The last time a Soddy Daisy team did not win the Region 4 traditional wrestling tournament was when the current Trojan seniors were in middle school.
First year Soddy Daisy coach Jim Higgins looks for a fourth straight team title at this weekend’s Region 4 event at Ooltewah High School and if his seeds hold up - seven No.1 seeds and a pair of No. 2 seeds among 14 Trojan wrestlers - the former state champ should be carrying home the first place trophy for dinner on Saturday.
Tourney Info: Location – Ooltewah HS (new gym) … Dates: Fri-Sat Feb.
8-9
Start Times: Friday, 5:30 p.m. - wrestle two championship rounds and two consolation rounds
Sat. 10 a.m - Championship Semis … 2 p.m. - Finals for First and Third Place (top four wrestlers advance to next week’s state tournament in Franklin)
Tickets: $8 for each day for students and adults
While on paper, Soddy Daisy is the favorite, East Ridge with three top seeds and a trio of No.2 seeds and Hixson with one top seed, one at No.2 and four No.3 seeds could have something to say about the outcome.
Hixson (in 2009) is the last team to win Region 4 prior to the current Trojan run.
Chattanooga Central has two top seeds and Notre Dame with one.
Strong in the light weights, Soddy Daisy top seeds are Jacob McClure (106), Austin Houser (123), two-time defending state champion Jacob Stevens (120), Tucker Russo (126), Austin Williamson (138), Garrett Alexander (170) and three-time state medalist and four-time state qualifier Blaike Henry (182).
The Pioneers of East Ridge look to control the upper weights with top seeds in Brandon Cantrell (195), C.J. Baker (220) and Will Garner (285).
Chattanooga Central has Michael Frazy (145) and defending region champ Larry Dickerson (152) as No.1 seeds, Hixson has Landon Goforth (132) and Notre Dame has Michael Labbe (160).
Defending Champion: Soddy Daisy
2012 Finish (top 5) 1. Soddy Daisy 2. Chattanooga Central 3. Notre Dame 4. Hixson 5. East Ridge
Individual Defending Champions (4): Packy Mullin (Notre Dame, 126), Gage Richmond (Soddy Daisy, 145), Larry Dickerson (152), Blaike Henry (Soddy Daisy, 182)
Returning State Champions: Jacob Stevens (Soddy Daisy, 120) … In 2012, Jacob Stevens was No. 1 seed in Region 4 at 120, but lost in region finals to No.2 Pack Mullin who placed sixth in the state.
Looking for Four Region Medals: Trojan Blaike Henry has placed 2nd (2010), 3rd (2011) and 1st (2012) in previous region tourneys … he looks to be five-time state qualifier and four-time medalist ... he was 5th (2009) in D-II with McCallie, and 2nd the past two years in D-I.
Four Region Medals II: Trojan Jacob Stevens has been a No.1 seed three times- 2010-2011-2012 … winning it in 2011 and placing second to Grayson Mullin (ND) in 2010 and to Packy Mullin (ND) in 2012 ... Stevens has more state championships (2, 2011-12) than region crowns (1, 2011) … also looks for a fourth state medal.
Looking for Three …
Chattanooga Central’s Larry Dickerson won the region in 2012 and placed 4th in 2010 …
Soddy Daisy’s Gage Richmond won the region in 2012 and placed 3rd in 2011 …
Hixson’s Isaiah Hawthorne was 3rd in 2011 and 4th in 2012
Most Wins:
44 – C.J. Baker (ER, 220)
39 – Packy Mullin (ND, 126)
39 – Brandon Cantrell (ER, 195)
38 – Brandon Whitley (ER, 120)
36 – Briar Potter (EH, 106)
36 – Jordan Russell (Ool, 152)
35 – