Dobyns-Bennett) p. Khalil Williams (Bearden) 0:50; Bryce Pond (Cleveland) d. Matt Bozarth (Bartlett) MD 12-0; Jared Hinshaw (Seymour) d. Logan Powers (Summit) 6-2; Jacob Watts (Clarksville) won by forfeit; Justin Kimble (Collierville) p. Tristan Hefner (David Crockett) 3:14; Chandler Davis (Walker Valley) d. Cory Fouts (Gibbs) 13-6; Luke Dezember (Lawrence Co.) p. Samuel Thomas (Maryville) 1:03; Rodney Trent Nelson (Tennessee) p. Mason Bowden (Houston) 1:40; Colton Briney (McGavock) d. Jordan Burgess (Clarksville NW) MD 14-4; Lucas Gaines (Stewarts Creek) d. Vili Bussey (Heritage) MD 11-3; Charles Wheaton (Soddy-Daisy) p. Jacob Carroll (Powell) 0:19; Tyler McKeefery (Farragut) p. Garrett Stiltner (Science Hill) 3:30; James Carcum (Cookeville) p. Gage Bbackus (Wilson Central) 3:40; Gavin Schooberl (Independence) p. Dylan Kemmer (Stone Memorial) 0:28; Michael Cannon (Arlington) d. Bryson Bishop (Bradley Central) 6-4.

 

113: Thomas Hicks (Bradley Central) won by forfeit; Decarlos Allen (McGavock) d. Nick Moreno (Sevier Co.) TF 5:52 15-0; Phillip Maxwell (Gibbs) p. Joshua Rodela (Siegel) 2:35; Dillon Pendley (Tennessee) p. Deshawn Dail (Clarksville NW) 1:07; Alex Pergande (Wilson Central) d. Gatapun Jur (Walker Valley) TF 5:15 (15-0); Justin Rogers (Cookeville) p. Jaylen Tyler (Heritage) 3:47; Graham Brothers (Brentwood) p. Christian Watson (Clinton) 1:04; Caleb Morgan (Arlington) p. Dorian Butler (Science Hill) 1:04; Calvin Martin (William Blount) p. Paul Pitcher (Hardin Valley) 1:30; Jon Kost (Rossview) p. Chase Payne (Soddy-Daisy) 2:16; Mike Kromoff (David Crockett) d. Jared Briant (Collierville) 11-7; William Witt (Cane Ridge) p. Jaylen James (Stewarts Creek) 5:44; Job Dooley (Franklin) p. Pedro Vilalobos (Stone Memorial) 0:20; Cody Longo (Bartlett) p. Cade Meeks (East Hamilton) 1:33; Corbin Bumgarner (Dobyns-Bennett) won by forfeit; Tolliver Justice (Halls) p. Kevin Rogers (Smyrna) 1:49.

 

120: Adam Fuller (Centennial) p. Jacob Baird (Seymour) 0:51; Cooper Williams (Science Hill) d. Chase Brown (Halls) 5-2; Logan Whiteside (Cleveland) d. Cameron Henderson (Smyrna) 7-1; Austin Plumlee (Mt. Juliet) p. Jake Manuel (Houston) 0:28; Dalton Cockman (Bartlett) p. Tim Smartt (Brentwood) 3:05; Dylan Coggins (Stewarts Creek) p. Jacob Denton (Dobyns-Bennett) 3:34; Kyle Burns (Bearden) d. Briar Potter (East Hamilton) 4-3; Xavier Findley (Stone Memorial) d. Andrew Parker (West Creek) inj.; Michael Moultry (Siegel) p. Jacob Kilgore (Soddy-Daisy) 4:42; Justin Brenot (Clarksville) d. Luke Kerns (Arlington) 11-4; Daniel Fowler (Independence) p. Austin Sauls (William Blount) 0:35; Landon Adzima (Gibbs) p. Ryan McCrary (David Crockett) 0:34; Tre’von Thomas (Blackman) p. Dominic Fields (Tennessee) 1:42; Cole Klingensmith (Summit) p. John Knight (Southwind) 2:38; Simon Pergande (Wilson Central) p. Eugene Hennington (Sevier Co.) 1:45; Ryan McElhaney (Bradley Cent.) p. Kameron Isbell (Hardin Valley) 1:54.

