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Sommers

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34 minutes ago, Hamblin said:

What’s the sense in printing something if you don’t verify the information first? I understand what he does but wouldn’t you yourself do the same thing, like read it first then verify the information is valid, then copy and paste it? 

 

What’s not valid with it? I mean he did the first 10 and skipped to area teams after that. Again it’s a Chattanooga writer. No one in Chattanooga cares about Sycamore and you finishing outside the top 10 in A/AA. I would expect the same if I wanted to read some trash from the Tennessean and them not posting Soddy finishing way back in AAA. 

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42 minutes ago, cobrakid8 said:

What’s not valid with it? I mean he did the first 10 and skipped to area teams after that. Again it’s a Chattanooga writer. No one in Chattanooga cares about Sycamore and you finishing outside the top 10 in A/AA. I would expect the same if I wanted to read some trash from the Tennessean and them not posting Soddy finishing way back in AAA. 

 

43 minutes ago, cobrakid8 said:

What’s not valid with it? I mean he did the first 10 and skipped to area teams after that. Again it’s a Chattanooga writer. No one in Chattanooga cares about Sycamore and you finishing outside the top 10 in A/AA. I would expect the same if I wanted to read some trash from the Tennessean and them not posting Soddy finishing way back in AAA. 

I’m sorry Sonny. Is cobrakid your real name or is it a name you hide behind so that when you say something dumb nobody knows who you are? Just wondering.

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Yes sir you made your point loud and clear and I do owe sommers an apology for not doing my research more thoroughly. I will take the high road and admit my mistakes as I always do.

So Sommers, I am sorry for making the false accusation towards you and your research. I will be more careful to not break the golden rule in the future and I will try to keep my nose out of the business of others in the future and thank you for taking the time to keep the wrestling community updated.

You gentlemen have a fine day.

 

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3 hours ago, Hamblin said:

Yes sir you made your point loud and clear and I do owe sommers an apology for not doing my research more thoroughly. I will take the high road and admit my mistakes as I always do.

So Sommers, I am sorry for making the false accusation towards you and your research. I will be more careful to not break the golden rule in the future and I will try to keep my nose out of the business of others in the future and thank you for taking the time to keep the wrestling community updated.

You gentlemen have a fine day.

 

Thanks Hamblin, I should not have been so mean to you, please take my apology and congrats to your team and your placers!

Edited by cobrakid8
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Main Street Preps...

Two Rutherford County seniors win TSSAA wrestling titles

 
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Two Rutherford County seniors win TSSAA wrestling titles
 

Blackman's Brooks Sacharczyk won the TSSAA 182-pound state wrestling championship Saturday. BLACKMAN WRESTLING.COM

 
 
 
Two Rutherford County seniors win TSSAA wrestling titles
 

Oakland’s Dejon Glaster throws his opponent on to the mat as he makes the move to flip him over to his back. ETHAN SCOTT

 
 
 
 
 

Blackman’s Bowdy Boyce flips his opponent over on the mat as he makes his move to pin him. ETHAN SCOTT

 
 
 
 
 

Oakland’s Graham Keating wraps his opponent as he looks to trip him up by knocking his legs up from under him. ETHAN SCOTT

 
 
 
 
 

Blackman’s Justin Bradford attempts to maintain his balance to avoid being thrown to the mat. ETHAN SCOTT

 
 
 
 
 

Blackman’s Anthony Gomez lunges at his opponent, quickly grabbing on to his legs tightly. ETHAN SCOTT

 
 
 
 
 

Stewarts Creek’s Micaiah Watkins gives no room for his opponent to get up as he reaches to knock out his arm. ETHAN SCOTT

 
 
 
 
 

Blackman’s Justin Brown begins to put his opponent in a headlock as he holds him to the ground. ETHAN SCOTT

 

Two Rutherford County senior wrestlers capped off their respective careers on Saturday by taking gold at the TSSAA state wrestling championships at the Williamson County Expo Center.

Blackman's Brooks Sacharczyk won five straight matches to win the Class AAA 182-pound class, while Eagleville's Wyatt McLemore won four straight to take the A-AA 160-pound class.

Sacharczyk defeated Hayden Maynor of Soddy-Daisy in the title match after defeating Matthew HAlikhan Makhamadaliev (Brentwood), Matthew Hills (Wilson Central), Tetoe Boyd (Cleveland) and Tyrone McDonald (Cleveland).

 

McLemore defeated Preston Worley 14-6 to win state title after having posted victories over Jason Heth (Page), Marco Puki (Fairview) and Cooper Edwards (Harpeth).

Oakland senior Dejon Glaster just missed a state title in the 160-pound class, falling 11-7 to Dobyns Bennetts Tyler Morrisette in the championship match. He posted wins over Jesse Bowman (Daniel Boone), Ryan Wood (Lebanon), Cinon Elkins (Knox Halls) and Nate Schilling (Cleveland).

Blackman's Bowdy Boyce finshed third in the 222-pound class by defeating Jefferson County's Ryver Shelton.

Blackman's Anthony Gomez also finished third in the 170-pound by defeating Cleveland's Zach Brezna 7-5.

Eagleville's Josh Dannis finished third in the A-AA 182-pound with a 6-5 win over Fairview's Cody DeLano.

Two county wrestlers finished well in the 132-pound class as Riverdale's Franky Medina took fourth and Stewarts Creek's Kenny Harless fifth. Oakland Graham Keating also took fifth in the 285-pound class.

Eagleville eighth-grader Brody McLemore had an excellent tournament, finishing in fifth place.

In the girls division, Blackman's Morgan Sacharczyk, finished third after losing her first match in the 125-pound class. She finished with three straight wins.

Blackman's Nena Brown took home home fourth in the 150-pound class.

RUTHERFORD COUNTY TSSAA STATE WRESTLING RESULTS

CLASS AAA

106 Pounds

Kalen Reed, Germantown, defeated Grant Myers, Blackman, 3-2

Chas Stokes, Oakland, defeated Lincoln Harvey, Soddy-Daisy, fall

Chas Stokes, Oakland, defeated Jeremiah Skeen, Hamblen West, fall

Keegan Schulz, Munford, defeated Chas Stokes, Oakland, fall

Chas Stokes, defeated Cannon Mullins, Dobyns Bennett, 10-5

Nicholas Mercante, Wilson Central, defeated, Chas Stokes, Oakland 8-2

113

Thomas Brown, Page, defeated Brandon Levia, Smyrna, fall

Jackson Masters, Summit, defeated George Esquivel, Stewarts Creek, fall

Kolin Koss, Bartlett, defeated Parker Sparks, Rockvale, fall

120

Alex Rose, Blackman, defeated Jonathan Simpson, William Blount, fall

Alex Rose, Blackman, defeated Austin Grooters, Summitt, fall

Jackson Bradford, Cleveland, defeated Alex Rose, Blackman, fall

Bryce Woerner, Rossview, defeated Alex Rose, Blackman, 4-2

Zachary Teaster, Heritage, defeated Noah Harvell, Siegel, fall

Steven Dindi, Bartlett, defeated Tyler Vanderheyden, Oakland, 16-0

126

Mason Sells, Blackman, defeated Robby Thomas, Ooltewah, fall

Mason Sells, Blackman, defeated Avery Warnock, Wilson Central, fall

Mason Sells, Blackman defeated Javelle Gillespie, Science Hill, 12-2

Trae McDaniel, Cleveland, defeated Mason Sells, Blackman, 20-4

Brennan Watkins, Dobyns-Bennett, defeated, Aalijah Daniel, 5-2

Aalijah Daniel, Riverdale, defeated Chase Russell, Knox Halls, fall

Aalijah Daniel, Riverdale, defeated Tyler Harris, fall

Wemauwaumun Moktani, Munford, defated Aalijah Daniel, Riverdale, 10-8

Zachary Teaster, Heritage, defeated Noah Harvey, Siegel, fall

Tyler South, Stewarts Creek, defeated Benjamin Millican, Munford, 8-0

Trey Bates, Beech, defeated Tyler South, Stewarts Creek, 20-5

132

Kenny Harless, Stewarts Creek, defeated Jacob Howe, Stone Memorial, fall

Kenny Harless, Stewarts Creek, defeated Brandon Torres, Antioch, 10-5

Kenny Harless, Stewarts Creek, defeated Jacob Roaten, Arlington, fall

Ethan Moore, Rossview, defated Kenny Harless, Stewarts Creek, 5-2

Gavin Hughes, Bradley Central, defeated Kenny Harless, Stewarts Creek, 8-6 (Harless finishes fifth)

Jaxsen Nieuwsma, Oakland, defeated Christian Perez, Munford, 3-1

Gavin Hughes, Bradley Central, defeated Jaxsen Nieuwsma, Oakland, 17-2

Franky Medina, Riverdale, defeated Mason Sutton, Bartlett, 7-3

Franky Medina, Riverdale, defeated Jonathan Kiser, Knox Halls, fall

Franky Medina, Riverdale, defeated Hunter Davis, Heritage, fall

Franky Medina, Riverdale, defeated Riley Fort, Wilson Central, 11-5

Gavin Hughes, Bradley Central, defeated Franky Medina, Riverdale, 4-3 (Medina finishes fourth)

