Hixson Wrestlers Open New Season With Two Wins

Wildcats Slip Past Stone Memorial Before Defeating Sale Creek On Tuesday

  • Tuesday, November 23, 2021
  • John Hunt

There’s always a case of nerves before the first wrestling match of the season and that was the case at Hixson Tuesday night, but Wildcat coach Garrick Hall could only grin after his team pulled out a pair of wins over Stone Memorial and Sale Creek.

Confusion can be a part too as folks are handling new responsibility for the first time and hoping to get it right without further disorder.

Stone Memorial posted a 36-18 win over Sale Creek in the first match before losing a tough 42-39 verdict to the Wildcats in a battle where each team won seven matches.  The only difference was that Hixson had four pins and three forfeits while the Panthers had five pins, one forfeit and one regular decision that was the difference between winning and losing.

Hixson then handed Sale Creek a 72-12 defeat in the final match of the evening.

Hixson’s Hall loves hosting wrestling matches where at least two or three teams are taking part, but he was just glad to get Tuesday’s opening battles out of the way without too much fanfare.

“This was just another typical first match of the year, but we were able to pull out two wins despite the trials and tribulations of the week and I’m happy about that,” the veteran Hall said while Hixson wrestlers rolled up the mat.

“We have a lot of things to fix, stuff like making weight and being where we’re supposed to be, but I liked our aggressiveness tonight and the fact that I saw some kids doing some of the stuff we’ve been working on in practice.

“I’m pleased, but never satisfied as there’s always something to work on and get better at, but I liked what I saw for the most part,” he added.

Christian Miller, Zander Hutson, Brock Tobler and Barrett Seldon all had pins against Stone Memorial while Jarrius Bulloch, Kris Simmons and Landon Moore all got the maximum six team points with forfeits.

Stone Memorial countered with pins from Ricky Lester, Ryan King, Trenton Duncan, Aubrey Thompson and Khalli Dishman and got forfeit from Aden Thompson.  R.J. Howe posted an 8-3 decision in the next-to-last match at 220 to secure the win for Hixson.

In the win over Sale Creek, Hixson got pins from James Day, Grant Finch, Will Sisk, Maddox Gilkey, Elias Edmondson, Miller and Seldon while Sale Creek got pins from Mikah Norwood and Ethan Reed.

Sale Creek coach Tom Moss was just glad to be wrestling someone other than a teammate for a change.

“It was nice to get out for a real match and a chance to roll around a little bit, but we have a lot of room to grow as we just have three kids with any experience at the high school level,” he said after the Hixson match.

“We’re awful green, but I saw a lot of good things tonight.  We had that deer in headlights look at the start, but that will get better with more experience.  But it’s nice to wrestle a real match as you can’t simulate stuff like this is the practice room,” he added.

Hixson will back in action with the Vandergriff Duals at Hixson Middle on Saturday with teams from seven other schools competing.

Hixson, James Clemons, Cleveland JV and Northwest Whitfield is in one pool while the Bradley JV, Chattooga, Signal Mountain and Chattanooga Christian are in the other pool.

Action is set to begin around 10 a.m. with the championship match set for 3:30 or so.

HIXSON 42, STONE MEMORIAL 39

106 – Jarrius Bulloch (H) won by forfeit;

113 – Ricky Lester (SM) pinned James Day, 1:01;

120 – Christian Miller (H) pinned Alex Jekobsons, 3:30;

126 – Ryan King (SM) pinned Grant Finch, 5:35;

132 – Zander Hutson (H) pinned Malachi Ray, 2:43;

138 – Trenton Duncan (SM) pinned Aiden Dye, 1:24;

145 – Aubrey Thompson (SM) pinned Cole Shackleford, 1:26;

152 – Brock Tobler (H) pinned Ezquiel Estrada, 3:46;

160 – Aden Thompson (SM) won by forfeit;

170 – Barrett Seldon (H) pinned Elijah Cooke, 2:14;

182 – Kris Simmons (H) won by forfeit;

195 – Khalli Dishman (SM) pinned Adam Billingsley, 1:19;

220 – R.J. Howe (SM) dec. Maddox Gilkey, 8-3;

285 – Landon Moore (H) won by forfeit.

HIXSON 72, SALE CREEK 12

106 – Joel Ortega (H) won by forfeit;

113 – James Day (H) pinned Cooper Barnes, :54;

120 – Christian Miller (H) pinned Garrett Hall, 4:47;

126 – Grant Finch (H) pinned Dale Wilson, 2:49;

132 – Zander Hutson (H) won by forfeit;

138 – Will Sisk (H) pinned Jaden Harris, 2:52;

145 – Mikah Norwood (SC) pinned Cole Shackleford, 1:40;

152 – Ethan Reed (SC) pinned Brock Tobler, 1:37;

160 – Elias Edmondson (H) pinned Michael Gilly, 2:43;

170 – Barrett Seldon (H) pinned Easton Blevins, :46;

182 – Kris Simmons (H) won by forfeit;

195 – Adam Billingsley (H) won by forfeit;

220 – Maddox Gilkey (H) pinned Gabe Womack, 2:16;

285 – Landon Moore (H) won by forfeit.

(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)

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