Baylor, Cleveland Repeat As State Wrestling Champs

Pigeon Forge Repeats In A-AA And Has Won Six Of Last Seven Titles

  • Saturday, February 22, 2020
  • John Hunt

FRANKLIN, Tenn. – Joey Knox has been the head wrestling coach for the Cleveland Blue Raiders and he recorded his second three-peat in state competition here at the Williamson County Agricultural Exposition Center Saturday night.

He’s still batting a thousand with six state titles in six tries.

Baylor and Pigeon Forge were also repeat winners in D-II and A-AA, respectively.

Outstanding Wrestler awards went to Brentwood's Skylar Coffey in AAA, Garrett Foreman of Pigeon Forge in A-AA and McCallie's Alex Whitworth in D-II.

Best Match honors in AAA went to the 113 pound final where Wilson Central's Thomas Borders pinned Blackman's Justin Bradford in 5:48.  The 113-pound final in A-AA also earned that distinction where Greeneville's LeAndre Dabney posted a 4-3 decision over Gregory Gomez of Martlin Luther King.

David Harper's 5-3 decision over Father Ryan's Parker Petersen earned Best Match honors in D-II.

The Blue Raiders won their third-straight State Duals title here two weeks ago and they now have their third straight traditional title as well after completing the three-day tournament with 247 points.

“I feel pretty good right now as we had three champions, four finalists and 10 who earned medals.  And we set a school record for most points scored at this tournament as we got 247 and 233.5 was the previous high,” the former UTC standout expressed while the last few championship matches were being wrestled.

“I’m absolutely pleased with the way our kids performed this weekend as all wrestled with intensity and total effort.  They all fought hard in every match and that’s all I can ask.

“Finishing second to Bradley last weekend in the region was very motivational for our kids and that’s probably why we got 10 in the medals. We have great respect for Ben Smith and the entire Bradley program as they help make us better,” Knox added.

Wilson Central, which finished second to Cleveland in the state duals, finished second again this weekend as they were a ways back with 188 points.

Blackman was third with 156 while the Bradley Bears were fourth with 148.  Dobyns-Bennett completed the top five teams with 124.5 points.

Cleveland had entries in all 14 weight classes and headed back home with 10 medalists, including three champions, one runner-up, three thirds, two fourths and two sixths.

The champions for the Blue Raiders included Bentley Ellison at 106, Trae McDaniel at 126 and Ashton Davis at 220. 

Jackson Bradford was second at 120 while Arlo Laxson (113) and Cael Laxton (152) both claimed third place.  Nate Schilling (160) and Zach Brezna (170) were both fourth while Garrett Stevenson (145) and Tetoe Boyd (182) were both sixth.

Ellison had lost to Bradley’s Ethan Wilson in last week’s Region 4-AAA tournament at Rhea County, but the spunky freshman got even on the bigger stage with the 2-1 win.

McDaniel won with a 7-5 decision over Brennan Watkins of Dobyns-Bennett while Davis posted a 12-2 major decision over Brandon Elkins of Knoxville Halls.

While Cleveland had 10 medalists, neighboring arch-rival Bradley finished the weekend with six in the medals, including runner-up Wilson at 106.

Gavin Hughes was third at 132 while Tyrone McDonald was fourth at 182.  Taron Patterson was fifth at 126 while Easton Lipsey and Caleb Jeffers both finished sixth at 113 and 170, respectively.

Other second-place finishes for Chattanooga-area AAA competitors in addition to Bradford included Soddy Daisy's Hayden Maynor at 182, East Hamilton's Jason Brumlow at 195 and Walker Valley's Jadon Langford at 285.

Bradley coach Ben Smith, who is always looking for ways to get better, came into this tournament with all 14 individuals and hoping to earn at least eight and maybe 10 medals.

It didn’t quite work out that way.

“The results aren’t what we wanted, but our fate was sealed during Friday’s matches,” Smith said while the individual medals were being presented.

