Father Ryan Wins D-II with 7 Champions

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"I cried and my son cried and it was a great win for him."

Father Ryan coach Pat Simpson on his son (Christian Simpson) winning a state championship (126) and jumping in his father's arms after the match.

 

FRANKLIN - It was truly "all in the family" for victorious Father Ryan, as the Purple Irish used a pair of state championships from Simpson cousins and first and fifth place finishes from the Wesnofske brothers to help secure the TSSAA D-II state traditional wrestling championship here Saturday at the Williamson County Ag Expo Center.

 

Father Ryan finished with 249.5 points and seven champions, while runner-up Baylor had 238 points and five champions.

McCallie was third (161 pts., 1 champion, 11 medalists), MBA was fourth (155, 1 champion, 11 medalists) and Christian Brothers (100, 8 medalists) was fifth in the 16-team field.

 

Entering the finals, Ryan led Baylor by 1.5 points (117-115.5), but claimed champions in the first five weight classes  - Christian Simpson's pin at 106 set the tone for the night - along with 24 team points and secured the team title when Chris Wesnofske (145) defeated Braxton Kinney BGA), 6-0.

 

"I knew that if I won in the finals we would secure the team title, but I wanted to just focus on what I needed to do and not worry about anything else,"said Wesnofske.

 

He also noted his first match of the tournament which proved to be a big psychological lift to the team.

 

"I was on my back down 5-2 (to Baylor's Caleb Powell) and knew I had to do whatever it took to fight off my back, which I did. I then had to score one point at a time and eventually won in overtime."

 

Ryan champions (7) were Christian Simpson (106), Ray Eason (113) Trey Chalifoux (120), Kirby Simpson (126), Eli King (132), Chris Wesnofske (145) and Ben Stacey (220).

Baylor winners (5) were Michael Murphy (138), Blake Sutherland (160), Cayman Seagraves (170), Ryan Parker (195) and Cooper Reiniche (285).

 

McCallie had one champion in junior Will Patton (152) as did MBA in Cole Euverard.

 

Pat Simpson Comments:  

 

"Looking back, sometimes losing the state duals (to Baylor two weeks ago) can be a good thing ... If you work hard and then have no championships to show for it, it makes for a long off-season ... Losing the duals made us hungry and our kids were motivated ... It was easy to get them to work hard ... I have never had a team win as many matches as this team did ....  

 

Baylor Coach Ben Nelson Comments

"We wrestled well and am so proud of our guys on how they performed ... hats off to Father Ryan for wrestling well as they won many key matches."  

TrackWrestling.com:  all completed brackets, team standings and more can be found on trackwrestling.com

 

8 Years to Victory - In a story book finish, McCallie's Will Patton (152) hit a head throw against Father Ryan's Marcello Morrice for a match-tying takedown in the closing seconds to tie it at 7-7 and force overtime.

 

Patton, who has been wrestling since the third grade, trailed 4-0 in the first period, but stayed on the attack, received two points for his opponent being penalized for stalling and eventually gained the tie.

 

In overtime, both wrestlers scrambled for the winning takedown, but Patton prevailed to win the biggest match of his life.

 

"I felt confident I could win it after Monday's practice before the state tournament and knew I just had to rely on what my coaches had taught me all season," said the 17-year-old junior who had lost to Morrice 8-1 in the state duals..

 

Asked what he plans to do to celebrate his win, Patton said with a smile," eat a big meal and I won't be picky with what's on the menu."

 

Outstanding Wrestler: 160 - Blake Sutherland (Baylor)

Best Match: 152  Will Patton (McCallie) dec. Marcello Morrice (Father Ryan), 9-7 OT-1

 

2015 TSSAA D-II Medalists; 1st-3rd-5th

106 - 1st - Christian Simpson (Father Ryan) pinned Thomas Bellet (MBA), 5:16

3rd -  Hayden Hartline (Baylor) pinned Hunter Anderson (Brentwood Acad.), 4:44

5th - Tiy Reed (BGA) pinned Chadwick Cabenero (Christian Brothers), 1:31

 

113 - 1st - Ray Eason (Father Ryan) dec. Gabriel Elkin (MBA), 10-4

3rd - Trev Milling (Baylor) pinned Trace Jenkins (St. Benedict), 3:59

5th -  Connor Galvez (Ensworth) dec. Kolton Grimsley (BGA), 17-10

 

120 - 1st - Trey Chalifoux (Father Ryan) dec. Michael Elkin (MBA), 4-2

3rd - Justin Becci (Brentwood Acad.) tech. fall Jack Reynolds (Baylor), 4:40, 20-5

5th - Bryan Garrett (Christian Bros.) dec Addison Cornell (McCallie), injury forfeit

 

126 - 1st - Kirby Simpson (Father Ryan) major dec. Mason Reiniche (Baylor), 11-0

3rd -  James Westbrooks (McCallie) dec. Tanner Tisdell (Christian Bros,), 4-3

5th - Jonah Neuman (BGA) dec. John Michael Glover (MBA), 8-6

 

