Baylor, Cleveland double up as state wrestling champs

Cleveland 106-pounder Trae McDaniel, right, capped his undefeated season with a state title in the TSSAA Class AAA traditional tournament Saturday in Franklin.
Cleveland 106-pounder Trae McDaniel, right, capped his undefeated season with a state title in the TSSAA Class AAA traditional tournament Saturday in Franklin.
photo Baylor 170-pounder Mason Reiniche, left, picked up his third TSSAA state championship with a 10-2 major decision in the Division II finals Saturday in Franklin.

FRANKLIN, Tenn. - Taking blow after blow to the face, Baylor senior Mason Reiniche kept his composure.

The 170-pound phenom knew he had to stay cool in the final prep match of his wrestling career Saturday at the TSSAA state traditional tournament, even though his opponent kept making what many would say were "rule-breaking" shots, according to Baylor coach Ben Nelson.

Reiniche capped off a stout career and helped the Red Raiders become double state champions this year, the first time they have won both the duals and traditional team titles since 2011. A bloody mouth along with a gash on his forehead and under his eye were worth it, if you ask the three-time state champion.

"This is a brotherhood, and we all fight until the final point," said Reiniche, who landed two pins in a span of two minutes and capped his final state traditional experience with a 10-2 major decision over Father Ryan's Parker Peterson. "Our slogan this year was, 'We are a freight train.' It was a lot of fun to celebrate with a final choo-choo."

Reiniche finished a brilliant season with a 35-1 overall record, his loss coming to a fellow nationally ranked wrestler in Kansas. The Cornell signee was one of a program-record-tying six individual champions who helped Baylor amass 207 team points and win the Division II championship plaque. Chattanooga rival McCallie was second.

"Mason handled his composure so well," Nelson said. "He dominated the match even though he was literally in a fight at times. It's like our team. We fought as a whole, and it's amazing to see the success we have had. Everyone did their job."

Meanwhile, Cleveland finished out a season sweep of the Class AAA team awards, having won the duals title two weeks earlier. The Blue Raiders had four individual champions and 233.5 team points, with both numbers school records.

Two talented Chattanooga-area sophomores hammered their way to unbeaten seasons, with Cleveland's Trae McDaniel (106) and Signal Mountain's Daniel Uhorchuk (113) completing their perfect runs with titles.

McDaniel had four pins to go with a 12-4 major decision in the finals. He was state runner-up a year ago, losing his final by a point.

"I was in the practice room right after I lost last year and learned a lot from wrestling at Fargo (in the national prep tournament)," said McDaniel, who went 40-0 this season. "It helps I had a teammate in 113-pound state champ Jackson Bradford to wrestle with as my partner. We always push each other and have worked for this since we were very young."

Uhorchuk capped a 41-0 season with a clean sweep, pinning all four of his opponents at the state traditional tournament. He has not lost the past two seasons and is now a two-time state champion.

"I do have the mindset I want to win four titles by the time it's all said and done," Uhorchuk said. "You have to have the determination to be the best. I challenge myself every time I step into the ring. I am proud of my team, especially my brother (Caleb), who finished second as just an eighth-grader."

There were 16 state champions from the Chattanooga area at the Williamson County Ag Expo Center.

McCallie senior Thomas Sell (182) won an instant-classic 7-6 tiebreaker decision. One of the Blue Tornado's four champions, he was awarded the "most outstanding" match for Division II, while Cleveland's Bradford and Hixson's Trevor Lewis (120) earned the corresponding honor for hard-fought 7-5 and 8-7 finals decisions in AAA and A/AA.

McCallie's Alex Whitworth won the "outstanding wrestler" award for Division II with two pins and a 16-0 technical fall on his way to the 152-pound title.

Pigeon Forge took the A/AA team championship with 166 points, while Signal Mountain finished second with 148.5.

"We might have to build a new trophy case soon," Cleveland coach Joey Knox said after his program's 16th title. "I couldn't ask for a better team of wrestlers and coaches. They all have worked so hard."

For Baylor, it was the program's 25th all-time team title.

"Our area supports the sport so well," Nelson said. "It's fun to see the love they have for it. Our crowd was in it the whole time our guys were out there. It's a neat tradition and one that will never stop."

TSSAA STATE TRADITIONAL TOURNAMENT RESULTS

Saturday at Wiliamson County Ag Expo Center in Franklin

CLASS A/AA

Team Scores

1. Pigeon Forge 166, 2. Signal Mountain 148.5, 3. Greeneville 30, 4. Hixson 126.5, 5. Forrest 123.5, 6. Gibbs 120, 7 Fairview 118, 8. Elizabethton 102, 9. Harpeth 98.5, 10. Nolensville 91, 11. Whitwell 74, T20. Red Bank, Sequatchie County 23, 22. Central 22, T29. Polk County, Sale Creek 6, 34. Brainerd 4, 35. East Ridge 3, 39. Cumberland County 2.

Championship Matches

106 - Ty Holland (Harpeth) dec. Caleb Uhorchuk (Signal Mountain), 8-5; 113 - Daniel Uhorchuk (Signal Mountain) pinned Hunter Morrell (Elizabethton), 4:42; 120 - Trevor Lewis (Hixson) dec. Josh Parton (Pigeon Forge), 8-7; 138 - Jeffrey Gross (Forrest) dec. Kevin Muschel (Signal Mountain), 4-3; 152 - Andrew Baiamonte (Pigeon Forge) dec. Preston Worley (Signal Mountain), 7-3; 160 - Wesley Mccoy (Forrest) pinned Caden Cline (Red Bank), 1:55;182 - Trent Knight (Greeneville) tech fall Allen Ashworth (Whitwell), 15-0; 285 - Jackson Clevenger (Fairview) dec. Devotis McCurdy (Hixson), 1-0.

