FRANKLIN - - Father Ryan has seven wrestlers in Saturday night’s finals (6 p.m. EST) and a 39.5 point lead over second place Christian Brothers – 220.50 to 181 – after Friday night’s semifinals of the TSSAA D-II state wrestling championship here at the Williamson County Ag & Expo Center.
Two-time defending champion Baylor is in third (180.50, 5 finalists), followed by McCallie (178.50, 6 finalists) and Montgomery Bell Academy (136, 2 finalists) to round out the top five in the 19-team field.
History Lesson: But Ryan coach Pat Simpson was quick to remind his wrestlers that 18 years ago (1994), Ryan led Cleveland by 10 points after the semis, plus had four in the finals to only one for the Blue Raiders … and lost.
“Our parents were congratulating me after the semis thinking that we had it wrapped up, but Cleveland stormed back with three, thirds and a fifth placer, while we had only a fifth place finisher and only two champions," said Simpson.
"Cleveland and its coach Al Miller won it without a single champion.” (note: Ryan was the first team to ever win a state crown without a champion … 1987; the first of Pat Simpson’s seven traditional titles).
“We have to show up Saturday ready to wrestle hard in every match,” Simpson stated.
“No one is going to give us anything.”
For complete team standings and weight-by-weight results go to TSSAA.org.
Parade of Champions, 5:30 p.m. … Championship Finals for D-I and D-II, 6 p.m.
Consolations Rounds Are Key: The key for Ryan to secure the championship most likely will be the results of the Saturday morning consolations.
The Purple Irish have seven in the consolations (the only team with all 14 wrestlers still alive), but Christian Brothers can make a run at the leaders with five in the finals and eight alive in the consolations.
Baylor has five in the finals and seven in the consolations, while McCallie has six in the finals and another six in the consolations.
State Record For Wins: One of the seven Ryan finalists is 170-pounder Michael Hooker who set a state record for consecutive wins (114) with his semifinal win ... Hooker last loss was in the 2010 finals while at McCallie … He is the holder of the state career wins record (238-11) and a victory in the finals will give him the state record for wins in a season ... At present, he is 64-0 and tied with Charles McTorry (64-0 in 1996).
79 In a Row: Brentwood Academy junior Amos Mason (220) has won 79 in a row ... he wrestles for his second title Saturday against Tyler Ragsdale (BGA).
Six Other Ryan Finalists: Michael Eckhart (106), Chris Wesnofske (113), Mark Marchetti (138), Cole Moseley (160), T.J. Holmes (182) and Ricky Fisher (195).
Key Semis Wins: Ryan won four of five head-to-head with Baylor ... Michael Eckhart defeated Michael Murphy (3-2) at 106, Mark Marchetti topped Blake Sutherland 10-2) at 138, Cole Moseley defeated Houston Clements in two overtimes (4-3) at 160 and Ricky Fisher pinned Ellis Huff at 195 … Baylor won at 145 as Bryson Popp defeated Patrick Cosgrove, 3-1.
Big Turn Around: After the Friday morning session, Baylor led Ryan by three – 121.50 to 118.50 – with Christian Brothers in third with 117 … by late Friday night, Ryan was in first by 39.5 points.
Head to Head in Finals: Christian Brothers and Ryan meet twice in the finals; at 106 and 170 … Baylor and Ryan meet at 182, while Baylor and Christian Brothers face off at 126 and 145 ... McCallie faces Ryan at 112, 138 and 160, takes on Christian Brothers at 120, meets Baylor at 132 and MBA at 285.
First DCA Medalist: Andrew Gentuso of DCA (152) is in Saturday morning's conso semis, thus guaranteed to earn the school's first ever wrestling state medal ... Gentuso, a junior, pinned two foes in the consolations to earn a spot in Saturday morning's conso semis and is guaranteed at least a sixth place medal.