132 - 1st - Eli King (Father Ryan) major dec. Trevor Brown (Christian Brothers), 10-2

3rd - Brock Herring (McCallie) dec.Alex Atchley (Baylor), 10-4

5th - Conner Mitchell (BGA) dec. Vance Lipsey (Brentwood Academy),  7-0

 

138 - 1st - Michael Murphy (Baylor) dec. Ethan Dendy (McCallie), 4-2 OT-1

3rd - Daniel Wesley (Father Ryan) pinned Bryce Wittman (Christian Bros.), 2:28

5th - Sam Bellet (MBA) pinned Connor Stewart (MUS), 3:36

 

145 - 1st - Chris Wesnofske (Father Ryan) dec. Braxton Kinney (BGA), 5-1

3rd  - Caleb Powell (Baylor) dec.  Tommy Brackett (Christian Bros.), 5-0

5th - Sam Harrelson (McCallie) pinned Blake Solarek (MBA), 4:53

 

152 -  1st - Will Patton (McCallie) dec. Marcello Morrice (Father Ryan), 9-7 OT-1

3rd - Caleb Canada (Baylor) dec. Nathan Martin (Briarcrest), 1-0

5th - Jacob Telli (Pope John Paul) major dec.  Will Tansil (FRA), 9-1

 

160 - 1st - Blake Sutherland (Baylor) pinned Nick Naughton (Father Ryan), 1:17

3rd - Jeremy Stewart (St. Benedict) dec. Turner Rowland (McCallie), 6-2

5th - Eric Olson (BGA) dec. Griffin Brown (St. George's), 5-2

 

170 - 1st - Cayman Seagraves (Baylor) dec. Dallas Broughton (Christian Bros.), 5-2

3rd - Carter Heckle (MBA) dec. Ariel Bong (McCallie), 3-2

5th - Andrew Wesnofske (Father Ryan) dec. Max Mullen (Brentwood Acad.), 8-6 OT-1

 

182- 1st - Cole Euverard (MBA) major dec. Drew Ruffin (St. George's), 12-3

3rd - Robert Garstin (Father Ryan) pinned Nick Pope (Briarcrest), 1:42

5th - Wyatt Lindlau (St. Andrews-Sewanee) forfeit win Cole Holloway (Baylor)

 

195 - 1st - Ryan Parker (Baylor) major dec. Trel Phillips (McCallie), 11-3

3rd - Grayson Walthall (Christian Bros.) pinned Ben Kelly (MBA), 4:39

5th - John Gray (MUS) major dec. Will Shaw (Father Ryan), 14-5

 

220 - 1st - Ben Stacey (Father Ryan) dec. D'On Coofer (MBA), 4-2,   OT-1

3rd - Jay Roberts (McCallie) dec. Jon Schmissrauter (Baylor), 5-0

5th - Nesto Rivas (St. Benedict) pinned Jacob Cretin (Briarcrest), 3:14

 

285 - 1st  - Cooper Reiniche (Baylor) dec. River Henry (McCallie), OT -4  3-2 

3rd - Joe Scowden (MBA) pinned Mitchell Clark (MUS), 4:21

5th - Jeremy Darvin (Father Ryan)  dec. Michael Beamon (Brentwood Acad,), forfeit by injury

 

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

[Sommers]

Worth repeating...Pat Simpson Comments:

 

"Looking back, sometimes losing the state duals (to Baylor two weeks ago) can be a good thing ... If you work hard and then have no championships to show for it, it makes for a long off-season ... Losing the duals made us hungry and our kids were motivated ... It was easy to get them to work hard ... I have never had a team win as many matches as this team did ....

[rgiii]

What a tournament ! Father Ryan won some huge matches to secure a victory. Wesnoske over Powell, Simpson over Westbrooks, if they lost either one of those they probably don't win. Also Stacey over Roberts in the semis. Baylor needed some help from some other teams but Father Ryan wouldn't be denied. Huge finals wins by Eason and Stacey plus the ones they were favored in. Father Ryan's 182 for wrestling up a weight and wrestling hurt was invaluable . Hats off to Baylor for battling back and making it close. They won every one of their conso semi matches to regain the lead. Their 182 not being able to wrestle was the deciding factor. The 138 Murphy vs Dendy match and 152 Morrice vs Patton matches were incredible. You hate to see a kid lose on stalling points and a head throw at the buzzer but on the other hand it's exciting to see the other wrestler keep battling and not give up . Such a bitter sweet sport. There were some huge wins and a lot of emotions shown. The tight team race only added to the atmosphere. I was glad to see the refs didn't hit anyone for team points for showing their emotions.

[dogless]

-Father Ryan deserved a hard fought win.

-Holloway not wrestling was the difference.

-first stalling call I've agreed with in awhile at a big tournament and not surprised Patton hit a throw.

-Murphy v dendy could be fun to watch next year.

Thanks for the hard work guys so old guys like us can watch some quality wrestling.