If the seeds are any indication, then defending state traditional wrestling champs Cleveland Blue Raiders are a strong favorite to win the Region 3 traditional tournament Friday and Saturday at Bradley Central.
The Blue Raiders of coach Eric Phillips garnered nine top seeds, while Bradley Central has two No.1 seeds with Walker Valley, Heritage and Maryville all having one each.
Cleveland, Bradley Central and Stone Memorial each have three, No.2 seeds, followed by Walker Valley (2), Heritage (1), Maryville (1) and William Blount (1)
Region 3 Quick Facts:
Fri.-Sat.
Feb. 10-11 … Bradley Central High School
Friday: Start time is 6:30 p.m. and competition will go through the semifinals.
Saturday: consolations start at 11 a.m. with the finals at 3 p.m.
Tickets (for adults and students): $6 per session … $15 tournament pass
On Saturday: $6 per session or an all-day pass is $10
State Qualifiers: Top four in each weight class advance to next week’s state tournament
State Seeding: Wrestler must win the region this year and be a returning medalist
Defending Champs: Bradley Central has won 19 straight region titles ... The last time the Bears did not win the region was 1992 when the Black and Gold finished second to Soddy Daisy ... No current Bradley Central wrestler was born the last time the Bears lost a region tournament.
Asked about his high seeds, coach Phillips said with a smile, “I would rather have nine, number ones than nine, number fours.
“If we can live up to that (No.1 seeds) then we will be in good shape on Saturday night.”
Cleveland has top seeds in the first seven weight classes; Chris DeBein (106), Austin Stevison (113), Austin Oliver (120), Ezra Taylor (126), Hayden Hamilton (132), Brando Strickland (138) and Josh Hamilton (145), plus Jesse Jones (182) and Seth Snyder (220).
Other top seeds belong to Keegan Matlock (Heritage, 152), Jacob Bailey (Bradley Central, 160), Jaron Brock (Maryville, 172), Billy Raulston (Walker Valley, 195) and Patrick Benson (Bradley Central, 285).
Most No.1 Seeds: Cleveland’s nine top seeds are the most since Bradley Central had 10 in 2009
Defending Region Champs (4):
Cleveland (2) – Austin Stevison (113), Jesse Jones (182)
Bradley Central (2) – Jericho Crutcher (126), Jacob Bailey (160)
Two-Time Region Champs (1): Jericho Crutcher (Bradley Central, 2010-2011)
State Champions (1): Patrick Benson (Bradley Central, 2011)
Two-Time Region No.1 Seeds (4): Austin Stevison (Cleve, 2011-12), Austin Oliver (Cleve, 2011-12), Jesse Jones (Cleve, 2011-12), Patrick Benson (Bradley Central, 2011-12)
Three-Time Region No.1 Seeds (1): Jericho Crutcher (BC, 2010-11-12)
2011 Region 3 Team Results (# of individual champs in parentheses): 1. Bradley Central, 292.5 (7), 2. Cleveland, 251 (4), 3. Walker Valley, 131 (1), 4. Maryville, 113.5 (1), 5. Stone Memorial, 70.5, 6. Heritage, 67.7, 7. William Blount, 54, 8. Alcoa, 50.5, 9. Greenback, 42, 10. Rhea County, 40.5 (1), 11. Cumberland County, 23, 12. McMinn County 20. 13. Kingston 17
Region 3 pairings by weight class
Round of 16
126 – Brandon Vierengel (Heritage) vs. Danny Jensen (William Blount); (4) Dakota Boggess (McMinn County, 16-15) vs. Zach Cook (Greenback); (6) Dakota Ray (Alcoa, 36-12) vs. Steven Norvach (Kingston); Shawn Foster (Cumberland County) vs. Braxton Brewer (Walker Valley).