 

126: Tristan Roa (Brentwood) d. Clayton Apland (Blackman) 7-0; Brandon Nanney (William Blount) d. Jose Hernandez (Cordova) SV-1 5-3; Logan Ferguson (Tennessee) d. Grant Lundy (East Hamilton) 6-4; Chris Nielsen (Halls) p. Austin Woodward (West Creek) 1:45; Nathan Porter (Summit) d. Jeremiah Herron (Beech) MD 13-5; Joshua LaCoe (Bradley Central) p. Andrew Skobig (Cumberland Co.) 3:18; Travis Arthur (Houston) d. Brandon Talley (Morristown Hamblen East) MD 15-4; Cleveland Cyree (Tullahoma) p. Garrett Sepesi (Powell) 0:27; Juan Hernandez (Heritage) d. Zane Smith (Walker Valley) MD 11-2; Owen Schnedler (Independence) d. Jalen Henry (Mt. Juliet) SV-1 15-13; Gabe Rogets (Stewarts Creek) d. Tyler Hemry (Hardin Valley) 4-0; Luke Story (Science Hill) p. Justin Donahue (Arlington) 0:45; David Thomas (Bartlett) p. Michael Steverson (Maryville) 1:31; Jack Shrader (Franklin) d. Daniel Bradford (Siegel) 5-1; DeQwendric Whiters (Clarksville NE) p. Zach Wright (Farragut) 3:57; Triston Blansit (Cleveland) p. Cody Harris (Jefferson Co. 1:33.

 

132: Corbin Hurley (Tennessee) won by forfeit; Esteban Remillard (Summit) p. Austin Sparks (Mt. Juliet) 3:48; Colton Landers (Cleveland) p. Jalen Brown (Blackman) 0:57; Anthony Alegria (Stone Memorial) p. Caysen Barnett (Farragut) 1:17; Harrison Phillips (Arlington) d. Joshua Hughes (William Blount) 9-2; Hunter Parker (Bradley Central) d. Nicholas Freeman (Ravenwood) MD 9-1; Carson Helton (Stewarts Creek) d. Antonio Alejos 7-6; Matthew Maxwell (Gibbs) p. Nate Hawkins (Dobyns Bennett) 1:34; Brady Ingram (Independence) p. William Downing (Beech) 1:35; Robert English (Jefferson Co.) p. Brian Ensell (Houston) 5:39; Dylan Branson (Heritage) p. Zack Kennedy (Halls) 1:32; Carl Templeton (Smyrna) d. Tony Wilson (Soddy-Daisy) 8-3; Nathan Potter (Riverdale) won by forfeit; Hunter Wallace (Powell) d. William Pridemore (Science Hill) 12-6; Abie DeBusk (Seymour) p. Dontae Johnson (Kingsbury) 0:48; Joseph Munoz (Walker Valley) p. Jerome Dooley (Antioch) 0:27.

 

138: Knox Fuller (Bradley Central) p. Cameron Nesbitt (Cane Ridge) 0:34; Caleb Berta (Wilson Central) p. Jordan Taylor (Cordova) 1:23; William Diehl (Science Hill) d. Eric Souksavong (Stewarts Creek) SV-1 6-4; Joshua Teaster (Heritage) d. Herbert Lepper (Halls) 4-2; Ian McNitt (Hardin Valley) d. Cody Matthews (Cleveland) 4-3; Derrick Christensen (Cookeville) p. Sidney Smith (Bartlett) 5:05; Diego Martinez (West Creek) p. Edward Ford (Cocke Co.) 3:18; Cole Iler (Centennial) p. Tanner Sharpe (South Doyle) 0:27; Zack Wilkins (Mt. Juliet) p. Jake Simpson (Collierville) 0:23; Sean Butler (Summit) d. Matt Meeks (East Hamilton) 9-6; Noel Leyva (Gibbs) d. Muico Hernandez (Stone Memorial) 6-5; Dylan McElhaney (Tullahoma) p. Isaac Charpenter (Volunteer) 1:11; Michael Mowery (Arlington) p. Elijah Cox (Blackman) 0:42; Emory Holcomb (Soddy-Daisy) d. Luke Diederick (Anderson Co.) MD 14-1; Logan Fuson (Maryville) d. Collin Lynn (Independence) 6-2; Dewey Pendley (Tennessee) won by forfeit.

 

145: Michael Diemer (Heritage) p. Spencer Harvey (Centennial) 4:42; Christian Jackson (Southwind) p. Ryan Brown (Lebanon) 1:24; Nick Moore (Hardin Valley) d. Treavor South (Stewarts Creek) 8-4; Austin Mathews (Bradley Central) p. Adam Jeffers (Dobyns-Bennett) 5:04; Arthur James (Science Hill) d. John McDonald (Stone Memorial) MD 14-5; Enrique Gonzalez (Rossview) d. Haustin Parsons (Shelbyville) TF-1.5 4:33 (15-0); Bailey Hulley (Arlington) p. Austin Officer (Farragut) 1:21; Sawyer Knott (Summit) p. Joshua Stiles (Soddy-Daisy) 1:58; Landon Fowler (Blackman) p. Tyler Henry (Halls) 0:52; Bryson Henley (Tennessee) p. Austin Sweeney (Cleveland) 5:15; Kelvin Freeman (McGavock) d. Sam Gallemore (Maryville) 7-1; Grayson Young (Houston) d. Steve Weist (Mt. Juliet) MD 11-3; Angel Leyva (Gibbs) d. Kris Taylor (Bolton) MD 11-2; Jordan Massengill (Ooltewah) p. Charles Savage (Independence) 1:31; Grant Wallen (Seymour) d. Austin Baker (Jefferson Co.) 7-5; Trevor Rippy (Beech) p. Jesse Saunders (Cookeville) 1:06.

 

152: Chris Rowland (Ravenwood) d. Charles Bros (Cookeville) TF-1.5 1:49 (16-4); Sinjin Noga (Wilson Central) p. Michael Hill (Volunteer) 4:56; Mikel Gregory (Walker Valley) p. Gilmore Ortiz (Heritage) 3:44; Sirrel Robinson (Halls) d. Austin Baudoin (Arlington) 7-2; Christian Salter (Siegel) p. Rayshawn Koster (Karns) 3:24; Thomas Meadows (Maryville) d. Dylann Quinn (Mt. Juliet) MD 18-7; Jay Graham (Rhea Co.) d. Josh Rapcan (Dobyns-Bennett) 6-1; Kris Bledsoe (Bolton) d. Jose Molina (Overton) 6-4; Donnie Beyer (Bradley Central) p. Joseph Garrett (Beech) 0:15; Garrett Johnson (Germantown) p. Brandon Dougherty (Hardin Valley) 5:22; Austin Tucker (Hillsboro) d. Ryder Gebhardt (Oakland) 10-5; Wesley Nuchols (William Blount) p. Joshua DeBord (Daniel Boone) 0:33; Jason Johnson (Tennessee) p. Jacob Flannery (Stone Memorial) 2:46; Matthew Dale (Houston) d. Cole Tilman (Blackman) 8-5; Taylor Pate (Centennial) d. JT Edwards (Anderson Co.) 6-2; Adrian Gonzalez (Rossview) p. Andrew Sturdivant (East Hamilton) 0:36.

 

160: Tucker Russo (Soddy Daisy) p. Hayden Venoy (Volunteer) 0:45; Tyrone Johnson (Smyrna) d. Elijah Lawson (Gibbs) 13-11; Nathan Laub (Arlington) d. Blake Spink (Northwest) 9-6; Dawson Satterfield (William Blount) d. Ishmael Arnold (Antioch) 5-1; Alex Jeffers (Dobyns Bennett) p. Clifford Holloway (Maryville) 0:44; Jerry Maddox (Beech) p. Matthew Callahan (Sigel) 3:50; Christian Cara (Bartlett) p. Marshall Murphy (Hardin Valley) 3:35; Kemale Strong (Hunters Lane) p. Greg Wilson (Cleveland) 3:31; Matthew Sells (Blackman) p. Lincoln Sells (Karns) 0:37; Henley Headrick (Bradley Central p. Aaron Lawson (Jefferson Co.) 1:07; Austin Ryan (Independence) MD Chandler Brickle (Stone Memorial) 14-2; Cedric Lynn (Memphis East) p. Hunter Hemontolor (Mt. Juliet) 1:12; Damon Smith (Wilson Central) p. Brenden Adkins (Tullahoma) 1:02; Daniel Riley III (Heritage) d. Alex Mercado (Morristown-Hamblen East) 3:25; Jordan Chafi (Ooltewah) d. CJ Grissom (Brentwood) 8-6; Colton Mcmahan (Knoxville Halls) d. Joseph Dawson (Houston).