Third-Place Matches

132 - Garrett Foreman (Pigeon Forge) dec. Sam Wickizer (Signal Mountain), 6-0; 113 - Colton Poole (Pigeon Forge) major dec. Haiden Dill, 9-1; 132 - Garrett Foreman (Pigeon Forge) dec. Sam Wickizer (Signal Mountain), 6-0; 145 - Will Keener (Sequatchie County) pinned Ryan Wimbley (Alcoa), 1:46.

Fifth-Place Matches

106 - Conner Leffew (Hixson) dec. Gregory Gomez (Martin Luther King), 9-3; 120 - Timothy Carpenter (Greeneville) dec. Brice Barton (Whitwell), 13-6; 126 - Kale Albritton (Signal Mountain) Charles Burton (Hixson), 9-5 SV-1; 145 - Gavin Channell (Nolensville) dec. Jordan Lewis (Hixson), 8-7; 170 - Jason Dennis (Eagleville) pinned Jacob Roberts (Whitwell), 2:05.

CLASS AAA

Team Scores

1. Cleveland 233.5, 2. Wilson Central 168, 3. Science Hill 139, 4. Bradley Central 123.5, 5. Blackman 11.5, 6. Tennessee 106, 7. Arlington 105, 8. Clarksville 102.5, 9. Brentwood 81, 10. Rossview 80, 30. East Hamilton 34.5, 32. Rhea County 32, 43. Ooltewah 23.5, 48. Soddy-Daisy 17, 68. McMinn County 6.5.

Championship Matches

106 - Trae McDaniel (Cleveland) major dec. Chris Calvin (McGavock), 12-4; 113 - Jackson Bradford (Cleveland) dec. Thomas Borders (Wilson Central), 7-5; 145 - Grant Lundy (Cleveland) dec. Alex Pergande (Wilson Central), 5-1; 152 - Austin Sweeney (Cleveland) dec. Jeremiah Herron (Beech), 5-2; 195 - Bradley Williams (Clarksville) dec. Isaiah Perez (Cleveland), 5-3.

Third-Place Matches

106 - Brayden Ivy (Morristown-Hamblen West) pinned Ethan Wilson (Bradley Central), 2:26; 132 - Logan Whiteside (Cleveland) dec. Thomas Williams (Rossview), 9-3; 195 - D.J. Gibson (Bradley Central) dec. Christian Moolman (Franklin), 3-2; 220 - Garrett Smith (Rhea County) dec. Wilson Benefield (Cleveland), 3-3 ultimate tiebreaker; 285 - Jared Dawson (Collierville) pinned Titus Swafford (Cleveland), 2:11.

Fifth-Place Matches

113 - Kolin Koss (Bartlett) dec. Glen O'Daniel (Bradley), 5-1; 120 - Tyler McKeefery (Farragut) major dec. Wes DeVaney (Bradley), 13-3; 170 - Cade Meeks (East Hamilton) dec. Alex Mercado (Morristown-Hamblen East), 5-4; 195 - Jacob Dubberly (Lawrence County) pinned Jason Brumlow (East Hamilton), 2:42.

DIVISION II

Team Scores

1. Baylor 207, 2. McCallie 188, 3. Christian Brothers 166.5, 4. Father Ryan 166, 5. MBA 80, 6. Brentwood Academy 58, 7. MUS 52, T8. CAK, Notre Dame 48, 10. Battle Ground 29, 16. Chattanooga Christian 13.

Championship Matches

106 - Jackson Bond (Baylor) major dec. Keyveon Roller (Christian Academy of Knoxville), 13-3; 113 - Jack Braman (McCallie) overtime dec. Cade Holloway (Notre Dame), 3-1; 120 - Emory Taylor (McCallie) major dec. Aiden Bowers (Christian Brothers), 13-1; 126 - Noah Horst (Baylor) pinned Evan Anthony (Christian Brothers), 4:43; 132 - Garrison Dendy (Baylor) pinned Nathan Wyson (McCallie), 4:53; 145 - Andrew Pace (Baylor) dec. Jacorey Miller (Father Ryan), 8-6; 152 - Alex Whitworth (McCallie) pinned Lawrence Madson (Father Ryan), 2:42; 170 - Mason Reiniche (Baylor) major dec. Parker Peterson (Father Ryan), 10-2; 182 - Thomas Sell (McCallie) dec. Connor Duffy (Baylor), 7-6 tiebreaker; 195 - David Harper (Baylor) major dec. Montana Doty (Christian Brothers), 10-2.

Third-Place Matches

113 - Calvin Eason (Father Ryan) major dec. Kade Hartine (Baylor), 17-5; 126 - Christian Morris (McCallie) pinned Will Higgins (Montgomery Bell), 0:34; 152 - Logan Spell (Brentwood Academy) dec. Jason Motley (Baylor), 11-4.

Fifth-Place Matches

106 - Trace Alexander (Battle Ground) pinned Robert Deitch (Notre Dame), 3:00; 120 - Michael Tisdale (Baylor) dec. Ben Beaver (Grace Christian Knoxville), 6-2; 132 - Sam Lee (Christian Brothers) pinned Josh Elliott (Chattanooga Christian), 3:00; Drew White (Franklin Road Academy) pinned Jalen Hagood (Notre Dame), 2:53.

GIRLS

Fifth-Place Match

170 - Katie McNabb (Sale Creek) pinned Anna Albert (Forrest), 3:17.

Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.

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