Leo Gearheart, Centennial, defeated Franky Medina, Riverdale, fall

138

Alton Cates, John Overton, defeated Joe David Bell, Oakland 5-4

Michael Quillen, Dickson Co., defeated Brandon McClure, Riverdale, fall

Justin Brown, Blackman, defeated Adrian Thomas, fall

Alan Fort, Wilson Central, defeated Justin Brown, Blackman, 7-0

145

Ross Griffin, Oakland, defeated Zachary Fox, Powell, fall

Alex Ables Centennial, defeated Ross Griffin, Oakland fall

Garrett Stevenson, Cleveland, defeated Ross Griffin, Oakland, 7-3

Micaiah Watkins, Stewarts Creek, defeated Matthew Johnson, Maryville, 9-1

Cooper Finch, Brentwood, defeated Micaiah Watkins, Stewarts Creek, 15-0

Cole Prestwood, Soddy-Daisy, defeated Micaiah Watkins, Stewarts Cree, 6-4

152

Kohlten Brown, Riverdale, defeated Ethan Duck, Centennial, fall

Kohlten Brown, Riverdale, defeated, Cameron Liebermann, Knox Halls, fall

Levi Stone, Wilson Central, defeated Kohlten Brown, Riverdale fall

Derrick Bannister, Kenwood, defeated Koholten Browen, Riverdale, fall

Miles Grady, Summit, defeated Evan Harris, Oakland, 19-11

160

Dejon Glaster, Oakland, defeated Jesse Bowman, Daniel Boone, forfeit

Dejon Glaster, Oakland, defeated Ryan Wood, Lebanon, fall

Dejon Glaster, Oakland, defeated Cainon Elkins, Knox Halls, 5-2

Dejon Glaster, Oakland, defeated Nate Schilling, Cleveland, 9-5

Tyler Morrisette, Dobyns Bennett, defeated Dejon Glaster, Oakland 11-7 (Glaster finishes runner-up)

170

Josh Pietarila, Hardin Valley, defeated Jacob Knight, Stewarts Creek, forfeit

Anthony Gomez, Blackman, defeated Hayden McDonald, Maryville, fall

Anthony Gomez, Blackman, defeated Zachary Duessler, Rossview, fall,

Anthony Gomez, Blackman, defeated Zach Brenza, Cleveland, 6-5

Anthony Gomez, Blackman, defeated Caleb Jeffers, Bradley Central, fall

Anthony Gomez, Blackman, defeated Zach Brezna, Cleveland, 7-5 (Gomez finishes third)

Josh Pietarila, Hardin Valley, defeated Anthony Gomez, Blackman, 10-9

Kenneth Phillips, Siegel, defeated Mason Hull, Arlington, fall

Jacob Knight, Centennial, defeated Kenneth Phillips, Siegel, fall

Kenneth Phillips, Siegel, defeated Emmanuel Facasantos, White Station, fall

Donovan Rich, Beech, defeated Kenneth Phillips, Siegel, fall

Jacob Knight, Centennial, defeated Kenneth Phillips, Siegel, fall

182

Brooks Sacharczyk, Blackman, defeated Alikhan Makhamadaliev, Brentwood, fall,

Brooks Sacharczyk, Blackman, defeated Matthew Hills, Wilson Central, fall

Brooks Sacharczyk, Blackman, defeated Tetoe Boyd, Cleveland, 10-1

Brooks Sacharczyk, Blackman, defeated Tyrone McDonald, Cleveland, 12-1

Brooks Sacharczyk, Blackman, defeated Hayden Maynor, Soddy-Daisy, 12-1 (Sacharczyk wins state championship)

Ketwain Bowers, Oakland, defeated Cole Hubbard, Karns, fall

Cooper Palmieri, Northwest, defeated Ketwain Bowers, Oakland, forfeit

Ketwain Bowers, Oakland, defeated Casto, Hermitage, fall

Ketwain Bowers, Oakland, defeated Bryant, Jefferson County, fall

Tetoe Boyd, Cleveland, defeated Ketwain Bowers, Oakland, 2-1

195

Brett Hill, Rossview, defeated Jaylan Hughes, Blackman, 4-3

Kameron Bingham, Oakland, defeated Cody McDaniel, Bradley Central, forfeit

Kameron Bingham, Oakland, defeated Samari Suddeath, Centennial, 5-3

Dominic Love, Mt. Juliet, defeated Kameron Bingham, Oakland, fall

Kevin Lowe, Walker Valley, defeated Kameron Bingham, Oakland, 8-7

220

Noah Todd, Siegel, defeated Christian Iroh, Collierview, 5-2

Noah Todd, Siegel, defeated Eli Nelms, Lebanon, 13-5

Ashton Davis, Cleveland, defeated Noah Todd, Siegel, fall

Timothy Bosby, Cordova, defeated Noah Todd, Siegel, 6-1

Brandon Elkins, Halls, defeated Jacob Crabill, Oakland, fall

Bowdy Boyce, Blackman, defeated Owen Sullivan, Karns, fall

Bowdy Boyce, Blackman, defeated Bryan Rice, Ravenwood, 14-2

Deion Harris, Houston, defeated Bowdy Boyce, Blackman, fall

Bowdy Boyce, Blackman, defeated Eli Nelms, Lebanon, 6-3

Browdy Boyce, Blackman, defeated Gavin Sewell, Bradley Central, 3-0

Bowdy Boyce, Blackman, defeated Ryver Shelton, Jefferson Co., injury (Boyce finishes third)

285

Graham Keating, Oakland, defeated Alexander Steele, Centennial, 8-5

Graham Keating, Oakland, defeated Cameron Garrett, Stone Memorial, fall

Graham Keating, Oakland, defeated John Worley, Arlington, 2-1

Skyler Coffey, Brentwood, defeated Graham Keating, Oakland, 24-9

Gabrille Fletcher, McGavock, defeated Graham Keating, Oakland, fall

Graham Keating, Oakland, defeated Jesse Richardson, Wilson Central, 2-1 (Keating finishes fifth

 

CLASS A-AA

106

Marcus Smith, Gibbs, defeated Jacob Pennington, Eagleville, fall

Jacob Pennnington, Eagleville, defeated Chris Lagorio, Hixson, 5-3

Jaden Tincher, Millington, defeated Jacob Pennington, 9-2

120

Brody McLemore, Eagleville, defeated Dylan Tate, Sullivan East, 20-2

Trevor Lewis, Hixson, defeated Brody McLemore, Eagleville, 7-6

Brody McClemore, Eagleville, defeated Eli Norwood, Sale Creek, fall

Caleb Gumlick, Pigeon Forge, defeated Brody McLemore, Eagleville, 7-6

Brody McClemore, Eagleville, defeated Zac Derrick, Fairview, fall (McLemore finishes fifth)

132

Gaberial Pennington, Eagleville, defeated Weston Garland, 16-11

Hunter Johnson, Greeneville, defeated Gaberial Pennington, Eagleville, fall

Gaberial Pennington, Eagleville, defeated Micah McClendon, Forrest, 12-4

Rolando Lucio, Harpeth, defeated Gaberial Pennington, Eagleville, 6-5

138

Roy Ramsey, Carter, defeated Erik Johnson, Eagleville, 12-4

Lonzell Blackwell, Millington, defeated Erik Johnson, Eagleville 8-7

160

Wyatt McLemore, Eagleville, defeated Jason Heth, Page, fall

Wyatt McLemore, Eagleville, defeated Marco Puki, Fairview, fall

Wyatt McLemore, Eagleville, defeated Cooper Edwards, Harpeth, fall

Wyatt McLemore, Eagleville, defeated Preston Worley, Signal Mountain, 14-6 (McLemore wins state championship

170

William Carter, Alcoa, defeated Donovin Darnell, Eagleville, 11-3

Donovin Darnell, Eagleville defeated Austiin Weir, Carter, 15-0

Donovin Darnell, Eagleville, defeated Caleb West, Upperman, 5-4

Isaac Haynie, Greeneville, defeated Donovin Darnell, Eagleville, 10-2

182

Jason Dennis, Eagelville, defeated Drew Hassenberg, Millington, fall

Joseph Skidmore, Pigeon Forge, defeated Jason Dennis, Eagleville, 17-4

Josh Dennis, Eagleville, defeated Micah Magrecke, Creek Wood, fall

Josh Dennis, Eagleville, defeated Gavin Ledbetter, Greenbrier, 9-7

Josh Dennis, Eagleville, defeated Nathan Montpol, Nolensvillle, 14-6

Josh Dennis, Eagleville, defeated Cody DeLano, Fairview, 6-5 (Dennis finishes third)

GIRLS

103

Elizabeth Raper, Cookeville, defeated Alyson Colson, Blackman, fall

Anna Fisher, Alcoa, defeated Alyson Colson, Blackman, 12-10

125

Kaylee Hayes, Gibbs, defeated Morgan Sacharczyk, Blackman, fall

Morgan Sacharczyk, Blackman, defeated Destiny Whitehead, West Greene, fall

Morgan Sacharczyk, Blackman, defeated Addie Stadler, David Crockett, 5-4

Morgan Sacharczyk, Blackman, defeated Kaylee Hayes (Gibbs), fall (Sacharczyk finishes third)

150

Nena Brown, Blackman, defeated Olivia Gasteiger, Science Hill, fall

Elizabeth Champion, Tullahoma, defeated Nena Brown, Blackman, fall

Nina Brown, Blackman, defeated, Elaina Thibeault, Farragut, fall

Brette Spink, Northwest, defeated Nina Brown, Blackman, fall (Brown finishes fourth)

----------

Here you are coach...

Hom

McCartney, Richards take third at TSSAA state wrestling championships

 
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Greenbrier's Cole McCartney versus Whitwell's Brice Barton 126 lbs class.jpg
 

Greenbrier's Cole McCartney (top) took third place in the Class A-AA 126-pound bracket. 

  • KEN HERNDON
 
 
A15I0679.jpg
 

Springfield senior Cooper Richards (right) placed third in the Class AAA 182-pound bracket. 

  • FILE/CASEY GOWER
 
 
 
 

White House Heritage sophomores Kyle Watts and Lucas Taylor, pictured with coach Joseph Hill, were the first Patriots to ever qualify for the state tournament. 

  • SUBMITTED
 
 
 
 

East Robertson's Bryce Brown (right) battles Pigeon Forge's Mustafi Algarawi.  

  • KEN HERNDON
 
 
 
 

East Robertson's Isaac Houck tries to get a grip on Gibbs' Christian Moore. 

  • KEN HERNDON
 
 
 
 
 

Greenbrier senior Scotty Felts (right) battles a Hixson wrestler at the state duals on Feb. 7. 