 

170: Tate Holmes (Anderson Co.) MD Billy Rogers (Soddy Daisy) 14-1; John Williams (Sigel) MD Bailey Short (Heritage) 10-0; Kieran Aamski (Northeast) d. Brandon Sligh (Independence) 7-3; Aaron Moore (Arlington) p. Blake Baker (Jefferson Co.) 0:52; Jack Hicks (Cleveland) p. Jaquez Morton (Memphis East) 0:44; Ronnie Wyllins (Stone Memorial) d. Calvin Branch (Antioch) 14-12; Kyle Smith (Beech) MD Vincent Cross (Blackman) 15-5; Denzel Medina (Science Hill) p. Jacob Jackson (Hardin Valley) 5:49; Zach Linton (Wilson Central) p. Garrett Grissim (Brentwood) 0:19; Ismaeel Bayakly (Corodva) p. Elijah Morley (Cocke Co.) 5:01; Ed Elkins (Bradley Central) d. Antonio Herrera (Karns) 8-7; Nolan Kennedy (William Blount) p. Dyllan Houser (Cookeville) 1:33; Zack Carney (Summit) p. Tyson Johnson (Sevier Co.) 3:47; Brandon Patterson (Bolton) d. Kirby Sailors (East Hamilton) 1-0; Max Grayson (Bearden) p. Griffin Simerly (Morristown-Hamblen West) 1:22; John Olivieri (Stewarts Creek) p. Anthony Currie (Kenwood) 1:36.

 

182: Kaleb Rippy (Beech) p. Brandon Fortune (South Doyle) 0:25; Jaylon Martin (Walker Valley) p. Tanner Thompson (Morristown-Hamblen East) 2:24; Keith Dowell (Arlington) SV-1 Hunter Winters (Blackman) 5-3; Hunter Fortner (Gibbs) p. Andrew Cannon (Independence) 2:42; Josh Carpenter (Heritage) p. Zach Broemmel (Hardin Valley) 0:23; Jeremy Spangler (Tennessee) d. Joshua Tobitt (Coffee Co.) 13-6; Dawson Johnson (Bartlett) p. Nicholas Lett (Ooltewah) 0:46; Darron Lee (Cane Ridge) d. Isiah Dunham (Kenwood) 8-1; Josh Booker (Jefferson Co.) p. Kevin Siniard (East Hamilton) 0:17; Justin Brown (Lebanon) d. James Hartgrove (William Blount) 5-3; Jason Gardner (John Overton) p. Kagan Thomas (Bearden) 3:06; Jaxton Wallace (Smyrna) p. Jaterius Graham (Bolton) 2:54; Shawn Ketron (Daniel Boone) d. Garrett Richards (Oakland) 7-0; Brent Buckman (Knoxville Halls) p. Juan Loza (Stone Memorial) 2:57; Nathan Walling (Mt. Juliet) p. Alec Fernandez (Ravenwood) 5:58; Ty Boeck (Soddy Daisy) p. Sam Meagher (Houston) 2:35.

 

195: Brett Brown (Bradley Central) p. Jeffery Walpole (Wilson Central) 0:39; Morgan Bate (Maryville) d. Kevin McHaney (Bartlett) 4-2; Jacob Gerken (Bearden) TF-1.5 Jamal Miller (McGavock) 17-2; Parker Estes (Volunteer) p. Dre Trotter (Stewarts Creek) 2:00; Andre Bravo (Blackman) p. Huichan Yun (East Hamilton) 3:07; Ben Kazmierowicz (Brentwood) d. Wyatt Snow 11-5; David Fairley (Bolton) d. Luke Harp (Knoxville Halls) 8-5; Dylan Carney (Northwest) p. Randall Wiseman (Dobyns Bennett) 2:39; Marcus Ball (Hunters Lane) p. Zebulon Calhoun (Clinton) 1:19; Dylan Pearson (Tullahoma) p. Weston Brown (Science Hill) 1:42; Zach Thomas (Rossview) p. Dylan Aslinger (Soddy Daisy) 1:24; Rayveon Hardin p. Blake Lambson 0:20; John Lawson III (Gibbs) p. Timothy Finnie (Southwind) 2:55; Eric M. Cornelius (West Creek) p. Curtis Pinkston (Jefferson Co.) 2:50; Tyler Reid (Ooltewah) p. Branson Boone (Oakland) 0:26; Justin Johnson (Stone Memorial) TF-1.5 Ian Grau (Independence) 16-0.