“I thought we had a chance of getting eight and possibly 10 in the medals, but we finished fourth and that’s about right for how we wrestled.  Blackman had a great round this morning and that’s how they took over third, but this is a bitter-sweet weekend for me as it’s tough to see careers end for seniors who have worked so hard.

“But I’m really proud of Cleveland as they wrestled lights out all weekend.  They won the matches they were supposed to win and didn’t lose where they were favored.  I’m real happy to share a town with them, but we have three medalists coming back and we hope to finish a little higher next year,” Smith said.

Walker Valley’s Langford finished second for the second straight year, losing again to a really tough opponent named Skyler Coffey from Brentwood.  Walker Valley coach Allan Morris couldn’t have been any more proud.

“Jadon finished second again, but he has absolutely nothing to be ashamed of as he got the toughest kid in the tournament for the second-straight year.  We just have to give credit where credit is due, but the Coffey kid is a tremendous athlete and a great wrestler.

“We tried to execute a game plan but we were simply overpowered,” Morris explained.

While Cleveland had the most AAA champions with three, there were seven other teams with at least one champ.

Borders was the only champ from runner-up Wilson Central, but this is quite an impressive young man as he finished the season unbeaten at 57-0 and won the 113-pound title for the second times in three years after taking second last year.

He looks like a young Ric Flair with the mullet haircut.  He always has a pair of dark sunglasses on when he’s not wrestling, but he’s a fun one to watch.  He appears to be a very confident young man, but after looking at his previous record, he has certainly earned that right.

Other champions included Beech teammates Trey Bates at 120 and Mason Smith at 152, Science Hill’s Tyler Seeley at 132, Clarksville teammates Christian Isbell at 138 and Gabriel Smith at 170.  Also Tre Morrisette (160) and Jackson Hurst (145) were champs for Dobyns-Bennett.

Blackman’s Brooks Sacharczyk was the winner at 182 while Brentwood’s Johnny Mac Feldhacker was the winner at 195 and joined teammate Coffey at the top of the podium.

Baylor repeated in Division II as the Red Raiders had the most individual winners of any classification as they earned six championships out of eight finalists.  All 13 of Baylor’s entries earned medals with none lower than fourth.

Baylor finished the weekend with 248.5 points, some 65 points ahead of runner-up Christian Brothers.  McCallie was a close third with 176.5 while Father Ryan was fourth and MBA fifth.

While Baylor had six champions, Christian Brothers and McCallie both had four apiece.

Baylor’s six winners included Nick Cordey at 106, Jackson Bond at 113, Noah Horst at 132, Garrison Dendy at 138, Connor Duffy at 182 and Harper at 195.

McCallie’s four included Emory Taylor at 126, Whitworth at 160, Gavin Cagle at 170 and James Howard at 285.  Those four champions from Christian Brothers included Dayne Dalrymple at 120, Evan Anthony at 145, Garrett Bowers at 152 and Al Wooten at 220.

Horst is now a four-time champ as is McCallie’s Whitworth. Bond, Dendy, Duffy and Harper are now two-time champs for Baylor while Taylor is now a three-timer for the Blue Tornado after winning at 120 last year and at 113 in 2018.  Cagle is another repeat winner.

“We had a good day on Saturday as six of eight finalists won and we won nine of 10 in the consolation rounds this morning,” said Baylor coach Ben Nelson.

“We were in a good position coming in and took advantage, but these young men did an incredible job preparing for this weekend and were rewarded for their hard work.  All 13 of our guys got a medal and none were lower than fourth, so it was a good weekend for us,” Nelson added.

Pigeon Forge won the A-AA for the second-straight year and sixth time in the past seven years.  The Tigers had three champions and finished with 224 points.

Fairview was a distant second with 143.5 while Greeneville was third with 134.5.  Hixson and Signal Mountain finished fourth and fifth with 120.5 and 117.5 points, respectively.

Pigeon Forge’s three winners included Josh Parton at 132, Foreman at 138 and Colby Dalon at 152.

Signal Mountain had four finalists and finished with two champions in brothers Caleb Uhorchuk at 106 and Daniel Uhorchuk at 120.  Parrish Pacetti was Hixson’s champ at 220.