  • FILE/KEN HERNDON
 
 
 
 

Greenbrier senior Riley Putman (left) pins a Hixson wrestler at the state duals on Feb. 7. 

  • FILE/KEN HERNDON
 
 
 
 

Greenbrier's Nick Payne takes down Sullivan South's Alex Overbay. 

  • KEN HERNDON
 
 
 
 

Greenbrier senior Gavin Ledbetter gets control of Eagleville's Jason Dennis.

  • KEN HERNDON
 
 
 
 

Greenbrier's Dalton Watson wrestles Nolensville's Cole Dorsett. 

  • KEN HERNDON
 
 
 
 
 

Greenbrier sophomore Jeff Bottoms (left) took fifth place in the Class A-AA 113-pound bracket.

  • KEN HERNDON
 

A pair of Robertson County wrestlers took home third-place finishes at the TSSAA individual wrestling state championships Saturday at the Williamson County Expo Center in Franklin.

Greenbrier senior Cole McCartney topped Pigeon Forge’s Noah Dyer by a 7-6 decision to finish third in the Class A-AA 126-pound bracket. It was McCartney’s third state medal of his career. The Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) signee took third in the 106-pound class in 2018 and fourth in the 120-pound class in 2019.

Springfield senior Cooper Richards, who attends Jo Byrns, finished third in the Class AAA 182-pound bracket. Richards lost to Soddy Daisy’s Hayden Maynor in the semifinals, but he rebounded with a pair of wins to earn his first career medal. He pinned Bradley Central senior Tyrone McDonald in his final match.

Fifteen wrestlers from the six schools in The Connection coverage area competed in the individual state championships. The only other medalist was Greenbrier sophomore Jeff Bottoms, who placed fifth in the Class A-AA 113-pound bracket.

Here is a rundown of how all 15 wrestlers fared at the state tournament:

East Robertson (2):

Isaac Houck, 1-2, 138 pounds:

Def. Upperman senior Patrick Lair 8-3 (decision)

Lost to Pigeon Forge sophomore Garrett Foreman 5-0 (pin)

Lost to Gibbs senior Christian Moore 8-5 (decision)

Bryce Brown, 1-2, 285 pounds:

Lost to Gibbs senior Garrison Albino 3-3 (pin)

Def. Polk Co. junior Ben Stone 2-0 (pin)

Lost to Pigeon Forge junior Mustafi Algarawi 3-0 (pin)

Greenbrier (7):

Dalton Watson, 2-2, 106 pounds:

Def. Alcoa freshman Gordon McCall 14-10 (decision)

Lost to Nolensville freshman Cole Dorsett 8-1 (pin)

 

Def. Polk Co. senior Tyler Tolzman 10-8 (decision)

Lost to Millington Central senior Jaden Tincher 3-0 (decision)

Jeff Bottoms, 3-2, 113 pounds:

Def. Gibbs sophomore Porter Finstad 10-5 (decision)

Def. Hixson junior Conner Leffew 10-1 (decision)

Lost to Greeneville junior LeAndre Dabney Jr. 14-2 (pin)

Lost to Red Bank junior Kyle Harper 14-8 (decision)

Def. Millington Central junior Malik Wooten 9-1 (decision-fifth)

Cole McCartney, 4-1, 126 pounds:

Def. Elizabethton junior Peyton Freeman 12-2 (pin)

Def. Whitwell junior Brice Barton 8-4 (decision)

Lost to Greeneville freshman Hunter Mason 8-0 (pin)

Def. Fairview sophomore Blake Mitchell 14-5 (decision)

Def. Pigeon Forge sophomore Noah Dyer 7-6 (decision-third)

Nick Payne, 1-2, 145 pounds:

Lost to Whitwell senior Amado Gomez 18-1 (TF)

Def. Polk Co. freshman Jerrel Espy 7-4 (pin)

Lost to Sullivan South junior Alex Overbay 15-8 (decision)

Scotty Felts, 0-2, 170 pounds:

Lost to Greeneville senior Isaac Haynie 8-6 (pin)

Lost to Hixson junior Jonas Vandergriff 2-0 (pin)

 

Gavin Ledbetter, 2-2, 182 pounds:

Lost to Nolensville sophomore Nathan Montpool 14-10 (decision)

Def. Alcoa sophomore Aaron Tipton 2-0 (pin)

Def. Cumberland Co. sophomore Grayson Hale 7-0 (pin)

Lost to Eagleville junior Jason Dennis 9-7 (decision)

Riley Putman, 2-2, 195 pounds:

Lost to East Nashville sophomore Jerry Campbell 2-0 (pin)

Def. Greenback junior Logan Caldwell 4-0 (pin)

Def. Carter senior Brad Daughtery 14-8 (pin)

Lost to Fairview sophomore Jacob Clevenger 4-1 (pin)

Springfield (2):

Trent Bell, 0-2, 113 pounds:

Lost to Volunteer freshman Ben Tucker 4-1 (pin)

Lost to Stewarts Creek junior George Esquivel 2-0 (pin)

Cooper Richards, 5-1, 182 pounds:

Def. Cordova sophomore Alexander Carpenter 7-0 (pin)

Def. Warren County junior Issac Gillentine 10-2 (decision)

Def. Walker Valley junior Heath Tanksley 11-3 (pin)

Lost to Soddy Daisy senior Hayden Maynor 7-1 (TB)

Def. Cleveland sophomore Tetoe Boyd 3-1 (SV)

Def. Bradley Central senior Tyrone McDonald (pin-third)

White House (2):

Cade Hutcherson, 0-2, 113 pounds:

Lost to Greenville sophomore LeAndre Dabney Jr. 4-0 (pin)

Lost to Forrest eighth grader Seth McCoy 2-0 (pin)

Tyler Hammond, 0-2, 120 pounds:

Lost to Hixson junior Trevor Lewis 16-0 (TF)

Lost to Sullivan East junior Dylan Tate 9-6 (decision)

White House Heritage (2):

Lucas Taylor, 2-2, 152 pounds:

Def. Sullivan East senior Paul Hamelryck 9-0 (pin)

Lost to Nolensville senior Gavin Channell 16-6 (decision)

Def. Union County sophomore Anthony King 9-1 (pin)

Lost to Gibbs senior John Pittman 7-4 (decision)

Kyle Watts, 2-2, 160 pounds:

Lost to Alcoa senior Anthony Jones 5-1 (decision)

Def. Nolensville junior Gavin Rich 4-1 (pin)

Def. Greeneville junior Spencer Schofield 2-1 (pin)

Lost to Fairview sophomore Marco Pukl 2-0 (pin)

 
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Johnson City Press...

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HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING

Seven locals land in TSSAA state wrestling finals

JOHNSON CITY PRESS • UPDATED YESTERDAY AT 12:23 AM
 
 
 

FRANKLIN—Seven Tri-Cities area athletes will step into the championship fire at Saturday’s TSSAA state wrestling tournament.

Three Dobyns-Bennett grapplers — Brennan Watkins, Jackson Hurst, Tre Morrisette — earned finals berths on Friday at the Williamson County Ag & Expo Center. Ditto for Elizabethton’s Jonathan Morton and Tyesha Thomas, Science Hill’s Tyler Seeley and Avery Kibelbek of David Crockett.

Morton is the defending 195-pound champion in Class A-AA while Kilelbeck aims to repeat in the ladies’ 103 division.

Watkins (126), Seeley (132), Hurst (145) and Morrisette (160) successfully navigated the quarterfinal and semifinals rounds on the Class AAA’s second day of activity.

The closest match any of the fourth wrestlers encountered was Watkins’ sudden victory-1 (5-3) over Rossview’s Samuel Shires in the semifinals.

In Saturday’s championship showdowns, Watkins meets up with Cleveland’s Trae McDaniel, Seeley goes against Rossview’s Ethan Moore, Hurst also gets a Rossview representative in Thomas Williams and Morrisette draws Dejon Glaster of Oakland.

Class A-AA and girls competition didn’t begin until Friday and it was Morton reeling off three straight pins, downing Logan Caldwell of Greenback in the round of 16 — then conquering Jerry Campbell (East Nashville Magnet) and Kambell Brown (Alcoa).

Standing in the way of Morton’s second consecutive title is Pigeon Forge grappler Caleb Wolfe.

Kibelbeck got the job done by beating pinning Taylor Sullivan (Independence) and Destiny Shelton (Tullahoma), working more than five minutes to best both competitors. She’ll go for another gold today against Cookeville’s Elizabeth Raper.

Having come close to taking it all in the past, Thomas (119) will try to break through in a match with Clarksville Academy grappler Annalynn Rakett. Thomas scored a pair of pins on Friday, knocking off Science Hill’s Emma Wallen in the semifinals.

Locals who will join the aforementioned winners on the medals stand in Class AAA are Science Hill’s Braxton Mann (138), Joseph Frye (152) and Jared Harter (160). As for Class A-AA, Sullivan South’s Alex Overbay secured a medal by pinning Pigeon Forge’s Khumovn Sattorov (3:52) in the third round of consolations.

Lady medalists will include David Crockett’s Addie Stadler (125) and Science Hill’s Wallen and Olivia Gasteiger (150).

Dobyns-Bennett and Science Hill are currently fifth and sixth, respectively, in the Class AAA team standings.

-----------

WDEF TV...

MOCS WRESTLING BEATS INDIANA 26-10

By
 Rick Nyman
 -
February 21, 2020
0
    
(gomocs.com) The UTC wrestling team scored a 26-10 win over Indiana in McKenzie Arena tonight.  The Mocs earned wins in seven of the 10 matches to cap off Senior Night and the dual season.  UTC improved to 7-9 overall, while the Hoosiers dropped to 2-10Indiana came out with two early wins, including a bonus point at 133, to take a 7-0 lead.  Chattanooga responded by taking the next six in a row.Sophomore Mason Wallace put UTC on the board with a decision at 141.  He evened his record at 8-8 after cutting down from 149 midway through the seasonSophomore Tanner Smith put his No. 23 national ranking on the line against No. 14 Graham Rooks at 149.  He improved to a team-best 23-7 with the 12-8 decisionSophomore Tyler Shilson snapped a three-match slide with his win at 157.  That was followed by sophomore Drew Nicholson posting a major decision at 165Sophomore Hunter Fortner almost put the match out of reach with a pin at 174.  It was his third pin of the year as has improved to 10-15 overall
Indianaclosed the gap to 19-10 with a win at 184.  Senior Rodney Jones clinched the team victory with his major decision at 197.  It was Jones’ fifth win in a row, upping his record to 17-9.

