Christian Brothers is chasing a dream. The other seven teams competing in the TSSAA D-II state duals, which starts today in Franklin, are chasing Christian Brothers.
Christian Brothers looks for its first state wrestling championship after runner-up finishes the past two years, falling to Father Ryan in 2010 and to Baylor a year ago.
Schedule: Eight teams will go at it today (Friday) at the Williamson County Ag & Expo Center in Franklin with quarterfinal matches at 4:30 p.m. (EST) and 5:30 p.m.
Semifinals are tonight at 8:30 p.m. and championship finals are Saturday at 8 p.m.
Ranked No.1 in the state, CBHS is a slight pre-tournament favorite and is expected to meet defending duals and traditional champion Baylor in a highly-anticipated semifinal (Friday, 8:30 p.m. EST), while Father Ryan should meet McCallie in the other semis.
Brackets can be found at: tssaa.org
Team by Team Breakdown (all times EST)
4:30 p.m. Quarterfinals
Father Ryan vs. Brentwood Academy
Ryan has four state champs in the line-up; Mike Akers, Cole Moseley, Michael Hooker and T.J. Holmes … Mark Marchetti and Ricky Fisher are state runners-up.
B.A. is led by defending state champ Amos Mason, plus several state ranked wrestlers including No.5 Justin Becci (106) No.3 Danny Maloney (126), No.4 Towler McClellan (160).
McCallie vs. St. Benedict
McCallie has a state champion in Alex Ward and state runners-up in Alex Elsea (113), Adam Connell (120), Tim Westbrooks (132) and Tye Youngblood (285).
St. Benedict is led by No.2 ranked and two-time state medalist Jeff Lamar (195) and state-ranked wrestlers, including No.4 Kyle Jennings (120), No.5 Robert Mosier (126) and No.4 Mikey Bascom (138).
6:30 p.m. Christian Brothers vs. Montgomery Bell Academy
The Purple Wave has state champs in Tate Robinson and Caleb Baker and the top-ranked 106-pounder in Elijah Oliver.
MBA has a pair of state medalist Bellet brothers in Daniel (138) and John Mark (152), along with No.3 Morris Eguakun (220) and No.3 Jay Robertson (285) who was fourth as a ninth grader.
Baylor vs. Memphis University School
Baylor has state champs in ZachWatson (126) and Brandon Brunner (132) and several state medalists including John Eady (120), Houston Clements (145), Matthew Cate (152) and Spencer Craig (170)
MUS has state medalist in No.5 Eli Goldstein (152).
D-II Small School Invitational
Quarterfinals are at 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., followed by semifinals at 8:30. Championship finals are Saturday at 5 p.m.
Defending champion Knox. Webb opens with Battle Ground Academy (6:30 p.m.), while 2011 runner-up Franklin Road Academy takes on St. Andrews-Sewanee at 4:30 p.m.
The other quarterfinals show Pope John Paul II vs. Fayette Academy and Briarcrest vs. Donelson Christian Academy.
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net