Other A-AA state champs included Greeneville’s trio of Dabney at 113, Hunter Mason at 126 and Kodiak Cannedy at 145.  Forrest had two in Nick McClendon at 170 and Noah Hill at 182. Others included Wyatt McLemore of Eagleville at 160 and Jonathan Morton of Elizabethton at 195.  Lance Williams of Alcoa was the winner at 285.

Hixson coach Garrick Hall wasn’t the happiest coach in the building as he felt like his wrestlers didn’t perform up to their capability.

“We’re just trying to get through the day as we’re all tired and ready to go home,” he began.

“I’m really proud of Parrish Pacetti as he did all the summer work and has done all we asked and more.  He put the time in and it paid off.  He beat that same kid last year for fifth place, so we knew it would be a tough match, but it’s all about getting that first takedown and he was able to do that,” Hall smiled.

AAA FINAL TEAM SCORES: 1. Cleveland 247; 2. Wilson Central 188; 3. Blackman 156; 4. Bradley 148; 5. Dobyns-Bennett 124.5; 6. Science Hill 115.5; 7. Clarksville 90.5; 8. Rossview 90; 9. Brentwood and Oakland tied with 87; 19. Soddy Daisy 55.5; 20. Walker Valley 55; 21. East Hamilton 54; 45. McMinn Co. 17; 61. Ooltewah 8; 69. Rhea Co. 4

AAA CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

106 – Bentley Ellison (Cleveland) dec. Ethan Wilson (Bradley), 2-1;

113 – Thomas Borders (Wilson Central) pinned Justin Bradford (Blackman), 5:47;

120 – Trey Bates (Beech) dec. Jackson Bradford (Cleveland), 6-1;

126 – Trae McDaniel (Cleveland) dec. Brennan Watkins (Dobyns-Bennett), 7-5;

132 – Tyler Seeley (Science Hill) dec. Ethan Moore (Rossview), 6-0;

138 – Christian Isbell (Clarksville) pinned Alan Fort (Wilson Central), 3:42;

145 – Jackson Hurst (Dobyns-Bennett) dec. Thomas Williams (Rossview), 7-6;

152—Mason Smith (Beech) dec. Levi Stone (Wilson Central), 5-3 in overtime;

160 – Tre Morrisette (Dobyns-Bennett) dec. Dejon Glaster (Oakland), 11-7;

170 – Gabriel Smith (Clarksville) dec. Josh Pietarila (Hardin Valley), 4-3;

182 – Brooks Sacharczyk (Blackman) dec. Hayden Maynor (Soddy Daisy), 5-1;

195 – Johnny Mac Feldhacker (Brentwood) major dec. Jason Brumlow (East Hamilton), 11-2;

220 – Ashton Davis (Cleveland) major dec. Brandon Elkins (Knoxville Halls), 12-2;

285 – Skyler Coffey (Brentwood) pinned Jadon Langford (Walker Valley), 2:26.

A-AA FINAL TEAM SCORES: 1. Pigeon Forge 224; 2. Fairview 143.5; 3. Greeneville 134.5; 4. Hixson 120.5; 5. Signal Mountain 117.5; 6. Nolensville 112.5; 7. Gibbs 108; 8. Alcoa 102; 9. Forrest 79; 10. Eagleville 72.5; 13. Whitwell 45.5; 18. Red Bank 28; 22. Central and East Ridge tied with 18; 27. Brainerd 12; 31. Howard 7; 37. Polk Co. and Sale Creek tied with 3.

A-AA CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

106 – Caleb Uhorchuk (Signal Mountain) major dec. Cole Dorsett (Nolensville), 9-0;

113 – LeAndre Dabney (Greeneville) dec. Gregory Gomez (MLK), 4-3;

120 – Daniel Uhorchuk (Signal Mountain) dec. Trevor Lewis (Hixson), 3-0;

126 – Hunter Mason (Greeneville) won by technical fall over Riley Lippencott (Nolensville), 5:35;

132 – Josh Parton (Pigeon Forge) dec. Dalen Kimble (Sycamore), 3-2;

138 – Garrett Foreman (Pigeon Forge) pinned Riley Bennett (Fairview), 4:38;

145 – Kodiak Cannedy (Greeneville) pinned Kevin Muschel (Signal Mountain), 2:56;

152 – Colby Dalon (Pigeon Forge) pinned Ryan Wimbley (Alcoa), 3:18;

160 – Wyatt McLemore (Eagleville) major dec. Preston Worley (Signal Mountain), 14-6;

170 – Nick McClendon (Forrest) pinned Matthew Trotter (Creek Wood), :55;

182 – Noah Hill (Forrest) pinned Joseph Skidmore (Pigeon Forge), 5:05;

195 – Jonathan Morton (Elizabethton) pinned Caleb Wolfe (Pigeon Forge), 1:32;

220 – Parrish Pacetti (Hixson) dec. Elliott Grinder (Hume-Fogg), 6-2;

285 – Lance Williams (Alcoa) dec. Garrison Albino (Gibbs), 1-0.

DIVISION II FINAL TEAM SCORES: 1. Baylor 248.5; 2. Christian Brothers 183.5; 3. McCallie 176.5; 4. Father Ryan 142.5; 5. Montgomery Bell Academy 93; 6. Brentwood Academy 52; 7. Boyd-Buchanan 40; 8. Notre Dame 38; 9. Memphis University School 35; 10. Friendship Christian 32; 14. Chattanooga Christian 11.

DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

106 – Nick Cordey (Baylor) pinned Wills Bronson (Christian Brothers), 1:48;

113 – Jackson Bond (Baylor) major dec. Tre McTorry (Brentwood Academy), 11-2;

120 – Dayne Dalrymple (Christian Brothers) pinned Jack Braman (McCallie), 4:36;

126 – Emory Taylor (McCallie) major dec. Thomas Wesnofske (Father Ryan), 13-3;

132 – Noah Horst (Baylor) major dec. Aidan Bowers (Christian Brothers), 8-0;

138 – Garrison Dendy (Baylor) dec. Sean Pitts (Father Ryan), 7-0;

145 – Evan Anthony (Christian Brothers) dec. Benjamin Marchetti (Father Ryan), 9-5;

152 – Garrett Bowers (Christian Brothers) dec. Lawrence Madson (Father Ryan), 9-2;

160 – Alex Whitworth (McCallie) major dec. Omaury Alvarez (Baylor), 13-1;

170 – Gavin Cagle (McCallie) dec. JaCorey Miller (Father Ryan), 3-2;

182 – Connor Duffy (Baylor) pinned Chase Looper (McCallie), 3:59;

195 – David Harper (Baylor) dec. Parker Petersen (Father Ryan), 5-3;

220 – Al Wooten (Christian Brothers) pinned Barrett Chambers (Baylor), 1:11;

285 – James Howard (McCallie) pinned Ryan Jackson (Friendship Christian), 5:51.

AAA CONSOLATION FINAL FOR THIRD PLACE

106 – Keegan Schulz (Munford) dec. Nicholas Mercante (Wilson Central), 3-2;

113 – Arlo Laxton (Cleveland) pinned Chris Calvin (McGavock), 4:20;

120 – Andrew Artiles (Collierville) won by medical forfeit over Grant Fetters (Wilson Central);

126 – Samuel Shires (Rossview) dec. Mason Sells (Blackman), 6-0;

132 – Gavin Hughes (Bradley) dec. Franky Medina (Riverdale), 4-3;

138 – Braxton Mann (Science Hill) dec. Landon Fisher (Jefferson Co.), 9-3;

145 – Alex Ables (Centennial) dec. Dylan Cockman (Arlington), 8-6 in overtime;

152 – Cael Laxton (Cleveland) pinned Derrick Bannister (Kenwood), 3:53;

160 – Jared Harter (Science Hill) dec. Nate Schilling (Cleveland), 5-4;

170 – Anthony Gomez (Blackman) dec. Zach Brezna (Cleveland), 7-5 in overtime;

182 – Cooper Richards (Springfield) pinned Tyrone McDonald (Bradley), 2:39;

195 – Joshua Cummins (Anderson Co.) pinned Kallum Lowe (Walker Valley), 2:26;

220 – Bowdy Boyce (Blackman) won by injury default over Ryver Shelton (Jefferson Co.);

285 – Jared Dawson (Collierville) pinned Gabrille Fletcher (McGavock), 1:39.