Sophomore Grayson Walthall closed out the dual with a nice 6-3 decision over Rudy Streck at heavyweight.

Up next for the Mocs is the Southern Conference Tournament.  Action takes place on Sunday, March 8, in Boone, N.C. 

Chattanooga 26 – Indiana 10
McKenzie Arena – Chattanooga, Tenn.
Friday – Feb. 21, 2020

125: No. 22 Liam Cronin (INDI) over No. 16 Fabian Gutierrez (CHAT) (Dec 9-7)
133: Cayden Rooks (INDI) over Wade Cummings (CHAT) (MD 12-2)
141: Mason Wallace (CHAT) over Eddie Bolivar (INDI) (Dec 8-2)
149: No. 23 Tanner Smith (CHAT) over No. 14 Graham Rooks (INDI) (Dec 12-8)
157: Tyler Shilson (CHAT) over Fernie Silva (INDI) (Dec 11-5)
165: Andrew Nicholson (CHAT) over Dillon Hoey (INDI) (MD 11-3)
174: Hunter Fortner (CHAT) over Diego Lemley (INDI) (Fall 4:16)
184: Jake Hinz (INDI) over No. 13 Matthew Waddell (CHAT) (Dec 12-7)
197: Rodney Jones (CHAT) over Nick Willham (INDI) (MD 14-4)
285: Grayson Walthall (CHAT) over Rudy Streck (INDI) (Dec 6-3)

Edited by Sommers
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Wilson Post...

TSSAA WRESTLING – Borders wins 113 crown

  • Staff Reports
  •  
    • Feb 24, 2020 Updated Feb 24, 2020
    •  
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WCHS state champ

FRANKLIN -- Wilson Central's Hunter Borders won the 113-pound state championship Saturday at the Williamson County Ag Expo Center. Hunter is joined by, from left,  WCHS assistant coaches Ricky Adcock and Ken Hammons, Wilson Central head coach John Kramer and assistant coach Lee Allison. 

SUBMITTED
 
 

Wilson Central junior goes 57-0 --

FRANKLIN -- Wilson Central grappler Hunter Borders closed out a perfect 57-0 season by pinning Justin Bradford of Blackman High in the 113-pound finals of the TSSAA Class 3A state championships Saturday at the Williamson County Ag Expo Center.

A junior, Borders pinned Bradford at 5:47, putting an exclamation mark on a 5-0 run (four pins) through the bracket.

 

He also picked up another award as his state title match was voted "Best Match" of the state finals.

Borders reached the championship match with an 11-2 Major Decision over Cleveland's Easton Lipsey in the semifinals.

 

As a ninth grader, Borders won the 2018 state championship -- and is now just the second Wildcat to have won two state crowns.

His state title along with seven other medalists helped vault Wilson Central to a runner-up finish in the "traditional" state tournament.

All told, the Wildcats won the district along with region dual and individual championships -- going 28-1 in dual competition.

"Just saying how proud I am of these guys just doesn’t seem to be enough," Coach John Kramer said.

"We have started nine freshman and sophomores out of 14 weight classes. Seven starters out of 14 were either in eighth grade, junior varsity or didn’t wrestle at all last year.

"This team has gone beyond anyone’s expectations."

Senior Levi Stone came close to winning another championship for WCHS as he lost in the 152-pound finals to Mason Smith of Beech 5-3 in overtime.

 

The score was tied at 3-all at the end of regulation, forcing a one-minute "sudden victory" scenario. Smith managed a two-point take down for the title.

Stone reached the finals with four wins, placed fourth in the state in 2019 at 160 pounds.

Junior Cole Fort was the runner-up in the 138-pound class, losing by a pin at :42 by Clarksville High's Christian Isbell.

Fort, who placed fifth in the 2019 tournament, went 4-0 to reach Saturday's championship match.

Ninth grader Nick Mercante went 6-2 in the tournament to earn a fourth place finish at 103 pounds. He dropped a 3-2 decision to Munford's Keegan Schulz in the third place match.

 

After losing his opening match to eventual state runner-up Jackson Bradford of Cleveland, WCHS senior Grant Fetters brought home fourth place at 120 pounds.

 

Going 6-2 in Franklin, Fetters took a long path in the consolation bracket, falling to Andrew Artiles of Collierville in the third place match.

Sophomore Steven Fisak earned a fifth place finish at 145, opening the tournament 3-0 until he ran into eventual state champion Jackson Hurst of Dobyns-Bennett in the semifinals.

Fisak recorded a pin over Cleveland's Garrett Stevenson in the fifth place match -- finishing 5-1 in the tournament.

Juniors Jesse Richardson (285) and ninth grader Riley Fort (132) earned medals with sixth place finishes.

Sophomore Matthew Hills went 3-2 at 182; soph Anthony Pyron went 2-2 at 160; junior Avery Warnock went 2-2 at 126; and ninth grader Anthony Glasgow went 0-2 at 170.

Friendship Christian -- Senior Ryan Jackson earned a runner-up finish in the Division II 285-pound championships.

 

Bound for Eastern Kentucky University on a football scholarship, Jackson went 2-1 in Franklin and lost by pin to James Howard of McCallie in the finals

Commander freshman Chase Eakes went 2-2 at 120 pounds and finished fourth in the eight-man bracket.

Lebanon High -- Junior Ross Keith finished fifth at 120 pounds, having made it to the semifinals before losing to eventual runner-up Jackson Bradford of Cleveland. Keith pinned Steven Dindl of Bartlett at 2:36 in the fifth place match -- going 4-2 in Franklin.

Junior Eli Clemmons went 3-2 at 145; junior Dejuan Williamson finished 1-2 at 132; junior Ryan Wood went 1-2 at 160 and Eli Nelms went 2-2 at 220 pounds.

Mt. Juliet -- junior Dominic Love went 4-2 in Franklin and earned fifth place at 195 pounds. Love recorded three straight wins in the championship bracket before losing by pin to East Hamilton's Jason Brumlow in the semifinals.

 

Love won a match in the consolation bracket, then downed Thomas Stadel of Maryville for fifth.

Mt. Juliet's Tanner Higham went 2-0 in the championship bracket before losing to Nashville Overton's Amange Abdurrahman in the third round and finished 2-2 overall.

Sophomores Aiden Smith went 1-2 at 160 and Wade Savage went 0-2 at 285 pounds.

Watertown -- sophomore Keegan Green finished 1-2 at 126 pounds in the A-AA division. Junior Isaac Stutts went 0-2 at 285.

WCHS history -- Wilson Central wrestlers have won eight TSSAA individual championships through the years including: Borders and Michael Kramer with two each; Austin Richard, Johnny Kramer, Zach Linton and Mike Binns -- one each.

 
 
  •  
 
 
 
 
 
 

Contact Information

wilsonpost.com
223 N Cumberland StreetSuites A & B
Lebanon, TN 37087
Phone: 615-444-6008
Email: [email protected]
 
 
 
-----------------------------------------+--

Free Press...

Baylor, Cleveland complete sweeps of wrestling state titles

February 22nd, 2020 | by Patrick MacCoon
1582438562_Trae-McDaniel_gs_t400_h11ee01 Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Cleveland junior Trae McDaniel works to turn his opponent in the TSSAA Class AAA 126-pound final Saturday in Franklin. McDaniel won 7-5 to help the Blue Raiders win the team title.

FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Baylor senior wrestler Noah Horst blew kisses to the crowd in the Williamson County Ag Expo Center with four fingers raised after beating Christian Brothers' Aiden Bowers 8-0 in the TSSAA Division II tournament finals Saturday to win an illustrious fourth individual state title.

The 132-pound Horst helped the Red Raiders tie their school record for individual champions in one season with six and take sole possession of a state record as the wrestling factory churned out its 16th traditional team championship.

"The grind, practices and beating of the body was worth every second," said Horst, who has options to wrestle at Arizona State, Columbia, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and West Virginia.

"I have been doing this since I was 4. I am blessed and give all glory to God. I have never had injuries and have had the best assets possible. I remember coming to watch state championships here when I was a little dude and seeing (current UTC senior) Chris Debien win four times (for Cleveland High School). This is a dream come true."

PHOTO GALLERY

2020 TSSAA wrestling state traditional tournament finals

 
 
View 8 Photos

Baylor finished the tournament with 248.5 team points, with Christian Brothers (183.5) second and McCallie (176.5) third. The Red Raiders swept the state titles for the second straight year, having won the duals championship earlier this month in Franklin.

Class AAA's Cleveland has accomplished that feat three straight years, wrapping up the traditional title Saturday as Ashton Davis, Bentley Ellison and Trae McDaniel climbed to the top of the medal stand.

Ellison stunned a rival as he took down Bradley Central's Ethan Wilson with 45 seconds left in the 106-pound final and hung on in a 2-1 decision.

"Ethan had beat me in the three other matches we wrestled this year," the freshman said. "I wanted to keep it close and was hoping the fourth time would be the charm. Our program never stops working and still wants to work harder. We want to be back here next year and score even more points."

The Blue Raiders set a new program record by scoring 247 points. Wilson Central was the runner-up with 188.

Of the combined 42 weight classes in Division II, AAA and A/AA, 16 of the state championship were won by Chattanooga-area wrestlers.

That included Hixson's Parrish Pacetti, who beat Hume Fogg's Elliott Grinder 6-2 in the A/AA 220-pound final.

