CLEVELAND -- In a battle of the top two prep wrestling teams in the state, host and top-ranked Cleveland used bonus points via three pins to edge No.2 Father Ryan, 31-29, Friday night at the Jones Wrestling Arena.
Trailing by seven (25-18) with four matches remaining, the Blue Raiders gained 10 points from state champs via a major decision (Chris DeBien, 126) and a fall (Austin Stevison, 132) for a 28-25 advantage, and another three on a regular decision (7-2) by Ezra Taylor (138) to lead 31-25.
In the final match of the night at 145, Ryan’s Marcelo Morrice posted a 10-1 major decision, but the Purple Irish needed a fall to tie and go to criteria.
“In a dual match with two evenly matches teams, pins are so important and Cleveland had three to our two and that was the difference,” said Ryan coach Pat Simpson. “It’s good to go against one of the best in the state and see where you are in mid-December.”
Starting at 152: Ryan opened the match at 152 with a first period fall by James Simpson, but that 6-0 lead was quickly countered at 160 as Aaron Oliver turned a 2-2 match into a second period pin (3:20) and a 6-6 tie for the host team.
The two teams split the next four weights with Ryan leading 13-12.
Blue Raiders’ Big John Gaither (285) posted Cleveland’s second fall of the night for an 18-13 lead at the halfway mark, only to see Ryan win the next three for 12 points for a 25-18 lead.
The hosts only gave up the one pin by Raymond Eason (106) before posting three in a row themselves – a major, fall and decision – for 13 points and a 31-25 lead.
“We found a way to get bonus points, including Aaron Oliver’s huge win at 160 (pin), Austin Stevison’s pin at 132 and the in the final match Will Haas fought hard and got off his back in the second period (lost by a major decision) as Ryan picked up four points and not six to win by two points,” said Cleveland coach Jake Yost.
Al Miller Cleveland Duals: Cleveland, Father Ryan and 10 other schools from Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama will compete in the newly titled Al Miller-Cleveland Duals Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. on campus. Pre-tourney favorites are Archer (Atlanta) and Baylor plus the Purple Irish and the Blue Raiders. The winners of the four pools meet in the semis, followed by the finals late afternoon.
Miller, who retired as a Cleveland HS coach and teacher this past spring started the Cleveland Duals in the mid-1980s, which is the oldest in-season duals tournament in Tennessee.
The inaugural duals had Cleveland, Howard, Baylor, William Blount, Hixson, Maryville, Bradley Central and Berkmar (Atlanta) ... Quarterfinal winners were Cleveland, Baylor, Hixson and Berkmar .
In the semis, Baylor beat Cleveland and Berkmar beat Hixson ... Berkmar beat Baylor in the finals. Hixson then won four duals titles in a row, until MBA coached by Luther Killian beat the Wildcats to win it in 1990.
Cleveland 31, Father Ryan 29
152- James Simpson pinned Eli Isenhower, 1:49 … Ryan 6-0
160 Aaron Oliver (Cleve) pinned Nick Naughton, 3:20 … 6-6
182 – Josh Hamilton (Cleve) dec. John Hagey, 3-2 … Ryan, 10-9
195 – Ethan West (Cleve) dec. Houston Hooker, 10-3 … Cleve, 12-10 (lead change - 1)
220 – Ben Stacey (Ryan) dec. Koran Kennedy, 5-3 … Ryan, 13-12 (lead change-2)
285 - John Gaither (Cleve) pinned Justin Williams, 1:02 … Cleve, 18-13 (lead change-3)
QUICK INTERMISSION -- Cleveland honors Al Miller as he coached 40 years … Win-loss record 411-162 … 5 state titles as a head coach and 3 as an assistant coach …
2012-13 national assistant wrestling coach of the year
Starting with 2013 (tomorrow) the duals are now known as the Al Miller-Cleveland Duals
106 - Raymond Eason (Ryan) pinned Josue Nino, Ryan, 19-18 (lead change-4)
113 – Eli King (Ryan) dec. Tristian Blansit, 8-4 … Ryan, 22-18 (+5)
120 Trey Chalifoux (Ryan) dec. Taylor Bishop, 5-1 … Ryan, 25-18 (+7)
126 – Chris DeBein (Cleve) major dec. Kirby Simpson, 13-3 … Ryan, 25-22 (+5)
132 – Austin Stevison (Cleve) pinned Jared Frazier, 3:20 … Cleve, 28-25 (lead change – 5)
138 Ezra Taylor (Cleve) def. Chris Wesnof, 7-2 …. Cleve, 31-25 (+4)
145 Marcelo Morrice (Ryan) major dec. Will Haas, 10-0 … Cleve wins 31-29
Stats:
Wins: 7-7
Pins: Cleve, 3-2
Major Dec.: Ryan, 1-0
Regular Decisions: Ryan, 5-4
First Takedowns: 7-7
Pre-Match Ceremony … Prior to the match former Cleveland coach Duane Shriver honored two deceased Blue Raider wrestlers …
In Memory of … The Cleveland wrestling program lost two of its own in the last 12 months … state champ and state Outstanding Wrestler Jeff Howard was killed in an automobile accident this time last year as he and his father were on the way to the Cleveland-Father Ryan match ... a couple of months later Howard’s 1977 teammate Mike Shealy passed away … They were co-captains and part of Cleveland’s first district and region championship teams.
