The post season tournaments are just around the corner for high school wrestling teams and seedings are always critical for such events.
Montgomery Bell Academy is in the same region with Baylor and McCallie, so they came down for a double-dual meet on Saturday at Baylor’s Duke Arena. Father Ryan is in a different region, but have traditionally come down for the same day of competition, so the Purple Irish were present as well.
The host Red Raiders had no problem defeating either team, posting a 51-18 win over MBA in the first match before pounding Father Ryan by a similar 54-12 final.
Father Ryan picked up a 59-12 win over McCallie in the first match while MBA was a 60-15 winner over the Blue Tornado in the second.
Baylor coach Rex Kendle knows that this time of season is critical as teams prepare for the post-season, hoping to peak at just the right time with the plan being to accomplish the final goal, which is winning a state championship.
The Red Raiders have done just fine along those lines as they have won the State Duals and Traditional titles in each of the past four years.
Kendle knew that both of these teams on Saturday would bring strong individuals, but he was more than pleased with the final result.
“We came to scrap today. I thought we were a little sloppy at times, but I’m happy with the heart we showed,” Kendle said while the mats were being rolled up and returned to the Baylor wrestling arena.
“We know that Father Ryan has a really good team, so that was a real test for us. We just have to keep working as we want to keep rolling, but we can’t afford to be complacent.
“Our goal is to outwork them every single day, but these guys are not scared of hard work. I feel like we’re peaking at the right time,” Kendle added.
Nine of Baylor’s 14 individuals won two matches on Saturday, including Garrison Dendy, Ryan Tisdale and David Harper with two pins each.
Jacob Bond won two matches both by major decisions while Jackson Bond, Nate Askew, Mason Alley, Michael Kinsey and Omaury Alvarez had two wins as well.
Jackson Bond and Askew both scored takedowns in the final seconds to win against Father Ryan, Bond’s providing a stirring 4-3 comeback against Cason Roark. Askew saved overtime as his takedown was the difference in a 3-1 win over Chancery Deane.
James Howard was the only McCallie wrestler to win two matches as he won both by pin. Carson Gentle had a pin against Father Ryan while Ja’Von McMahan had a 7-2 decision over MBA’s Clay Lamb. Nicholas Ridings also picked up a forfeit against MBA.
The always-intense and exciting dual meet between Baylor and McCallie will take place at McCallie on Friday, Jan. 28. That’s the same day these two will meet again in basketball at Baylor. The wrestling match is set for 4:30 with the basketball game set to tip off at 8.
BAYLOR 51, MBA 18
(Match began at 182 pounds)
106 – Jacob Bond (Bay) major dec. Josh Tan, 11-0;
113 – Alex Yerbiln (MBA) won by forfeit;
120 – Judson Jarrett (Bay) pinned Hudson Frazier, 1:34;
126 – Jackson Bond (Bay) pinned David Bellet, 1:52;
132 – Nate Askew (Bay) pinned Jake Frazier, :20;
138 – Garrison Dendy (Bay) pinned Eric Crawford, :54;
145 – Carson Sberna (MBA) won by disqualification over Grady Joyner;
152 – Ryan Tisdale (Bay) pinned Mac Russ, 3:57;
160 – Mason Alley (Bay) won by technical fall over Claiborne Tompkins, 3:19;
170 – Michael Kinsey (Bay) dec. Matthew Hyde, 6-2;
182 – Omaury Alvarez (Bay) dec. Browning Trainer, 9-3;
195 – David Harper (Bay) pinned Clay Lamb, :39;
220 – Gabe Fisher (MBA) dec. Gunnar Garriques, 5-3;
285 – Max Fisher (MBA) dec. Brycen Sanders, 1-0.
BAYLOR 54, FATHER RYAN 12
(Match began at 195 pounds)
106 – Jacob Bond (Bay) major dec. Ethan Lampert, 8-0;
113 – Cooper Lovelace (Ryan) won by forfeit;
120 – Brady Gobbell (Ryan) dec. Judson Jarrett, 6-5;
126 – Jackson Bond (Bay) dec. Cason Roark, 4-3;
132 – Nate Askew (Bay) dec. Chancery Deane, 3-1;
138 – Garrison Dendy (Bay) pinned Patrick McGrady, 1:52;
145 – Sawyer Rutherford (Ryan) dec. Grady Joyner, 10-4;
152 – Ryan Tisdale (Bay) pinned Matt Oberlander, 1:57;
160 – Mason Alley (Bay) won by forfeit;
170 – Michael Kinsey (Bay) dec. Henry Rodgers, 4-2 in overtime;
182 – Omaury Alvarez (Bay) won by technical fall over Austin Weaver, 2:26;
195 – David Harper (Bay) pinned Tim Brunet, 1:09;
220 – Gunnar Garriques (Bay) pinned William McGrady, 1:24;
285 – Brycen Sanders (Bay) pinned A.C. Cromartie, 2:30.
FATHER RYAN 59, McCALLIE 12
(Match began at 182 pounds)
106 – Cooper Lovelace (Ryan) dec. Andrew Hutherson, 8-6;
113 – Ethan Lampert (Ryan) won by forfeit;
120 – Brody Gobbell (Ryan) won by forfeit;
126 – Cason Roark (Ryan) pinned Struder Spears;
132 – Chancery Deane (Ryan) pinned Garrett Hurley;
138 – Patrick McGrady (Ryan) won by forfeit;
145 – Sawyer Rutherford (Ryan) major dec. Nicholas Ridings, 8-0;
152 – Ben Stigamier (Ryan) dec. James Cross, 9-8;
160 – Matt Oberlander (Ryan) pinned Hayden Choate;
170 – Henry Rodgers (Ryan) pinned Teddy Wingfield;
182 – Micah Lemaota (Ryan) major dec. Cooper Gentile, 14-4;
195 – Tim Brunet (Ryan) dec. Ja’Von McMahan, 3-1;
220 – Carson Gentle (McC) pinned William McGrady;
285 – James Howard (McC) pinned A.C. Cromartie.
MBA 60, McCALLIE 15
(Match began at 195 pounds)
106 – Josh Tan (MBA) pinned Brody Connell;
113 – Alex Yerbiln (MBA) pinned Andrew Hutherson;
120 – Hudson Frazier (MBA) won by forfeit;
126 – William Blair (MBA) pinned T.J. Usher;
132 – Jake Frazier (MBA) pinned Struder Spears;
138 – Eric Crawford (MBA) pinned Garrett Hurley;
145 – Nicholas Ridings (McC) won by forfeit;
152 – Mac Russ (MBA) won by technical fall over James Cross;
160 – Claiborne Tompkins (MBA) pinned Hayden Choate;
170 – Matthew Hyde (MBA) pinned Harrison Millirons;
182 – Browning Trainer (MBA) dec. Cooper Gentle, 10-3;
195 – Ja’Von McMahan (McC) dec. Clay Lamb, 7-2;
220 – Gabe Fisher (MBA) major dec. Carson Gentle, 17-5;
285 – James Howard (McC) pinned Max Fisher.
(email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)