"Ever since eighth grade, my coaches have worked their butt off to help me," Pacetti said. "I feel like I have worked hard enough for it, too. My teammates and coaches mean the world to me and are the reason why I am where I am at today."

McCallie junior Alex Whitworth won Division II's 160-pound title with a 13-1 major decision against Baylor's Omaury Alvarez, scoring 11 near-fall points in the second period. He won his fourth state championship — his first came when he was in eighth grade — and was named the classification's most oustanding wrestler for the second straight year.

Other champions for the Blue Tornado were sophomore James Howard ,who pinned his opponent in the third round of the 285-pound final, Emory Taylor (126), who won by major decision, 13-3, and Gavin Cagle (170), who won 3-2.

Signal Mountain's brother combination of freshman Caleb Uhorchuk (106) and junior Daniel Uhorchuk (120) won state championships by beating their finals opponents a combined 12-0. Daniel finished his second straight undefeated season with a 3-0 decision against Hixson's Trevor Lewis.

Pigeon Forge won the A/AA title with 224 points. Hixson (120.5) was fourth and Signal Mountain (117.5) took fifth.

Baylor senior Connor Duffy left the mat to a standing ovation with tears in his eyes after he repeated at 182 with a last-second pin in the second period against McCallie's Chase Looper.

"I love Baylor wrestling, and I am glad the fans care about me," Duffy said. "I still can't stop pacing because I am a wrestler, but I am content. Today was my last weigh-in, and I can now let both my shoulders heal. I am ready to recover and look forward to going to Georgia Tech as a student."

Nick Corday (106), Jackson Bond (113), Garrison Dendy (138) and David Harper (195) also won championships to close a tremendous season for the nationally ranked Red Raiders.

Contact Patrick MacCoon at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.

________

Championship Wrestling: McTorry of Brentwood Academy leads l…

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High School Wrestling

Championship Wrestling: Fairview claims 2nd with 9 medalists; Nolensville produces pair of runners-up

Nolensville, Fairview both qualify 11 and combine for 15 medalists

By Charles Pulliam • Multimedia Reporter

Feb 23, 2020 Updated Feb 23, 2020

The Fairview wrestling team captured the runner-up trophy in Class A-AA at the state wrestling championships this weekend. 
Photo by Charles Pulliam @cspulliam


Three years ago the Fairview wrestling blasted onto the state stage to take third in the Class A-AA Duals tournament in their first showing in school history on the state stage. The following year, the Yellow Jackets produced the first school wrestling champion since 2004.
On Saturday, the upward trend continued in the Class A-AA individual championships as the Yellow Jackets managed just one finalist, but had nine of 11 wrestlers finish in the top six in the state to wrap-up a school first runner-up finish in the tournament. Two weeks ago the school wrestled for the first team sport championship in Fairview history in the state duals tournament and also took home second-place.

“To be able to accumulate enough points in (consolations) with one guy in the finals, that says a lot about who we are and how deep we are as a program,” said Fairview coach James Derrick, whose Yellow Jackets racked up 143.5 points to top Greeneville (134.5) for second behind tournament champion Pigeon Forge (224). “Hopefully we can do this every year. … These kind of things were unheard of for us, and not just our wrestling program.
“We’ve been unheard of for so long and to make history last weekend as the first runner-up in any sport for Fairview and to make it two weekends in a row now, I couldn’t be more proud of our school, our community and how hard these kids have worked.”
The runner-up state finish came on the same night as the boys basketball team capturing a District 11-AA championship for the third consecutive season as well, so the Fairview faithful were split in where to cheer, but as passionate as ever on both fronts.
Junior Riley Bennett reached his third consecutive final as the lone Yellow Jacket in the finals. 
Bennett was runner-up at 126 pounds as a freshman, runner-up at 132 as a sophomore and battled to another second-place finish at 138 Saturday.
Despite the loss to Pigeon Forge’s Garrett Foreman in the final, Derrick praised his junior standout for carrying himself through the pressure of leading the team.

State Wrestling Photo Gallery – 2020 Championship Rounds

Here's a collection of images featuring the six Williamson County finalists from the 2020 TSSAA State Wrestling Championships Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020 at the Williamson County Ag Expo Center in Franklin. 

1 of 41

Much much more....

http://www.williamsonherald.com/sports/championship-wrestling-fairview-claims-nd-with-medalists-nolensville-produces-pair/article_25f7c1f0-56a7-11ea-89f3-73c9642b5f15.html

___________________

IN THIS SEC

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Baylor Wrestlers Repeat State Sweep
Baylor Wrestlers Repeat State Sweep
Feb 24 2020

The Baylor wrestling team, paced by six champions among 13 medalists, completed a repeat of last year's sweep of state championships (duals and traditional) by winning its 15th TSSAA traditional title Saturday night.

TEAM SCORES
  1. Baylor 248.5
  2. Christian Brothers 183.5
  3. McCallie 176.5
  4. Father Ryan 142.5
  5. Montgomery Bell Academy 93
  6. Brentwood Academy 52
  7. Boyd Buchanan 40
  8. Notre Dame 38
  9. Memphis University School 35
  10. Friendship Christian 32
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Senior Noah Horst became Baylor's sixth four-time state champion

STATE CHAMPIONS
  • Senior Noah Horst became Baylor's sixth four-time state champ, beating Aidan Bowers of Christian Brothers in an 8-0 major decision for the title at 132 pounds. Horst won two title for Beech High School and was a champ for the Raiders last year.
  • Senior Connor Duffy won his second state crown, adding the 182-pound title to his state championship in 2017. Duffy pinned McCallie's Riley Looper in 3:59 for the title.
  • Sophomore Jackson Bond took an 11-2 major decision over Tre McTorry of Brentwood Academy for the championship at 113 pounds for his second straight state title. 
  • Sophomore Garrison Dendy became a two-time champion, shutting out Sean Pitts of Father Ryan 7-0 for the 138-pound crown.
  • David Harper, another sophomore, reapeated as a state champ, getting by Father Ryan's Parker Petersen 5-3 in 195-pound title bout.
  • Yet another sophomore, Nick Corday, won his first state championship by pinning Wills Bronson of Christian Brothers for the title at 106 pounds.
wrest20tradstateduffy2-maccoontfp.jpg

Senior Connor Duffy added a state title to the one he earned as a freshman in 2017

OTHER FINALISTS
  • Senior Barrett Chambers was a finalist at 220 pounds, losing the final by fall and finishing runner-up to Al Wooten of Christian Brothers.
  • Freshman Omaury Alvarez was a finalist in the 160 pound class, finishing runner-up to McCallie's James Whitworth in a 13-1 final.
OTHER MEDALISTS
  • Junior Kade Hartline beat Chase Eakes of Friendship Academy in sudden victory to take third at 120 pounds.
  • Freshman Micah Tisdale took a 6-2 decision over Will Higgins of MBA for third place at 126 pounds.
  • Senior Chase Radpour  beat McCallie's Rand Holtzclaw 7-5 for third place at 145 pounds.
  • Sophomore Gunnar Garriques took third at 170 pounds with a 7-2 decision over Gervacio Gonzalez of Christian Brothers.
  • Freshman Anthony Mannella was fourth at 152 pounds, losing 2-1 to Christian Howard of MUS in the consolation final.

______________________

Watch Rossview's Robin Yunis win fourth straight state championship

Edited by Sommers
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Seven area wrestlers bring home state titles

By Neil Rye February 26, 2020 2:22 pmcebookwitteLinke
RHSGWrestling-1200x768.jpeg

Clarksville Now

https://clarksvillenow.com/local/seven-area-wrestlers-bring-home-state-titles/

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The TSSAA individual wrestling state championships wrapped up Saturday evening at the Williamson County Ag Expo Center in Franklin.

Clarksville boys wrestling and Rossview girls wrestling excelled at the Tennessee High School Wrestling Championships Saturday in Franklin, winning seven individual titles in their respected weight classes.

Here are all of the wrestlers who captured state championships from around the area:

Class AAA (boys)

138: Christian Isbell (Clarksville) 9-0, Sr. over Alan Fort (Wilson Central) 49-5, Jr. (Fall 3:42)

170: Gabriel Smith (Clarksville) 9-0, Sr. over Josh Pietarila (Hardin Valley Academy) 20-1, Sr. (Dec 4-3)

Class AAA (girls)

119: Annalynn Rakett (Clarksville Academy) 23-2, So. over Tyesha Thomas (Elizabethton) 24-2, Jr. (Dec 8-3)

125: Robbin Yunis (Rossview) 26-0, Sr. over Taylor Howell (Clarksville) 33-5, Sr. (Fall 3:14)

 

132: Emma Walker (Rossview) 36-0, Sr. over Rontaysia Payne (Dickson Co.) 28-5, Jr. (Fall 1:35)

140: Saqara Buchanan (Rossview) 33-0, Sr. over Genesis Gilmore (Montgomery Central) 25-7, Fr. (Fall 1:02)

150: Vivian Hurn (Montgomery Central) 34-0, Sr. over Elizabeth Champion (Tullahoma) 24-4, Jr. (Fall 3:24)

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State wrestling: Norman wrestlers make history with Oklahoma's first girls state tournament

 
State wrestling: Norman wrestlers make history with Oklahoma's first girls state tournament

Joe Buettner / The Transcript

Norman North freshman Devin Jansing stands with the other state tournament wrestling finalists. Jansing placed second in the 100-pound girls division at Jim Norick Arena in Oklahoma City.

 
 
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OKLAHOMA CITY — Devin Jansing paced over a faded, red wrestling mat Saturday evening, dressed in the only Norman North singlet to be found at Jim Norick Arena.

The four mats set up next to hers used to be the only ones used at Oklahoma’s state wrestling tournament during its late Saturday championship session.

The 2019-20 postseason marked the first year of a two-year pilot program that’s introduced a girls exhibition division at the annual event. And Jansing, who is North’s only female wrestler and only wrestler overall to make it to the final round, couldn’t have been more elated to be competing for a state title.

 

“It means so much to me,” Jansing said. “It's just great to be a part of this and make history.”