AAA CONSOLATION FINALS FOR FIFTH PLACE

106 – Owen Gobel (Franklin) dec. Grant Myers (Blackman), 11-7;

113 – Kolin Koss (Bartlett) pinned Easton Lipsey (Bradley), 4:59;

120 – Ross Keith (Lebanon) pinned Steven Dindl (Bartlett), 2:36;

126 – Taron Patterson (Bradley) dec. Presley Dittmer (Centennial), 4-2;

132 – Kenney Harless (Stewarts Creek) dec. Riley Fort (Wilson Central), 7-4;

138 – Tanner Willett (Independence) dec. Nate Kinnear (Houston), 14-7;

145 – Steven Fisak (Wilson Central) pinned Garrett Stevenson (Cleveland), :29;

152 – Joseph Frye (Science Hill) pinned Amange Abdurrahman (Overton), 4:04;

160 – Owen Zuckerman (Houston) dec. Landon Lewis (Soddy Daisy), 5-0;

170 – Cade Meeks (East Hamilton) dec. Caleb Jeffers (Bradley), 8-2;

182 – Cade Young (Houston) dec. Tetoe Boyd (Cleveland), 1-0;

195 – Dominic Love (Mt. Juliet) won by medical forfeit over Thomas Stadel (Maryville);

220 – Deion Harris (Houston) pinned Amir Saleib (Overton), 2:37;

285 – Graham Keating (Oakland) dec. Jesse Richardson (Wilson Central), 2-1.

A-AA CONSOLATION FINALS  FOR THIRD PLACE

106 – Marcus Smith (Gibbs) major dec. Hunter Gentry (Pigeon Forge), 12-2;

113 – Andy Cable (Pigeon Forge) pinned Seth McCoy (Forrest), 1:29;

120 – Caleb Gumlick (Pigeon Forge) dec. Logan Heckert (Sycamore), 3-2;

126 – Cole McCartney (Greenbrier) dec. Noah Dyer (Pigeon Forge), 7-6;

132 – Hunter Johnson (Greeneville) major dec. Jeremiah Shackleford (Hixson), 10-2;

138 – Jacob Vogelpohl (Nolensville) pinned Christian Moore (Gibbs), 2:15;

145 – Malachi Bennett (Fairview) dec. Alex Overbay (Sullivan South), 11-4;

152 – Gavin Channell (Nolensville) dec. Ken Curtis (Fairview), 9-2;

160 – Antonio Washington (Bolton) pinned Anthony Jones (Alcoa), 4:25;

170 – Caden Cline (Red Bank) pinned William Carter (Alcoa), 1:37;

182 – Jason Dennis (Eagleville) dec. Cody DeLano (Fairview), 6-5;

195 – Kambell Brown (Alcoa) pinned McKinley Wagner (Nolensville), 3:31;

220 – Ethan Sutton (Pigeon Forge) dec. Cameron Hensley (Greeneville), 7-2 in overtime;

285 – Devotis McCurdy (Hixson) pinned James Headrick (Whitwell), 1:10.

A-AA CONSOLATION FINALS FOR FIFTH PLACE

106 – Jaden Tincher (Millington Central) dec. Taylor Turner (Harpeth), 5-4;

113 – Jeff Bottoms (Greenbrier) major dec. Malik Wooten (Millington Central), 9-1;

120 – Brody McLemore (Eagleville) pinned Zach Derrick (Fairview), 2:01;

126 – Brice Barton (Whitwell) dec. Blake Mitchell (Fairview), 9-5;

132 – Rolando Lucio (Harpeth) dec. George Gillman (Gibbs), 8-7;

