Baylor Leads D-II State Wrestling at McKenzie Arena

Saturday, February 16, 2008 - by B.B. Branton
Baylor's Alex Manley.
Baylor's Alex Manley.
- photo by Greg Davick

Four-time defending state champion Baylor leads the TSSAA D-II traditional wrestling tournament with 232 points and has eight wrestlers in Saturday’s championship finals. The Red Raiders also have five in Saturday morning consolation matches.

Father Ryan (215 pts.) trails Baylor by 17 points after Friday night and has five in the championship finals with eight in the consolations.

The championship finals are scheduled for 4 p.m. at McKenzie Arena.

The remainder of the top five shows Brentwood Academy in third with 147 points (two finalists, followed by Christian Brothers (130, two finalists) and MBA (113, two finalists).

“It’s nice to be in the lead after the semis,’’ said Baylor head coach Jim Morgan, “But, I expect that Father Ryan will pass us after Saturday’s consolations. We will need as many wins in the finals as possible.’’

Baylor finalists are Zach Watson (103), Alex Manley (112), Stuart Doster (119), three-time defending champion Bailey Whitaker (125), Cole Hayes (130), Chanse Hayes (140), Colton Popp (152) and Wesley Idlette (160).

The only Baylor-Father Ryan matchup is at 140 with Patrick Marchetti (FR) facing Chanse Hayes (Baylor). Marchetti defeated Hayes, 5-3, in the state duals finals.

Ryan finalists are Marchetti (140), Wes Wesley (160), Kevin Mix (189), Sam Clanton (215) and defending champ Zach Hermann (285).

McCallie is in sixth place with 109 points and has two finalists in Michael Hooker (103) and defending champion T.J. Duncan (135).

D-II Championship Finals:

103: No. 1 Zach Watson (Baylor) vs. No. 3 Blake Hataway (Christian Brothers)

… Watson (44-0) is clear favorite … Hataway dec. No. 2 seed in the semis …

112: No. 1 Michael Hooker (McCallie) vs. No. 3 Alex Manley (Baylor)

… Re-match of regular season match with Hooker winning, 9-0 … Manley was second at 103 in 2007 … Looks to join brother, Spencer, as a state champ … beat defending champion Dainiel Baucke in the semis …

119: No. 1 Stuart Doster (Baylor) vs. No. 3 Chase Brannon (Brentwood Academy)

… Three other Doster family members have won state titles …

125: No. 1 Bailey Whitaker (Baylor) vs. No. 2 Jeff Francis (MBA)

… Re-match of 2007 finals at 112 … Francis led early, but Whitaker rallied ... Whitaker goes for his fourth title ... will wrestle for the Naval Academy next year …

130: No. 4 Joel Stark (St. Benedict) vs. Cole Hayes (Baylor)

… In 2007, Stark was 6th at this weight … Cole is favorite …

135: No. 1 T.J. Duncan (McCallie) vs. No. 3 Scott Haefer (St. Benedict)

… Duncan goes for his second state title … Haefer pinned No.2 Cody Austell (FR) in the semis …

140: No. 1 Patrick Marchetti (Father Ryan) vs. No. 2 Chanse Hayes (Baylor)

… Marchetti beat Hayes, 5-3, in state duals finals … Marchetti has been 3rd twice …

145: No. 1 Justin Cash (Brentwood Academy) vs. No. 2 Duke Deloache (Ensworth)

… Justin’s dad, Rodney, is his coach … Deloache wants to be Ensworth’s first state wrestling champion …

152: No. 1 George Harmon (Christian Brothers) vs. No. 2 Colton Popp (Baylor)

…In 2007, Harmon was 2nd at 152 … Popp’s dad, Dr. Tom Popp was 1975 state champion at Hixson and tourney OW… Tom is a C-I (canoeing) national champion ...

160: No. 1 Wesley Idlette (Baylor) vs. No. 2 Wes Wesley (Father Ryan)

… A guy named Wesley will win it … Idlette dec. Wesley, 8-3, in state duals finals …

171: No. 1 Brandt Campbell (Webb) vs. No.2 Max Jarrel (MBA) …

… two top seeds reach the finals … Campbell was 3rd in 2007 …

189: No. 1 Kevin Mix (Father Ryan) vs. No. 2 Chad Hooker (Pope John Paul II)

In 2007, Mix was 2nd at 189 and Hooker was 5th at 171…

215: No. 1 Jabaree Tuani (Brentwood Academy) vs. No. 3 Sam Clanton (Father Ryan) … … Tuani is 25-0 … will play football for the Naval Academy in the fall …

285: No. 1 Zach Hermann (Father Ryan) vs. No. 3 Andrew Severson (St. Benedict) … …Hermann is defending champion at 285 … Severson dec. No. 2 seed in semis.


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