As Jansing awaited her match, her best friend stood across from her.

Choctaw freshman Peyton Hand wasn’t there, though, for moral support. She also was a part of the historic state tournament class.

Jansing and Hand’s bout for the 100-pound division title was the first girls championship of the night. Hand emerged with a 16-0 tech fall victory, but Saturday was about more than just winning and losing.

It was progress for a community that’s finally afforded the opportunity to soak in the atmosphere of the state tournament as competitors.

“It's a big step in the right direction,” said Norman High wrestling assistant Karissa Avallone, who is the program’s first female assistant coach. “And it's going to be even bigger next year.”

NHS brought four to the state tournament, including sophomore Autumn Moore.

Moore finished fourth in the 215-pound division, losing by fall to Owasso's Sidney Milligan, but clinched a podium trip at the end of the night.

“I was so nervous," Moore said of stepping on to the podium among the top-four placers in her weight class. "I was just looking at the crowd and it was kind of scary. But cool."

The experience will be there for Jansing, Moore and others to capitalize on next season. The OSSAA is still working toward sanctioning girls wrestling as a varsity sport, but it reports 313 female student-athletes were registered for the 2019-20 season.

 

The figure reflects the growing interest nationally for women in wrestling. The number of female high school wrestlers increased from 5,000 participants in 2008 to 16,562 in 2018, according to a survey released by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) in 2019.

If Oklahoma adds girls wrestling as a high school sport, it will join at least 15 other states, including California, Colorado, Hawai'i, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas, per NFHS.

And in Oklahoma, the girls wrestling circle is close, best told by Jansing and Hand’s friendship.

The wrestlers will compete as teammates for Oklahoma at USA Wrestling dual nationals in Colorado later this month.

It’s a much better setup for the friends, who rolled through the 100-pound division bracket. Although, Jansing doesn’t hold any bad feelings toward Hand after their championship tilt.

“When you get on the mat it's just a competition,” Jansing said, “and when you get off the mats, your friends again.”

Jansing’s mother, Briana, sees the tight-knit group up close and enjoys the support the young Oklahoma wrestling pioneers give each other.

“It is really cool because as far as the girls are concerned, most of them are friends off the mat,” Briana Jansing said. “I mean, they're not nice and they beat the crap out of each other but when they come off [the mat], they're very respectful of one another and they're supportive in all their different avenues.”

Joe Buettner

366-3557

Follow me @ByJoeBuettner

https://www.normantranscript.com/sports/high_school_sports/state-wrestling-norman-wrestlers-make-history-with-oklahoma-s-first/article_004313b2-67c1-5c61-a980-e9583a1a73cf.html

 

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For those of you that follows one of GA's hot beds...

(Yes RMC, we know you know much of this if not more :-) )

Gwinnett Takedown Club honors season's best in high school wrestling

  • From staff reports
  •  
    • Mar 6, 2020
 
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Buford's Nick Stonecheck before the 152-pound final in the Gwinnett County Wrestling Championships at Mill Creek.

Will Hammock

The Gwinnett Takedown Club released its awards for the best in local high school wrestling this week.

Collins Hill was named the club’s Team of the Year, while the Wrestler of the Year went to Buford’s Nick Stonecheck, a four-time state champion. Collins Hill’s Nate Ethridge earned Coach of the Year honors, while Assistant Coach of the Year went to Archer’s Colby Reinhardt.

The Walt Hennebaul Man of the Year was Buford assistant Tom Beuglas Sr., and the Randy Bortles Referee of the Year was Shane Haff. North Gwinnett’s Dianna Holmes received the Matt Peddicord Award.

The club also recognized all-county teams and scholar-athletes. Those award-winners are as follows:

All-County

Boys

First team

106 pounds: Banks Bitterman, Mill Creek

113: Wade Hipp, Archer

120: Powell Gilbert, Collins Hill

126: Joey Felix, Collins Hill

132: Elijah Griffin, Collins Hill

138: Clint Gilbert, Collins Hill

145: Rex McDaniel, North Gwinnett

152: Nick Stonecheck, Buford

160: Lucas DeSilva, Collins Hill

170: Blaine Bergey, Buford

182: Garrett Spikes, Mountain View

195: JoJo Oldknow, Brookwood

220: Evan DiMaggio, Buford

285: Tanner Bivins, Wesleyan

Girls

First Team

102: Kennedy Shropshire, Mountain View

112: Dianna Holmes, North Gwinnett

122: Diana Quiroz, Discovery

132: Aki Choates, Duluth

152: Tiyahna Askew, Collins Hill

197: Mi’Kel Jiles, Meadowcreek

225: Lauren Ashley Miller, Peachtree Ridge

Second team

Vernon Rogers, Archer (106); Xavier Bentley, Buford (113); Nick Cambria, Buford (120); Grant Turner, Mill Creek (120); Tyler Henley, Buford (126); Nic Bachmann, Mill Creek (132); Florin Myndresku, Archer (138); Zander Clark, Lanier (145); Armond Jones, Mountain View (152); Charlie Darracott, Buford (160); Chase Hornsby, Brookwood (170); Landon Moss, Brookwood (182); Moses Pryor, Central Gwinnett (195); Jalen Cole, Dacula (220); D.J. Morrison, Collins Hill (285)

Honorable mention

Nathan Pratt, Archer; Cameron Sapp, Archer; Terrence Lewis, Berkmar; Ally Graham, Berkmar; Alex Bonn, Brookwood; Camron Starks, Brookwood; Chandler Mullis, Brookwood; Dylan Bozoian, Buford; J.T. McCullough, Buford; Jacob Downing, Buford; James Ayo, Central Gwinnett; Richard Ransom, Collins Hill; Andrew Davell, Dacula; Gary Dever, Discovery; Skye Loonubon, Duluth; Mason Bruning, GAC; Na’im Moss, GAC; Lafayette Gurvin, Grayson; Davon Mayfield, Grayson; Cole Beasley, Lanier; Chris Wheeler, Lanier; Bryan Chan Mendez, Meadowcreek; Joey Bambinelli, Mill Creek; Gavin Guerra, Mill Creek; Lex Hennebaul, Mountain View; Andrew Mettler, Norcross; Kiernan Sherwood, North Gwinnett; Seth Anderson, North Gwinnett; Oscar Balog, Parkview; Timberly Peters, Parkview; Rebecca Juarez, Parkview; Stanley Lal, Peachtree Ridge; Alitza Dennard, Peachtree Ridge; Monsurrat Nunez, Peachtree Ridge; Deonte McNair, Shiloh; Lester James, South Gwinnett; David Richards, South Gwinnett; Matthew Morse, Wesleyan; Trent DeBow, Wesleyan; Sam Schmitt, Wesleyan; Eric Berry, Wesleyan

Scholar-Athlete Award

Archer: Wade Hipp

Berkmar: Victor Padilla

Brookwood: Brian Wu

Buford: Charlie Darracott

Central Gwinnett: Moses Pryor

Collins Hill: Joey Felix

Dacula: Riley Adcock

Discovery: Diana Quiroz

Duluth: Aki Choates

GAC: Hudson Higgins

Grayson: Daniel Leiva

Lanier: Mason Ladd

Meadowcreek: Carlos Sandoval

Mill Creek: Grant Turner

Mountain View: Garrett Spikes

Norcross: Charlie Hammock

North Gwinnett: Kiernan Sherwood

Parkview: Joey Thomas

Peachtree Ridge: Joshua Kang

Shiloh: Traeveon Roberts

South Gwinnett: William Sanabria

Wesleyan: Eric Berry

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Smith
Photo Credit: Pam Ruschell
Junior Fabian Gutierrez and sophomore Tanner Smith earned at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament today.

Gutierrez, Smith Earn At-Large Bids to the NCAA Tournament

Mocs will send three to Minneapolis on March 19-21.
Mar. 10, 2020 Wrestling

STORY LINKS

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling team earned two at-large bids to the upcoming 2020 NCAA Championships today.  Junior Fabian Gutierrez and sophomore Tanner Smith made their way into the field with today's announcement by the NCAA. 

Gutierrez finished second at 125 pounds at the SoCon Championships in Boone, N.C., on Sunday.  He is 17-9 overall and ranked No. 24 in the most recent NCAA Coaches Panel rankings. 

Smith was runner-up at 149 pounds in Sunday's SoCon Tournament. He lost in a true-second place qualifying match, but still has a team-best 25-9 overall record.  He was No. 23 in the final coaches panel listings. 

These two join sophomore Matthew Waddell, who earned an automatic bid by finishing second at the SoCon Tournament at 184 pounds.  Waddell posted a 22-9 overall record and was No. 16 in the coaches poll at the end of the regular season.    

Up next for the Mocs is tomorrow's NCAA Selection Show on NCAA.com.  The full brackets are set for release at 6:00 p.m. (E.D.T.).  This year's tournament is held in Minneapolis, Minn., from March 19-21.

 

Gutierrez_Fabian.JPG.ashx?preset=large.rosterdetailimage

Fabian Gutierrez

PositionHometownCommerce City, Colo.High SchoolAdams City HS
CHATTANOOGA: Recipient of the Joyce Litchford Memorial Scholarship.

2018-19 • SOPHOMORE SEASON:  Went 17-4 at 125 ... 4-0 mark in dual matches ... named SoCon Wrestler of the Week after winning the Hokie Open ... sixth place finish at the Wolfpack Open ... second place showing at the Cougar Clash ... names SoCon Wrestler of the Month for December with a 3-1 mark and two pins.

2017-18 • FRESHMAN SEASON:  Went 6-8 at 125 ... finished fourth in the Fr./So. bracket at the Hokie Open ... runner-up at the Appalachian Open.

2016-17 • REDSHIRT SEASON:  Sat out the season as a redshirt.  

PRIOR TO UTC:  State champion and Most Outstanding Wrestler at Adams City High School in Commerce City, Colo … competed for head coach Tom Deaguero … three-time EMAC league champion … 45-3 as a senior … 153-26 career mark … Dean’s List student … second team all-conference in football as a senior … also competed in soccer and diving.

