On the strength of three champions and four runners-up host Soddy Daisy captured the Soddy Showdown Saturday.
The victorious Trojans had winners in state champion Jacob Stevens (120), state runner-up Turbo Smith (152) and unseeded Branndon Hunt (160).
Soddy Daisy beat runner-up McCallie by 20 points – 183.5 to 163.5 – while Heritage (Tenn.) was third (137), followed by Hewitt-Truss (125) and Bradley Central (99.5) to complete the top five in the 18-team field.
McCallie also had three champions in Addison Cornell (106), Adam Connell (132) and Griffin Davis (138).
Also with two champions were Pigeon Forge – Joe Dodgen (126) and Nate Croley (145) – and Heritage – (Keagan Matlock (170) and Jeb Davis (220).
Other champions where Dylan Cyree (Tullahoma, 113), Marcus Elkins (Hewitt-Truss, 182), Bryson Begley (Dobyns-Bennett, 195) and Jeff Benson (Oakland, 285).
“I am very proud of our performance today as a lot of young guys showed up and did well,” said Soddy Daisy first year coach Jim Higgins.
“Jacob Stevens had a strong showing in the finals with a win against a state champ and Branndon Hunt beat the three top seeds and won his first tournament which is great for him.”
Outstanding Wrestler: 113 pounder Devan Cyree (Tullahoma, 20-0) had a major decision and two first period pins, including disposing of Nick Crawford (Heritage) in 48 seconds in the finals.
Other Standouts:
* Soddy Daisy’s Jacob Stevens (120) had two pins and a 15-10 victory against D-II state champ Alex Elsea (McCallie) in the finals.
* Unseeded Branndon Hunt (Soddy Daisy) won his first tournament as he beat No.3 seed Ty Hammons (Cookeville), 8-7, No.2 seed in Robbie Clark (Bradley Central), 5-4, and the No.1 seed Andrew Leyva (Gibbs), 3-1 with the winning takedown in the final three seconds.
* 2012 state medalist and No.2 seed Keagan Matlock (Heritage) pinned his way to the title at 170, including a 4:44 fall over No.1 seed Garrett Alexander (Soddy Daisy).
* Bryson Begley (Dobyns-Bennett) pinned No.1 Billy Raulston (Walker Valley), 3:34 in the semis and edged No.2 seed Amoree Sanders (Hewitt-Truss), 1-0, in the finals.
* Unseeded Griffin Davis (McCallie, 138) defeated No.2 seed Dedrick Mays (Cordova), 11-7, No.3 seed Luke Hamilton (Brentwood), 10-8 OT and No.4 seed Austin Williamson (Soddy Daisy), 10-6 in the finals.
Best Match: 126 – No.1 seed Joe Dodgen (Pigeon Forge) decisions Soddy Daisy freshman and No.2 seed Tucker Russo, 9-6.
Kudos: To Carol Goss and her staff of volunteers for bracket updates, mat assignments and keeping the tournament going with medal matches (1-4) starting at 4:10 p.m.
Team Standings
Soddy Daisy Showdown (champions in parentheses)
1 Soddy Daisy (3), 183.5
2 McCallie (3), 163.5
3 Heritage (Tenn.) (2), 137
4 Hewitt-Truss (1), 125
5 Bradley Central, 99.5
6 Walker Valley, 91
6 PIgeon Forge (2), 91
8 Dobyns-Bennett (1), 68
9 Cookeville, 56
10 Brentwood, 55
10 Cordova, 55
12.
Science Hill, 54.5
13 independence, 49
14 Oakland (1), 48
15 Gibbs, 46.5
16 Notre Dame, 43.5
17 Tullahoma (1), 35
18 Rhea County, 20
Place Winners (1-4)
106
First: No.2 Addison Cornell (McCallie) dec. No.1 Heath Williamson (Hewitt-Truss), 3-2
Third: Toribio Navarro (Bradley Central) pinned Jacob McClure (Soddy Daisy), 4:14
113
First: No.1 Dylan Cyree (Tullahoma) pinned No.2 Nick Crawford (Heritage), :48
Third: No.3 James Westbrooks (McCallie) pinned Dyer Rose (Bradley Central), 2:59
120
First: No.1 Jacob Stevens (Soddy Daisy) dec. No.2 Alex Elsea (McCallie), 15-10
Third: No.4 Dakota Bromley (Bradley Central) and Caleb Poole (Pigeon Forge) shared third place points due to five-match rule
126
First: No.1 Joe Dodgen (Pigeon Forge) dec. No.2 Tucker Russo (Soddy Daisy),9-6
Third: No.3 Packy Mullin (Notre Dame) dec. No.4 Dakota Ream (Bradley Central), 5-1
132
First: No.1 Adam Connell (McCallie) pinned No.3 Tyrus Hamrick (Walker Valley), 1:58
Third: Max Vaughn (Science Hill) dec. No.2 Noah Bankston (Notre Dame), 5-3
138
First: unseeded Griffin Davis (McCallie) dec. No.4 Austin Williamson (Soddy Daisy), 10-6
Third: No.2 Dedrick Mays (Cordova) and No.3 Luke Hamilton (Brentwood) shared third place points due to five-match rule
145
First: No.1 Nate Croley (Pigeon Forge) dec. No.2 Gage Richmond (Soddy Daisy), 7-6
Third: No.4 Lawrence Cotton (Walker Valley) and Austin Bagley (Science Hill) shared third place points due to five-match rule
152
First: No.2 Turbo Smith (Soddy Daisy) major dec. No.1 Fred Denson (Hewitt-Truss), 14-5
Third: Palmer Begley (Dobyns-Bennett) major dec. No.3 Ryan Hager (Walker Valley), 16-5
160
First: Branndon Hunt (Soddy Daisy) dec. No.1 Andres Leyva (Gibbs), 3-1
Third: No.2 Robbie Clark (Bradley Central) dec. Michael Labbe (Notre Dame), 2-1
170
First: No.2 Keagan Matlock (Heritage) pinned No.4 Garrett Alexander (Soddy Daisy), 4:44
Third: No.3 Chase Gregory (Walker Valley) dec. No.1 Kevin Elmore (Hewitt-Truss), 2-0
182
First: No.2 Marcus Elkins (Hewitt-Truss) pinned No.4 Joran Davis (Cordova)
Third: No.3 Nathan Hoodenpyle (McCallie) and Cliff Terrell (Brentwood) shared third place points due to five-match rule.
195
First: Bryson Begley (Dobyns-Bennett) dec. No.2 Amoree Sanders (Hewitt-Truss), 1-0
Third: No.3 Caleb Wood (Gibbs) and Tommy Venuti (Notre Dame) shared third place points due to five-match rule.
220
First: No.2 Jeb Davis (Heritage) pinned No.1 Casey Cook (McCallie), 1:30
Third: No.4 Daniel Cochran (Rhea County) pinned Logan Rutledge (Independence), 2:01
285:
First: No.2 Jeff Benson Oakland) pinned No.1 Joey Evans (Heritage), 5:18
Third: No.4 Derek Hammons (Cookeville) and Braxton Busby (Hewitt-Truss) shared third place points due to five-match rule.
Contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net