 

220: Tyler Barber (Stewarts Creek) p. Garrett Smith (Rhea Co.) 1:24; James Parker (John Overton) p. Isaiah Martin (West Creek) 1:46; Ethan Fedesco (Clinton) won by forfeit; Javier Salvador (Heritage) p. Spencer Scardino (Collierville) 1:17; Victor Bednarski (Ooltewah) d. Luke Ellis (Sevier Co.) 5-2; Craig Barbour (Northwest) p. Joel Witcher (Karns) 2:35; Kenneth Haggerman (Tennessee) p. Lawrence Shelton (McGavock) 4:41; Sam Luker (Blackman) p. Alan Roaten (Arlington) 2:27; Charles Chappell (Hardin Valley) d. Andrew Arias-lynch (Rossview) 4-2; Dalton Davis (Cumberland Co.) d. Dakota Ables (Soddy Daisy) 6-3; Bargatze (Sigel) p. Nicholas LeGrand (Houston) 3:00; Isaiah Demello (Independence) p. Tyler Pendleton (Volunteer) 1:04; Peyton Reinert (Beech) won by forfeit; Chester Peden (Smyrna) d. Devin Gibson (Bradley Central) 7-2; Trevor Cara (Bartlett) p. Christian Lovell (William Blount) 3:47; Hunter Bagley (Science Hill) p. Parker Gilstrap (Bearden) 0:42.

 

285: Nick Boykin (Riverdale) p. Patrick Guider (Hunters Lane) 0:09; CJ Schwark (Walker Valley) d. Kristopher Ramsey (William Blount) 5-2; Johnthan Metcalf (Arlington) D. Austin Taylor (Science Hill) 5-2; Michael Kramer (Wilson Central) p. Kevin Brewer (Hardin Valley) 1:29; Jonathan Davis (Gibbs) p. Jacob Mathis (Franklin Co.) 5:18; Wyatt Short (Morristown Hamblen East) p. Jacob Coppenger (Heritage) 3:54; Jesse-Paul McNew (Soddy-Daisy) p. Elijah Holcomb (Cookeville) 3:12; Jordan Hardy (Antioch) p. Tyler Harrison (Lebanon) 3:30; Logan Townsend (Jefferson Co.) p. Blake Cason (East Hamilton) 1:37; Saigh Mullins (Clarksville NW) p. Thomas Roberts (Anderson Co.) 5:54; Hunter Hancock (Summit) d. Luke Champion (Tullahoma) 2-0; Trey Hawkins (Bartlett) p. Tyrese Tory (South Doyle) 1:23; David Scavo (Cumberland Co.) p. Jeron Waye (Dobyns-Bennett) 1:02; Landen Patterson (Siegel) p. Derrick Debusk (Knox Central) 3:23; David Dowell (Beech) p. Mustafa Garmavl (Cane Ridge) 5:03; David Adams (Bradley Central) p. Tyler Osbourne (Munford) 0:09.

 

Round of 16

 

106: Palmer d. Lemons 2-0; Pond d. Hinshaw 7-3; Kimble p. Watts 2:43; Dezember p. Davis 3:03; Trent Nels p. Briney 2:36; Wheaton won by forfeit; Harcum d. McKeefery 4-3; Cannon d. Schooberl 11-6.

 

113: Hicks p. Allen 1:10; Maxwell d. Pendley 8-3; Pergande d. Rogers 8-2; Brothers d. Morgan 7-6; Martin d. Kost 8-1; Witt p. Kromoff 5:56; Dooley d. Longo MD 14-0; Justice p. Bumgarner 3:15.