PERSONAL:  Full name is Fabian Clairio Anthony Gutierrez … born May 26, 1998 … son of David & Reggie Gutierrez … has a younger brother, Maximus, and a younger sister, Phoebe … Sport Management major.

Gutierrez's Career Stats

Year Weight Dual Tournament Total
2017-18 125 0-1 6-7 6-8
2018-19 125 4-0 13-4 17-6
Totals   4-1 19-11 23-14
Smith_Tanner.JPG.ashx?preset=large.rosterdetailimage

Tanner Smith

PositionHometownNew Carlisle, OhioHigh SchoolMechanicsburg HSPrevious SchoolEastern Michigan
CHATTANOOGA:  UT Foundation Harold and Amy Stiles Scholarship recipient ... Business Analytics major.  

2018-19 • FRESHMAN SEASON:  Southern Conference Freshman of the Year ... member of the SoCon All-Freshman team ... posted a 12-9 mark at 149, including 6-3 in duals ... runner-up at the SoCon Tournament where he earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships ... 1-2 at the NCAAs ... made the Dean's List and the A.D. Honor Roll both semesters ... made the SoCon Honor Roll.  

PRIOR TO UTC: Spent his true freshman year at Eastern Michigan in 2018 … redshirted but posted a 22-0 mark unattached … won five opens … named the #6 best redshirt in the country … state champion with a 54-1 mark as a senior at Mechanicsburg (Ohio) High School … competed for head coach Cameron Doggett … four-time Academic All-Ohio … member of National Honor Society … also lettered in football.

PERSONAL: Full name is Tanner Clay Smith … son of Clay & Marlene Smith … has triplet sisters, Brittany and Sierra.
 

Smith's Career Stats

Year Weight Dual Tournament Total
2018-19 149 6-3 6-6 12-9
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Sacharczyk siblings headline DNJ's 2020 all-area wrestling teams

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Tennessean All-Midstate boys and girls high school wrestling teams for 2020

TOM KREAGER | NASHVILLE TENNESSEAN
10:00 p.m. CDT Apr. 2, 2020
 

Watch Thomas Borders win Class AAA 113-pound state title

 
 
Watch the highlights from the 2020 TSSAA individual wrestling state championships.
 
Watch Thomas Borders win Class AAA 113-pound state title
Watch Thomas Borders win Class...
 
Watch Brentwood's Skylar Coffey win second state title then celebrate with a flip
Watch Brentwood's Skylar Coffe...
 
Watch Brentwood's Johnny Mac Feldhacker win 195-pound Class AAA state championship
Watch Brentwood's Johnny Mac F...
 
Watch Rossview's Robin Yunis win fourth straight state championship
Watch Rossview's Robin Yunis w...
 
Watch Forrest's Noah Hill win Class A/AA 182-pound wrestling title
Watch Forrest's Noah Hill win ...
 
Watch Rossview's Emma Walker win her third wrestling state title
Watch Rossview's Emma Walker w...

Boys

First team

The first eight athletes are nominees for the boys wrestler of the year. 

Thomas Borders

Wilson Central, Jr.

Weight class: 113 pounds

Why chosen: Borders won the Class AAA state title, pinning Blackman's Justin Bradford in 5:47.

Trey Bates

Beech, Jr.

Weight class: 120 pounds

Why chosen: Bates won the Class AAA state title, beating Cleveland's Jackson Bradford 6-1. 

Christian Isbell

Clarksville, Sr.

Weight class: 138 pounds

Why chosen: Isbell won the Class AAA state title, pinning Wilson Central's Alan Fort in 3:42.

Mason Smith

Beech, Jr.

Weight class: 152 pounds

Why chosen: Smith won the Class AAA state title, beating Wilson Central's Levi Stone 5-3. 

Wyatt McLemore

Eagleville, Jr.

Weight class: 160 pounds

Why chosen: McLemore won the Class A/AA state title, beating Signal Mountain's Preston Worley 14-6.

Gabriel Smith

Clarksville, Sr.

Weight class: 170 pounds

Why chosen: Smith won the Class AAA state title, beating Hardin Valley's Josh Pietarila 4-3.

Brooks Sacharczyk

Blackman, Sr.

Weight class: 182 pounds 

Why chosen: The Arkansas-Little Rock signee won the Class AAA state title, beating Soddy-Daisy's Hayden Maynor 5-1. He had a 36-1 record.

Skylar Coffey

Brentwood, Sr.

Weight class: 285 pounds

Why chosen: The Tennessee track and field signee won his second Class AAA state title, beating Walker Valley's Jadon Langford by pin in 2:26. He had a 49-1 record.

Rest of first team

Nicholas Mercante

Wilson Central, Fr.

Weight class: 106 pounds

Why chosen: Mercante finished fourth in the Class AAA state tournament and had a 46-7 record.

Samuel Shires

Rossview, So.

Weight class: 126 pounds

Why chosen: Shires finished third in the Class AAA state tournament, beating Blackman's Mason Sells 6-0. He had a 52-2 record.

Ethan Moore

Rossview, Sr.

Weight class: 132 pounds

Why chosen: Moore finished second in the Class AAA state tournament. He had a 55-3 record.

Thomas Williams

Rossview, Sr.

Weight class: 145 pounds

Why chosen: Williams finished second in the Class AAA state tournament. He had a 52-2 record.

Parker Petersen

Father Ryan, Jr.

Weight class: 195 pounds

Why chosen: Petersen finished second in the Division II state tournament. He had a 34-2 record.

Bowdy Boyce

Blackman, Sr.

Weight class: 220 pounds

Why chosen: Boyce finished third in the Class AAA state tournament, beating Jefferson County's Ryver Shelton because of an injury forfeit. He had a 55-5 record.

Second team

106: Owen Gobel, Franklin, So.

113: Justin Bradford, Blackman, So.

120: Grant Fetters, Wilson Central, Sr.

126: Mason Sells, Blackman, Fr.

132: Frank Perazzini, MBA, Jr.

138: Riley Bennett, Fairview, Jr.

145: Alex Ables, Centennial, Jr.

152: Levi Stone, Wilson Central, Sr.

160: Dejon Glaster, Oakland, Sr.

170: Nick McClendon, Forrest, Sr.

182: Cooper Richards, Springfield, Sr.

195: Johnny Mac Feldhacker, Brentwood, Sr.

220: Elliot Grinder, Hume-Fogg, Sr.

285: Ryan Jackson, Friendship Christian, Sr.

Coach of the year

James Derrick

Fairview

Why chosen: Derrick led the Yellow Jackets to the program's first Class A/AA state runner-up finish in the duals tournament as well as a runner-up finish in the traditional state tournament.

Girls

First team

The first eight athletes are nominees for the girls wrestler of the year. 

Annalynn Rakett

Clarksville Academy, So.

Weight class: 119 pounds

Why chosen: Rakett won the state tournament, beating Elizabethton's Tyesha Thomas 8-3.

Robin Yunis

Rossview, Sr.

Weight class: 125 pounds

Why chosen: Yunis won her fourth straight state title, pinning Clarksville's Taylor Howell in 3:14.

Emma Walker

Rossview, Sr.

Weight class: 132 pounds

Why chosen: Walker won her third straight state title, pinning Dickson County's Rontaysia Payne in 1:35.

SaQara Buchanan

Rossview, Sr.

Weight class: 140 pounds

Why chosen: Buchanan won the state title, pinning Montgomery Central's Genesis Gilmore in 1:02.

Vivian Hurn

Montgomery Central, Sr.

Weight class: 150 pounds

Why chosen: Hurn won the state title, pinning Tullahoma's Elizabeth Champion in 3:24.

Shelby Zacharias

Creek Wood, Jr.

Weight class: 170 pounds

Why chosen: Zacharias won the state title, pinning Overton's Rose Gailan in 3:23.

Ariyanna Anderson

Creek Wood, So.

Weight class: 190 pounds

Why chosen: Anderson won the state title, pinning Rossview's Jamya Brewer in 1:24.

Valerie Smith

McGavock, So.

Weight class: 215 pounds

Why chosen: Smith won the state title, pinning Cordova's Jayla Washington in 52 seconds.

Rest of first team

Elizabeth Raper

Cookeville, So.

Weight class: 103 pounds

Why chosen: Raper finished second in the state tournament, falling to David Crockett's Avery Kibelbek by pin.

Verena Pate

St. Andrew's-Sewanee, Fr.

Weight class: 112 pounds

Why chosen: Pate finished second in the state tournament, falling to Heritage's Kerra Strevel by pin.

Brielle Bissonette

Rossview, Jr.

Weight class: 160 pounds

Why chosen: Bissonette finished state runner-up to Bartlett's Maggie Graham, falling by pin.

Second team

103: Ella-Lina Gonzalez, West Creek, Fr.

112: Savannah Barefield, Rossview, Sr.

119: Divine Desilets, Tullahoma, Jr.

125: Taylor Howell, Clarksville, Sr.

132: Rontaysia Payne, Dickson Co., Jr.

140: Genesis Gilmore, Montgomery Central, Fr.

150: Elizabeth Champion, Tullahoma, Jr.

160: Taylor Rickley, Northwest, Sr.

170: Rose Gailan, Overton, Sr.

190: Jamya Brewer, Rossview, Jr.

215: Trinity Robinson, Columbia, Jr.

Coach of the year

Jeff Price

Rossview

Why chosen: Price led Rossview to the program's third straight state championship.

__________________________

From Open Mat...

Welcome to a new feature that we at TOM are very proud of, the High School regional rankings. For the next couple of weeks, we will release rankings of eight different regions that will cover the entire nation. Why is this needed, you may ask? These rankings will allow us to focus more attention on wrestlers from around the country that could be considered overlooked at this time. With talent clustered in certain areas of the nation, there are plenty of quality wrestlers from outside those “power-states” or regions that may get slighted. And don’t worry, we’ll have rankings for those areas too!