132 - (3) Anthony Giattino (Stone Memorial, 36-9) vs.Caleb Arp (Greenback)
138 - (5) Ricky Vasquez (Alcoa, 31-14) vs. William Wright (Cumberland County)
145 - Nick Moore (Alcoa) vs. Evan Howell (William Blount); (5) Jose Hernandez (Heritage, 19-15) vs. Benjamin Riddle (Kingston); Joshua Murner (Cumberland County) vs. Robbie Clark (Bradley Central, 19-20); Luke Borba (McMinn County) vs. Donovan Falkner (Greenback)
152 – Matthew Sizemore (Rhea County) vs. Shaedon Tilley (Cumberland County); Arturo Perez (Alcoa) vs. Wes Rowland (McMinn County)
160 – (1) Jacob Bailey (Bradley Central, 42-8) vs. Landon Barlow (Stone Memorial); Jonathan Trejo (Cumberland County) vs. Brandon Crowe (Rhea County).
170 – Houston Hooker (William Blount) vs. Gary Chitwood (Kingston); Kris Dockery (Alcoa) vs. (6) Tait Rakestraw (Bradley Central, 13-17); (2) J.C. Bobe (Cleveland, 20-9) vs. Taylor Breeden (Greenback)
220 – (5) Zack Miller (Walker Valley, 18-12) vs. Zach McFarland (Bradley Central); (3) David Alan Poe (Alcoa, 38-11) vs. A.J. Hall (Kingston);
285 – Daniel Cochran (Rhea County) vs. Sam Dworak (Walker Valley); Garion Bogard (Stone Memorial) vs. Jacob Martin (Greenback); (2) Jordan Hines (Cleveland, 29-7) vs. Nick Kali Alcoa)
Quarterfinals
106 - (1) Chris DeBein (Cleveland, 35-2) vs. Conner Gavlick (Maryville); (4) Nick Crawford (Heritage, 35-6) bye;
(3) Toribio Navarro (Bradley Central, 14-6) vs. Sean Elder (Alcoa); (2) Cody McCarl (Stone Memorial, 30-10) vs. Arrie Bramlett (Walker Valley).
113 - (1) Austin Stevison (Cleveland, 34-4) vs. Ezequiel Sanchez (Stone Memorial); (4) Pedro Rivera (Maryville, 19-10) vs. (5) Walker Murphy.(Alcoa 24-24);
(3) Austin Gregory (Walker Valley, 17-16) vs. Jacob Rhyne (Greenback); (2) Dakota Ream (Bradley Central, 31-7) vs. Michael Wigdor (Heritage)
120 - (1) Austin Oliver (Cleveland, 31-4) vs. Zack Hills (Heritage); (4) Tyrus Hamrick (Walker Valley, 21-10) vs. (5) Avery Hawk (William Blount, 33-10)
(3) Dakota Bromley (Bradley Central) vs. (6) Ron Monks (Maryville); (2) Zach Heavilon (Stone Memorial, 30-3) vs. Eli Earls (McMinn County)
126 - (1) Ezra Taylor (Cleveland, 20-11) vs. Brandon Vierengel (Heritage)-Danny Jensen (William Blount) winner; (5) Austin Brickle (Stone Memorial, 28-11) vs.(4) Dakota Boggess (McMinn County, 16-15)-Zach Cook (Greenback) winner;
(3) Alan Frisco (Maryville, 35-5) vs. (6) Dakota Ray (Alcoa, 36-12)-Steven Norvach (Kingston) winner; (2) Jericho Crutcher (Bradley Central, 31-7) vs. Shawn Foster (Cumberland County)-Braxton Brewer (Walker Valley) winner.
132 - (1) Hayden Hamilton (Cleveland, 31-8) vs. David Groves (Kingston); (5) Tres Markham (Maryville, 20-8)) vs. (4) Taylor Kazy (Bradley Central, 14-15)
Nick Blake (William Blount) vs. (3) Anthony Giattino (Stone Memorial, 36-9)-Caleb Arp (Greenback) winner; (2) Caleb Langford (Walker Valley, 27-4) vs. Josh Steppe (McMinn County).
138 - (1) Brandon Strickland (Cleveland, 23-8) vs. Spencer Dailey (Walker Valley);
(4) Cody Caruthers (Stone Memorial, 35-7) vs. (5) Ricky Vasquez (Alcoa, 31-14)-William Wright (Cumberland County) winner.