138 – Clay Gallant (Signal Mountain) dec. Caleb Miller (Hixson), 2-1;

145 – Colby Tate (Gibbs) dec. Mark Helser (Sycamore), 13-7;

152 – Jacob Roberts (Whitwell) won by medical forfeit over John Pittman (Gibbs);

160 – Marco Pukl (Fairview) dec. Cooper Edwards (Harpeth), 3-2;

170 – Luke Maxwell (Fairview) pinned Isaac Haynie (Greeneville), 4:18;

182 – Kirk Parsons (Gibbs) won by technical fall over Nathan Montpool (Nolensville), 4:56;

195 – Jacob Clevenger (Fairview) pinned Jerry Campbell (East Nashville), 2:32;

220 – Donavyn Walker (Chattanooga Central) dec. Xavier Wood (Brainerd), 6-1;

285 – Mustafi Algarawi (Pigeon Forge) dec. Kaymon Overton (East Nashville), 9-4.

D-II CONSOLATION FINALS FOR THIRD PLACE

106 – Tate Williams (Boyd-Buchanan) dec. A.J. Jolly (Chattanooga Christian), 6-0;

113 – Nicholas Ridings (McCallie) dec. Bob Deitch (Notre Dame), 7-4;

120 – Kade Hartline (Baylor) dec. Chase Eakes (Friendship Christian), 4-2 in overtime;

126 – Ryan Tisdale (Baylor) dec. Will Higgins (MBA), 6-2;

132 – Ian McGehee (MUS) major dec. Frank Perazzini (MBA), 10-2;

138 – Adam Garfinkel (MBA) pinned Sebastian Bougeois (St. Benedict), 3:46;

145 – Chase Radpour (Baylor) dec. Rand Holtzclaw (McCallie), 7-5;

152 – Christian Howard (MUS) dec. Anthony Mannella (Baylor), 2-1;

160 – Logan Spell (Brentwood Academy) major dec. Jack Revere (Battle Ground), 18-10;

170 – Ronald Garriques (Baylor) dec. Gervacio Gonzalez (Christian Brothers), 7-2;

182 – Anthony Wright (Father Ryan) dec. Mason Skeeters (MBA), 2-1;

195 – Gabe Fisher (MBA) dec. Conner Billingsley (Christian Brothers), 3-2;

220 – David Dixon (Boyd-Buchanan) pinned Toleo Malone (Ensworth), 2:11;

285 – Jacob Brigman (Notre Dame) pinned Joseph Moore (MBA), 1:55.

D-II CONSOLATION FINALS FOR FIFTH PLACE

106 – Ellis Haney (McCallie) pinned Joseph Jones (Father Ryan), 2:58;

113 – Matt Oberlander (Father Ryan) won by technical fall over Brycen Jones (Goodpasture), 3:13;

120 – Ben Beaver (Grace Christian) dec. Jack Ward (Brentwood Academy), 8-4;

126 – Sam Lee (Christian Brothers) dec. Parker Sapp (CAK), 2-1;

132 – Nathan Harris (CAK) dec. Ian Herring (McCallie), 10-5;

138 – Micah Douglass (Christian Brothers) dec. Francisco Palacios (Notre Dame), 5-1;

145 – Robby Barnes (MBA) pinned Dominick Coker (Boyd-Buchanan), 3:34;

152 – Dan McGuire (MBA) major dec. Manny Scott (Brentwood Academy), 9-1;

160 – Torrance Bostick (MUS) pinned Julian Waters (Boyd-Buchanan). 1:52;

170 – Drew White (Franklin Road Academy) dec. Kaden White (Knox. Catholic), 7-2;

182 – Theo Sewell (Christian Brothers) won by forfeit over Russell Holbrook (Brentwood Academy);

195 – Josh Taube (St. George’s) dec. Iman Lohrasbi (Battle Ground), 7-3;

220 – Antonio Wright (Father Ryan) dec. Brik Boruff (Knox. Webb), 4-3 in overtime;

285 – Aaron Gray (Nashville Christian) pinned Jackson Smith (St. Benedict), 3:25.

(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)

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