Our fourth installment of the regional rankings will focus on the Southeast Region. This area will include wrestlers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. 

For these rankings and all others, only wrestlers that competed in the state tournament series (aside from Ohio) will be considered. They will only be ranked at their weight from the state tournament, as well. This will only include high school wrestlers, even if their state allows seventh and eighth graders to compete at the high school level. Also, wrestlers from private schools will be counted in the state of their school, not their home state.

Once all of our rankings have been released, they will be found here

So, with all of that out of the way, enjoy the Southeast Regional Rankings!

Weight/Rank Name School Grade State College
106          
1 Spencer Moore Walton-Verona So. Kentucky  
2 Nick Corday Baylor School So. Tennessee  
3 Kai Owen Tampa Jesuit So. Florida  
4 Cole Hunt Dalton So. Georgia  
5 Mark Samuel Laney So. North Carolina  
6 Cooper Haase Kissimmee Osceola Fr. Florida  
7 Hayden Whidden Lake Gibson So. Florida  
8 Blaise Albarado Thompson Jr. Alabama  
9 Matthew Eberly New Kent Fr. Virginia  
10 Peter Henderson McAdory Jr. Alabama  
11 Trevon Gray Oscar Smith Jr. Virginia  
12 Reese Jones Ola So. Georgia  


 

106 is a strong weight class that features the only wrestler in the region that’s ranked in the top-three nationally at their respective weight in #1 Spencer Moore. Spencer rolled to his second straight Kentucky state title, finished sixth at the Super 32 and earned a spot on TOM’s All-Sophomore team. #2 Nick Corday also was among the top 20 in the final rankings, while #3 Kai Owen spent a bulk of the year in them. The two squared off at the Prep Slam and it was Corday who prevailed 2-1. #4 Cole Hunt and #5 Mark Laney both finished the year unbeaten and claimed state titles. 

The Open Mat
The Open Mat ® (TOM) is dedicated to covering the sport of Amateur Wrestling. TOM provides news, analysis, opinions and coverage of College, High School, and International

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WIND OF CHANGE: High School wrestling’s shift for female equality in NC

 
 
 
 
 
 
BandyswrestlingBryceKirklandvsNewtonNathanVang106Jan28SENIORNIGHT.jpg?itok=XwQB4e5G
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Bandys' freshman wrestler Bryce Kirkland battling Newton-Conover's Nathan Vang in the 106-pound class on Jan. 28 for the Trojans' 'Senior Night.' (O-N-E file photo by Michelle Thompson)
 
By: 
Marcus Smith
Sports Editor
Friday, April 3, 2020
NEWTON, NC

Times are changing and the tide is turning in equality for women in sports. So, what’s next?

In the past few years, there has been a wind of change for females in amateur wrestling across the United States and North Carolina is finally following this national trend.

Uwharrie Charter High junior Heaven Fitch proved just what women can do in this sport as she became the first female wrestler in North Carolina history to win an individual state championship (1A) against men in the NCHSAA high school wrestling state championships on Feb. 23.

This victory for Fitch leaves the sport up for grabs in terms of the heights females can go. Fitch was also named the 2020 1A Most Outstanding Wrestler, after having placed fourth in her first individual state championships in 2019 (the first-ever female to compete in this NC tournament).

In 2019, North Carolina began this transition of female excellence as it finally instituted a women’s high school wrestling invitational that saw promise. A task force was also created in 2019 with the hopes of making female wrestling a separate entity in high school athletics.

Presently constructed, high school wrestling only has female leagues in 16 of the 50 U.S states: Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Colorado, California, Illinois, Hawaii, Missouri, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas and the State of Washington.

During the 2019-20 season, competitors from Catawba County participated in the 2nd Annual North Carolina Women’s Wrestling Invitational from Feb. 7-8 at the Carolina Courts in Concord, NC.

There were 86 schools with individuals competing and 14 weight classes in which they competed in this second-annual event. Of those participating, one hailed from Bandys High School while one came from Newton-Conover High School.

Trojans’ freshman Bryce Kirkland competed in this invitational, along with Red Devils’ freshman Savannah Brown.

Brown (2-7) was defeated in the first-round of the invitational championships by Richlands’ Shelyn Williams (10-5) via a 2:35 pinfall. She had an opportunity to bounce back in the first-round of the consolations, but she lost to Swain County’s Erika Wachacha (7-6) via forfeit.

Kirkland (8-12) battled her opponents in the 106 A weight class, going up against Polk County’s Tori Strickland (27-19) in the first-round of the invitational, where she won via a 3-2 decision. Next up was the quarterfinal match-up with South Lenoir’s Gracie Elliott (26-13) in which Kirkland dropped this bout via pinfall in 19 seconds.

Kirkland didn’t waver, though, as she came back in the first-round of the consolation rounds to defeat Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy’s Abigail Waters (8-20) via a 2:39 fall.

Unfortunately, this momentum didn’t last as she finally saw her first season with the Trojans come to an end via a 16-6 major decision loss to NC School of Math and Science’s Madeline Smith in the third-round of the consolations.

Although she fell in this women’s tournament, Kirkland sees a great deal of progression for the sport and the diversity it will entail in the foreseeable future.

“My hopes for the future of female wrestling are very high,” she said. “I would love to see a league for just girls; me and my high school coach (Justin Adams) have even talked about trying to recruit more girls and hopefully start a girls team for the high school. I pray that female wrestling continues to grow as it has for the past several years.

“(As far as the invitational), being able to compete was an absolute pleasure. I am so grateful I had the opportunity to be around so many fellow female wrestlers. I love seeing all of us come together, one thing especially because it is commonly done by men. I was also incredibly grateful for my teammates that showed up just to support me.”

In terms of her first appearance on the Trojans this season, Kirkland said things were a bit awkward at first as she had expected.

“The more I was around them they warmed up to me and they really started to create some relationships with me,” she said. “Some of my favorite memories were definitely when I won but I also loved the bus rides, getting to spend that time with my team was just such a great experience they are all such great people to be around.”

Kirkland said her interest in wrestling began when she was younger because of her family:

“Many of my friends wrestle, as well as my brother,” she said. “When I was little, I admired wrestling; just watching my brother piqued my interest, but most of all, my parents because they supported me from the very beginning no matter what I wanted to do.

“ I have obtained many things from wrestling some of which being: determination, commitment, and the ability to work hard for what I want. I hope to improve my skills by continuing to practice even in the off season, wrestling freestyle, possibly weight training, and some personal practices with my brother and my dad.”

Her rival and Catawba County counterpart wrestling team - the Maiden Blue Devils - also had two female members this season: freshmen Magnolia Vang and Miranda Valerio.

Although the two didn’t have too many matches during the 2019-20 campaign, they also have hopes for more progression for females in the near future.

Valerio and Vang both competed in the 113-pound weight class with Valerio finishing 8-10 and Vang unfortunately losing all six of her bouts.

“My experience wrestling with Maiden High School was fun (and) enjoyable,” said Valerio. “I loved that it made me stay in shape and that we worked hard. My favorite thing is when we (would) go to far places to wrestle like when we went to Watauga High School...I (also) like to wrestle in the tournaments. I think it gives you an opportunity to get better, every match you learn from your mistakes in just one day.”

Valerio said that the future of female wrestling can be an empowerment for the women. She said that girls can come out and show off against the guys by beating them and proving they’re just as strong as they are. She feels it can be a tool to relieve stress and help girls become stronger women.

Valerio also said that she definitely sees the potential of a future for a female wrestling league in North Carolina. She said she went to the 2nd Annual Women’s Wrestling Invitational this season and saw all of the girls competing in the different weight classes. She said that a separate league is possible if girls were coming out to try and not being scared to.

She also mentioned what led her to pursue wrestling:

“I was a manager for Newton-Conover Middle School wrestling 7th grade year, and I liked how aggressive they are and how intense they were,” she said. “I wanted to be in a sport that would keep me in shape, and I liked the coaching (there) and how he pushed you to become better. So, I wrestled a little my 8th grade year and I won one match. I wanted to come back my 9th grade year and work really hard to strive to win more matches and get better at the sport I really like to do.”

She said what she’s taken away so far from her experience is that teammates don’t care that you’re a girl as they support you no matter what. Valerio’s also learned that no matter the outcome - win or lose - they will be happy with you as long as you give it your all.

“I hope to improve my skill level, get stronger, and win more matches and even be able to go to regionals,” said Valerio.

As for Vang, she described her time with Maiden wrestling as a special thing.

“I had to go through some moments, even the toughest ones, if I was passionate about what I was doing,” she said. “There isn’t really one fond moment I have because this was my first year and I was still learning, but if I had to choose then maybe (it would be) during the Christmas Classic Tournament when the team won first (place).”

Prior to her time on the mat this past season, Vang had never competed in wrestling or any sports for that matter. One of her best friends actually convinced her to take the chance. Her friend had wrestled in middle school, but Vang said she wasn’t allowed, at the time, to participate in sports or school activities.

Vang said as the two were heading into high school, her best friend moved away and that was the time she was convinced to go for it.

“I had some hard time deciding if I really should do it or not,” she said. “Because without her, I would’ve been out of place as I have never wrestled or done sports in general. At the end, I did it and I don’t regret it...I hope to improve myself in the future by asking for more advice from those who know what they’re doing especially since I started as a freshman. Also, (I need) to do extra lifting or something more than what I did at home this past season (to get better).

“My thoughts about (the) future of girls’ wrestling in North Carolina and in the USA is ‘You can do it’ because if you are down to do it, put your heart and time into it. I can’t answer for sure but everything starts with something, even if it’s a little. That being said, girls having their own league (in) wrestling is growing. There are some girls I personally know that are really into wrestling right now. So, as (I) said, there isn’t a thing wrong with girls wrestling.”

*Story published in the O-N-E's Profile edition on Tuesday, March 31.*

 

https://www.observernewsonline.com/content/wind-change-high-school-wrestling’s-shift-female-equality-nc

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