Fairview's Clevenger earns second state wrestling title

Fairview senior Jackson Clevenger won his second straight wrestling title last weekend, leading a strong overall effort by the Yellow Jackets in the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association wrestling tournament.  Fairview sent ten Jacket wrestlers to compete and six returned medalists. 

Clevenger defeated Hixson’s Caleb McCurdy 1-0 in the A/AA 285 Division final during the state individuals wrestling tournament at the Williamson County Expo Center in Franklin.

Jackets Wrestling Coach Jim Derrick said, "Jackson has really improved since his first year of wrestling in 7th grade in a year where he went winless. After his first tough year in wrestling, I was not sure he would come back. His freshman year he was a backup to his stepbrother Everett Delano at 285, so he worked hard to get down to 220 and had a great freshman year.

"That is the point where I knew he was all in. Jackson’s key to winning has been his patience, which is what we have be doing for six years. I think Jackson also wrestles hard for his brothers, not just his team of brothers but also his real brothers." 

This was a special year for brothers.  This Jackets wrestling team has three sets of brothers.  Jacob and Zach Derrick; Mario and Marco Pukl; Jackson Clevenger, Jacob Clevenger and Cody DeLano 195 lb Junior and two time State Qualifier.

In his second year in the finals, Fairview sophomore Riley Bennet took second in the 132-pound weight class after a 1-0 heartbreaker loss.  Riley had a second-place finish at 126 pounds last year.  There is no doubt he is State Championship material.

"These guys work hard year round for these opportunities in February and it is a roller coaster ride of highs and lows," stated coach Derrick. "The leadership from our Seniors was a driving force, three of the four where medalists."

The following wrestlers medaled in their weight classes:

Senior Logan White, placed third in 170.

Freshman Jacob Clevenger, finished fifth in 182.

Freshman Blake Mitchell, finished sixth, in 113.

Senior Mario Pukl, finished sixth, in 152.

Other Midstate wrestling success

Clevenger was one of 13 Nashville area boys wrestlers who won individual state titles among the three TSSAA classifications on Saturday. There were eight local winners in the girls division.

Clevenger was one of three local winners at 285 pounds, joining Wilson Central's Michael Kramer and Brentwood Academy's Thomas Gore.