Banners recognizing Howard and Shealy were unveiled prior to last night’s match.
Howard was a state champ and All-American … Shealy was a district and region champ.
PLAY BY PLAY
* 152- James Simpson pinned Eli Isenhower, 1:49 … Ryan 6-0
Simpson quick td 2-0 and controlled the match … registered the fall at 1:49
* 160 Aaron Oliver (Cleve) pinned Nick Naughton, 3:20 … 6-6
Cleve td 2-0 … Ryan reverse late to tie at 2-2 2nd … Naughton throws in legs but gets out of position and Oliver o Cleve(1) escape Cleve 6-2 … 3 rd … Duff escape 7-2 … Duff td (3) 9-2 … Cleve(warning-2) 10-2 … Duff warning (1) … Cleve escape Duff td (4) 12-3 … escape Cleve 12-4 major dec
* 182 – Josh Hamilton (Cleve) dec. John Hagey, 3-2 … Ryan, 10-9
Hamilton takedown (1) 2-0 … Hamilton goes for chicken wing and half to turn but Hagey fights it off …
2nd … Cleve takes down … Hagey riding high … 3rd … Hagey takes down (trails 2-0) … Hagey gains standing switch and Hamilton has escape leads 3-2 :47 left … Hagey has double leg but can’t finish … shoots again but off the match 27 shoots again Hamiilton (w-1) :22 .. Hagey shoots again but Hamilton ties himup and holds on for 3-2 win … exciting match ...
* 195 – Ethan West (Cleve) dec. Houston Hooker, 10-3 … Cleve, 12-10 (lead change - 1)
West gains first takedown and throws in chicken wing but no turn … 2-0 .. 2nd – West takes down … Hooker throws in legs from the start … Hooker tries to get back points with 3 quarter but West almost gains defensive pin and gets reverse 4-0 … Hooker throws in wizzer to gain a reverse but nothing and West works for cradle but nothing … 3 rd … Hooker takes down … Hooker goes to tripod but can’t get out … West riding tough .. works for chicken wing to turn … Hooker (w-1) … 1:05 …. Fresh start … Hooker to tripod … throws in wizzer …. Escape 4-1 … West td (2) 6-1 :22 escape and td (4) 8-2 escape and td (5), 10-3 …
* 220 – Ben Stacey (Ryan) dec. Koran Kennedy, 5-3 … Ryan, 13-12 (lead change-2)
Stacey initial td (1) 2-0 … 2nd … Kennedy takes down … Stacey goes for front half but gives escape, 2-1 ..