By the Numbers (Top 5)
Team Points – Finalists – Consolations
1 Father Ryan … 220.50 (7-7)
2 Christian Brothers … 181 (5-8)
3 Baylor … 180.50 (5-7)
4 McCallie … 178.50 (6-6)
5 Montgomery Bell Academy ... 138 (2-9)
TSSAA D-II Championship Finals
106 No.1 Elijah Oliver (Christian Brothers) vs. No.2 Michael Eckhart (Father Ryan)
113- No.1 Alex Elsea (McCallie) vs. No. 4 Chris Wesnofske (Father Ryan)
120 - No.2 Adam Connell (McCallie) vs. No.4 Nick Gray Christian Brothers)
126 - No.1 Zach Watson (Baylor) vs. No. 2 Tate Robinson (Christian Brothers)
132 - No.1 Tim Westbrooks (McCallie) vs. No.3 Brandon Brunner (McCallie)
138 - No.1 Mark Marchetti (Father Ryan) vs. No. 2 Alex Ward (McCallie)
145 - No. 1 Caleb Baker Christian Brothers) vs. No.2 Bryson Popp (Baylor)
152 - No.1 Matthew Cate (Baylor) vs. No.2 John Mark Bellet (MBA)
160 - No.1 Cole Moseley (Father Ryan) vs. No.2 Eiot Berz (McCallie)
170 - No.1 Michael Hooker (McCallie) vs. No.3 Barrett Walthall (Christian Brothers)
182 - No.1 T.J Holmes (Father Ryan) vs. No.2 Matt Bodine (Baylor)
195 - No.1 Ricky Fisher (Father Ryan) vs. No.2 Jeff Lamer (St. Benedict)
220 - No.1 Amos Mason (Brentwood Academy) vs. No.2 Tyler Ragsdale (BGA)
285 - No.1 Tye Youngblood (McCallie) vs. Jashon Robertson (MBA)
Championship Semis - Friday Night
106 Eljiah Oliver (Christian Brothers) pinned James Westbrooks (McCallie), 2:27 ; No 2 Michael Eckhart dec. No.3 Michael Murphy (Baylor), 3-2
113: No.1 Alex Elsea (McCallie) dec. No.4 Caleb Powell (Baylor), 10-3; No.3 Chris Wesnofske (Father Ryan) dec. No.2 John Santi (Christian Brothers), 5-2
120: No. 4 Nick Gray (Christian Brothers) dec. No.1 Mahoney (Brentwood Academy); 10-6; No.2 Adam Connell (McCallie) dec. No.3 Cayce Ortale (MBA), 7-0
126: No.1 Zach Watson (Baylor) pinned Seth Sirgo (Brentwood Academy),1:18; No.2 Tate Robinson (Christian Brothers) major dec. James Simpson (Father Ryan), 13-5
132: No.1 Tim Westbrooks (McCallie) dec. No.4 Mike Akers (Father Ryan), 5-1; No.3 Brandon Brunner (Baylor) dec. No.2 Matt Johnson (Christian Brothers), 5-0
138: No.1 Mark Marchetti (Ryan) major dec. No.4 Blake Sutherland (Baylor), 10-2; No.2 Alex Ward (McCallie) dec. No.3 Daniel Bellet (MBA), 7-4
145: No.1 Kaleb Baker (Christian Brothers) pinned Andrew Nevle (St. Benedict), 1:19; No.2 Bryson Popp (Baylor) dec. No.3 Patrick Cosgrove (Father Ryan), 3-1
152: No.1 Matthew Cate (Baylor) major dec. No.5 Eli Goldstein (MUS), 23-9; No.2 John Mark Bellet (MBA) dec. No.3 Brandon Hataway (Father Ryan), 3-0
160: No.1 Cole Moseley (Ryan) dec. No.5 Houston Clements (Baylor), 5-4 2 OT; No. 2 Eliot Berz (McCallie) dec. No.3 Michael Isom (Christian Brothers) , 9-2
170: No.1 Michael Hooker (Father Ryan) pinned John Wallis (St. Benedict), 1:13; No.3 Barrett Walthall (Christian Brothers) dec. No.2 Spencer Crag (Baylor), 12-6;
182: No.1 T.J. Holmes (Father Ryan) dec. Nathan Hoodenpyle (McCallie), 9-4; No.2 Matt Bodine (Baylor) pinned No.3 Corbin McOglan (Christian Bros), 1:59
195: No.1 Ricky Fisher (Ryan) pinned No.4 Ellis Huff (Baylor). 4:31; No.2 Jeff Lamer (St. Benedict) pinned Kevin Murphy (MBA), 1:17
285: No.1 Tye Youngblood (McCallie) vs. No.4 Mitch Payne (Baylor), 9-5; Jashon Robertson (MBA) dec. Sam Thomas (Christian Brothers), 5-4
Contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net