(3) Gene Lewis (Maryville, 21-13) vs. Spencer Massengale (Rhea County); (2) Skyler Boring (Heritage, 19-5) vs. Caven Rogers (Bradley Central)
145 - (1) Josh Hamilton (Cleveland, 21-15) vs. Nick Moore (Alcoa)-Evan Howell (William Blount) winner; (4) Darren Rosser (Stone Memorial, 35-11) vs. (5) Jose Hernandez (Heritage, 19-15)-Benjamin Riddle (Kingston);
(3) Nathan Wilson (Maryville, 28-9) vs. Joshua Murner (Cumberland County)-Robbie Clark (Bradley Central, 19-20) winner; (2) Lawrence Cotton (Walker Valley) vs. Luke Borba (McMinn County)-Donovan Falkner (Greenback) winner
152 - (1) Keegan Matlock (Heritage, 46-4) vs. Matthew Sizemore (Rhea Count)-Shaedon Tilley (Cumberland County) winner; (4) John McCarty (Stone Memorial, 27-17) vs. (5) Javier Francisco (Cleveland, 10-11)
(3) Micah Langford (Walker Valley, 27-10) vs. Arturo Perez (Alcoa)-Wes Rowland (McMinn County) winner; (2) Tyler Schuch (Bradley Central, 27-8) vs. Cory Glover (Maryville)
160 - (1) Jacob Bailey (Bradley Central, 42-8)-Landon Barlow (Stone Memorial) winner vs. Cody Gregory (William Blount); (4) Christian Bain (Kingston, 22-9) vs. (5) Chuck Norwood (Cleveland, 11-12)
(3) Brooks Talley (Greenback, 20-5) vs. Travis Reed (Walker Valley); (2) Chad Solomon (Maryville, 38-4) vs. Jonathan Trejo (Cumberland County)-Brandon Crowe (Rhea County) winner.
170 - (1) Jaron Brock (Maryville, 39-4) vs. Houston Hooker (William Blount)-Gary Chitwood (Kingston) winner; (4) Joel Payne (Heritage, 32-13) vs. (5) Bucky Poe (Stone Memorial, 24-20)
(3) Chase Gregory (Walker Valley, 27-10) vs. Kris Dockery (Alcoa)- (6)Tait Rakestraw (Bradley Central, 13-17) winner; (2) J.C. Bobe (Cleveland, 20-9) – Taylor Breeden (Greenback) winner vs. Josh Yates (McMinn County)
182 - (1) Jesse Jones Cleveland, 27-4) vs. Ric Kennett (Walker Valley); (4) Jacob McCarter (Greenback, 17-5) vs. (5) Logan Moses (Alcoa, 2-14)
(3) Skylar LaRue (Heritage, 29-10) vs. (6) Austin Roderick (Bradley Central, 14-20); (2) John Adams (Stone Memorial, 29-5) vs. Clay Strawn (Maryville)
195 - (1) Billy Raulston (Walker Valley, 28-8) vs. Zachary Cochran (Rhea County); (4) Luke Householder (Maryville, 24-13) vs. (5) Devin Carroll (Bradley Central, 8-12);
(3) Joshua Bain (Kingston, 28-3) vs. Zeth Bolin (Cumberland County);
(2) Oleg Stukanov (Cleveland, 18-20) vs. Tyler Coppenger (Heritage)
220 - (1) Seth Snyder (Cleveland, 29-11) vs. Frank Slipcekic (Kingston); (4) Jeb Davis (Heritage, 22-12) vs. (5) Zack Miller (Walker Valley, 18-12)-Zach McFarland (Bradley Central) winner
(3) David Alan Poe (Alcoa, 38-11)-A.J. Hall (Kingston) winner vs. Matt Howard (Maryville); (2) T.J. Satterfield (William Blount, 53-3) vs. Tyler Earwood(Greenback)
285 - (1) Patrick Benson (Bradley Central, 34-3) vs. A.J. Wimbley (William Blount); (4) Robert Wright (Maryville, 16-12) vs. Daniel Cochran (Rhea County)-Sam Dworak (Walker Valley ) winner
(3) Joey Evans (Heritage, 45-4) vs. Garion Bogard (Stone Memorial)-Jacob Martin (Greenback) winner; (2) Jordan Hines (Cleveland, 29-7)-Nick Kali Alcoa) winner vs. Daniel Farris (McMinn County)