Team TEnnessee was well represented this past weekend at the 2022 AAU National Duals. The weekend was highlighted by Team Tennessee Black capturing the first ever National Duals Title for TN in the elementary division. The team notched an impressive 10 - 0 record and defeated perennial power Iowa Black 42 - 36 in the finals.
Tennessee had six undefeated wrestlers who earned AAU All-American Gold Status honors and helped propel the team to the top of the podium.
Kai Burns (40 lbs Soddy Daisy), Chase Smith (65 lbs Cleveland), Boone Maughon (70 lbs Cleveland), Jaxon Lane (90 lbs Soddy Daisy), and Cainan Williams (116 lbs Cleveland) were all recipients of this special recognition for their outstanding performance. When asked about the performance of Team Tennessee.
Head elementary coach Jeremy Doty said he was “so unbelievably proud of all three elementary teams that competed,” and commented that it was “his and the other coaches’ pleasure to coach such an amazing group of young men,” emphasizing that “this is the first time in history a Tennessee team has won a national title.” Doty noted that “taking down the reigning champions, Iowa Black was crazy awesome.”
The finals match against the defending champs was hotly contested. All-American Kai Burns got things rolling for Tennessee Black with a fall. After losing a close decision in the next bout, Tennessee ripped off seven straight decision victories to sprint out to a 27 - 3 lead. Iowa Black went on a run of its own by winning four of the next five weights with three falls, cutting Tennessee Black’s lead to 33 - 24. With TN leading 39 - 30 going into the final two matches it was still anyone’s title before Tennessee iced the dual with a 3 - 2 win at 170 lbs.
There were several key moments in the final that helped Tennessee to bring home the championship trophy that could have swung the dual Iowa’s way. State Champ Jett Maughon (Cleveland) had a critical victory over Iowa state runner-up Brayton Foster in sudden victory. Maughon secured a takedown with just 25 seconds left in regulation to tie the match before getting another takedown with 21 seconds left in the sudden victory period.
After Iowa started a comeback run, multiple time state champ Jaxon Lane (Soddy Daisy) swung the momentum back towards Tennessee with a 22 second fall over Iowa state champ Easton Jorgenson. Cainan Williams (Cleveland) had another huge victory for Tennessee as he knocked off Iowa State Champ Levi Else with a 2 - 0 decision.
The middle school and high school athletes also represented the state well, as they traveled to Des Moines, Iowa, to compete. The middle school team finished with an impressive 7 - 1 record to make the Gold pool and ultimately finish 5th after losing to Iowa Gold in a competitive dual. Going undefeated and earning All-American Gold Status were Noah Watkins (Kingsport), Tanner Tran (Williamson Co.), Mattox High (Cleveland), Braylon Cosper (Soddy Daisy), Ryder Smith (Soddy Daisy), and Titus Norman (Kingsport).
The freshman and sophomore team also had several undefeated wrestlers who secured the honor. Chase Walker (Cleveland), Logan Fowler (Cleveland), Max Norman (Kingsport), Landon Williams (Bryant) and Rob Atwood (Hartsville) all went 8 - 0 for Tennessee. The athletes that wrestled for our state this weekend put the nation on notice that Tennessee is a wrestling state, and they should be recognized, thanked, and congratulated for their outstanding performance at the 2022 National Duals. It will be exciting to see what this stable of young wrestlers will be able to do at the national level the rest of the summer.