 

120: Fuller d. Williams 6-1; Plumlee d. Whiteside 2-1; Coggins d. Cockman MD 14-5; Burns p. Findley 5:29; Moultry d. Brenot MD 10-1; Adzima d. Fowler 5-2; Thomas d. Klingensmith UTB 8-7; McElhaney p. Pergande 0:32.

 

126: Roa d. Nanney TF-1.5 6:00 (16-0); Nielsen p. Ferguson 0:52; LaCoe d. Porter 8-1; Arthur p. Cyree 4:55; Hernandez d. Schnedler 6-5; Story d. Rogers 5-3; Shrader d. Thomas 3-2; Blansit p. Whiters 1:25.

 

132: Hurley d. Remillard 2-0; Landers p. Alegria 1:58; Parker d. Phillips MD 9-1; Maxwell p. Helton 1:54; Ingram p. English 0:35; Templeton d. Branson 10-5; Potter d. Wallace 4-1; Munox p. DeBusk 3:04.

 

138: Fuller p. Berta 1:36; Diehl d. Teaster UTB 3-2; McNitt d. Christensen 7-6; Iler d. Martinez MD 12-3; Wilkins d. Butler 7-5; McElhaney p. Leyva 1:06; Holcomb p. Mowery 2:59; Pendley d. Fuson MD 11-2.

 

145: Diemer p. Jackson 3:06; Mathews d. Moore TF-1.5 5:46 (15-0); James d. Gonzalez 3-1; Knott d. Hulley 9-3; Henley d. Fowler 6-1; Young d. Freeman 8-7; Leyva d. Massengill 1-0; Rippy p. Wallen 0:56.

 

152: Rowland d. Noga MD 15-4; Gregory d. Robinson 5-3; Salter d. Meadows MD 11-2; Graham d. Bledsoe 8-3; Beyer p. Johnson 1:20; Nuchols p. Tucker 5:53; Johnson d. Dale 11-8; Gonzalez p. Pate 1:12.

 

160: Johnson d. Russo DQ; Satterfield p. Laub 3:00; Jeffers p. Maddox 4:00; Srong d. Cara 8-7; Sells d. Headrick 5-2; Lynn d. Ryan 6-4; Riley III p. Smith 4:50; Mcmahan p. Chafi 2:34.

 

170: Holmes d. Williams 6-1; Moore p. Aamski 3:46; Hicks MD Wyllins 15-6; Smith d. Medina 9-3; Linton p. Bayakly 3:54; Kennedy d. Elkins 7-1; Patterson MD Carney 10-2; Olivieri d. Grayson 11-7.

 

182: Rippy p. Martin 2:21; Fortner p. Dowell 1:29; Spangler d. Carpenter 5-3; Johnson SV-1 Lee 11-9; Booker d. Brown 7-2; Graham d. Gardner 8-1; Buckman d. Ketron 7-2; Boeck SV-1 Walling 6-4.

 

195: Brown p. Bate 0:25; Gerken MD Estes 15-1; Bravo TB-1 Kazmierowi 5-3; Carney p. Fairley 3:27; Pearson d. Ball 9-3; Thomas p. Hardin 1:47; Cornelius p. Lawson III 2:50; Reid d. Johnson 7-3.

 

220: Barber MD Parker 11-3; Salvador p. Fedesco 0:59; Bednarski TB-1 Barbour 5-3; Haggerman d. Luker 5-3; Davis d. Chappell 10-6; Demello d. Bargatze 6-5; Reinert d. Peden 5-3; Bagley p. Cara 0:28.

 

285: Boykin p. Schwark 0:23; Kramer p. Metcalf 0:24; Davis d. Short 10-3; Hardy p. McNew 0:29; Townsend d. Mullins 6-2; Hancock d. Hawkins 5-0; Patterson p. Scavo 3:20; Adams p. Dowell 3:00.

 

 

Long awaited press in an area once a force, but enjoyed region 7 successes in 2016...

 

http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/cheatham/2016/02/18/county-sends-wrestlers-state-tourney/80556192/

 

CHEATHAM

 

County sends 13 wrestlers to state tourney

 

Tim Adkins tadkins@mtcngroup.com13 hours agoFacebookTwitterGoogle Plusmore

 

Pic

 

Submitted photo

 

Cheatham County Central High School wrestlers Dallas Prater (left) and Johnny Henry are pictured with Cubs coach Jeremy Boyd.