Stacey shoots again but off mat … 1:19 … Kennedy backing up but gains td on counter leads 3-2 warning misconduct Ryan coach … Stacey shoots almost has td but ends on his back for a second … stalemate … Stacey still down … escape 3-3 …. 3rd … Stacey takes down … stands up … Stacey gains 1 for escape and 1 for locked hands leads 5-3 … 1:20 … Stacey has single leg but on his knees … Kennedy tries to counter but off the mat … :43 … Stacey gains td (2) … throws in chicken wing (must be the order of the day) …. Wins 5-3
* 285 - John Gaither (Cleve) pinned Justin Williams, 1:02 … Cleve, 18-13 (lead change-3)
Good music … Gaither comes out to Big Bad John from late 50s sung by …. Jimmy Dean …
Williams gives up 30 pounds … Gaither takedown and turns him in :58
QUICK INTERMISSION -- Cleveland honors Al Miller as he coached 40 years …. And recognized after 285 … Win loss record 411-162 … 5 state titles as a head coach and 3 as an assistant coach …
2012-13 national assistant wrestling coach of the year
Starting with 2013 (tomorrow) the duals are now known as the Al Miller Cleveland Duals
* 106 - Raymond Eason (Ryan) pinned Josue Nino, Ryan, 19-18 (lead change-4)
Eason quick td and turns him …. Fall in 1:43 …
* 113 – Eli King (Ryan) dec. Tristian Blansit, 8-4 … Ryan, 22-18 (+5)
King gains first takedown and escape back in on legs … td (2) 4-1 … goes for turn but nothing … throws in half but Blansit counters …. Blansit faces and gains escape, 4-2 … :29 … King td (3) 6-2 … 2nd … Blansit takes down … King hooks arm to turn, nothing … throws in legs … stalemate … 3rd - Blansit down and reverse, trails 6-4 ... King gains reverse on edge of mat 8-4 … King works for turn controls arm … :37 … riding tough …. King wins 8-4
* 120 Trey Chalifoux (Ryan) dec. Taylor Bishop, 5-1 … Ryan, 25-18 (+7) Chalifoux gains initial takedown 2-0 Bishop escape 2-1 … 2nd … Bishop takes down … Chali throws in legs … ¾ half … Bishop tries to counter and works for defensive pin but Chali rolls out … 3rd … Chali down … leads, 2-1… Chali rolls thru but off mat … gains escape 3-1 … gets nice far knee for td (2) 5-1 … Bishop (w-1) …
* 126 – Chris DeBien (Cleve) major dec. Kirby Simpson, 13-3 … Ryan, 25-22 (+5)
DeBien in for quick takedown … Simpson escape … Debien td (2) 4-1 escape and td (3) 6-2 … 2nd … neutral … DeBien td (4) at mat’s edge, 8-2 … chicken wing but nothing …. DeBien( c-1) … Simpson up but nothing … 3rd … DeBien down escape, 9-2 … nice single led … 11-2 … 1:10 ... Simpson (w-1) …. DeBien looks for tilt but no … :23 … Simpson escape 11-3 … DeBien td 13-3 major dec
* 132 – Austin Stevison (Cleve) pinned Jared Frazier, 3:20 … Cleve, 28-25 (lead change – 5)
Stevison gains opening takedown, Frazier reverse … 2-2 … Stevison (c-1) … Stevison reverse and Frazier escape, Stevison leads 4-3 … 2nd … Stevison takes down … Stevison stood and Frazier stayed on his knees … Stevison gained escape … 5-3 … sweet duck under for Stevison and escape 7-4 … Stevison takedown to a cradle … Pin in 3:20
* 138 Ezra Taylor (Cleve) def. Chris Wesnof, 7-2 …. Cleve, 31-25 (+4)
Taylor is the aggressor and gains takedown, 2-0 ... 2nd … Taylor takes down …. Wesnof (c-1) Taylor escape 3-0 … nice throw by Taylor to his back 4 pt move ... 7-0 … 3rd … Wesnof down … Taylor riding tough … Wesnof tries roll and almost gives up back points … tries roll again :46 reverse 7-2 … throws in legs … nothing Taylor (w-1)
* 145 Marcelo Morrice (Ryan) major dec. Will Haas, 10-0 … Cleve wins 31-29
1st no score …. 2nd … Morrice down escape head throw for 5-pt move .. 6-0 ... Haas escape … Morrice td 8-1 … 3rd Morrice td (3) 10-1
contact B.B. Branton at wlliam.branton@comcast.net