 

Thirteen wrestlers from Cheatham County's three high schools are headed to this week's state wrestling tournament.

 

Pic

 

Two Cheatham County Central High School wrestlers qualified for the tournament: junior Dallas Prater (152) and Johnny Henry (285). Prater also qualified for last year's tournament.

 

Harpeth High School is sending five wrestlers to the tournament: freshman Dylan Becker (106), sophomore Braxton Hunter (120, first at regions), sophomore Thomas Hatcher (126), junior Daelyn Rose (152, first at regions) and sophomore Devin Spence (220).

 

Hunter finished fourth in the 120-pound weight class at last year's tournament. Hatcher, Rose and Spence also qualified for the tournament in 2015.

 

Sycamore High School is sending six wrestlers to the tournament this season - three girls and three boys.

 

The girls are sophomore Nena Chrestman, who placed first at the region; sophomore Jasmine Chandler; and freshman Caitlyn Gilmore.

 

The boys are junior Mitchell Camper, junior Zack Diviney and senior Logan Hayes.

 

Chrestman is a second-time state qualifier, while Camper and Diviney are three-time state qualifiers.

 

Camper placed third in the 132-pound weight class at last year's tournament, while Diviney placed fifth in the 170-pound weight class.

 

The tournament will be held Thursday-Saturday at the Williamson County Agricultural Expo Arena in Franklin.

 

 

 

Knoxville press, as the News Sentinel guess a free lance stringer to cover wrestling,,,, Chattanooga area wrestling community mustn't overlook what they have in BB, Hunt and Gossett, Rutherford Co in Kreager, Montgomery Co in Robinson, as well as Cleveland, Cookeville and far east Tn press...

 

http://www.knoxnews.com/sports/high-school/gibbs-starts-fast-at-state-wrestling-championships-2c01467e-aed2-022b-e053-0100007f23c7-369369781.html?d=mobile

 

Gibbs starts fast at state wrestling championships

 

By Tom Wood

 

Yesterday 10:03 p.m.

 

FRANKLIN — Gibbs High School enjoyed a stellar start to the individual wrestling state championships on Thursday.

 

A half-dozen Gibbs wrestlers won their first two matches to reach Friday's Class AAA quarterfinals at Williamson County Ag Expo Center.

 

"We've got six of the 10 guys we brought in the quarterfinals," Eagles coach Tim Pittman said. "Everybody's mentally tough but we've got a long ways to go. This is where they can get individual glory."

 

The Class A/AA and Division II tournaments are set to begin on Friday, along with Class AAA quarterfinal and consolation matches.

 

Gibbs wrestlers who advanced to the quarterfinals were: Phillip Maxwell (113), Landon Adzima (120), Matthew Maxwell (132), Angel Leyva (145), Hunter Fortner (182) and Jonathan Davis (285).

 

"We're all doing good, we're all still in it," Davis said after his 10-3 decision over Morristown East's Wyatt Short in the Round of 16. "Going to the finals, that's everyone's dream."

 

Leyva scored a 1-0 decision over Jordan Massengill of Ooltewah.

 

Phillip Maxwell, who's battling a right shoulder injury, advanced by a 2:35 fall over Dillon Pendley of Tennessee High.

 

Other area quarterfinals qualifiers include Tolliver Justice of Halls (113), Kyle Burns of Bearden (120), Chris Nielsen of Halls and Juan Hernandez of Heritage at 126, Ian McNitt of Hardin Valley (138) and Michael Diemer of Heritage (145).

 

Daniel Riley III of Heritage and Colton McMahan of Halls will face off in the 160-pound quarterfinals. Brett Buckman of Halls (182) and Jacob Gerken of Bearden also kept championship hopes alive.

 

Bradley Central led the team competition with 83.5 points. Arlington was second at 54, followed by Heritage (52), Tennessee (51) and Gibbs (50). Halls was tied for 12th with 42 points and William Blount was 14th with 41.

 

Tom Wood is a freelance contributor.

Edited February 19, 2016 by Sommers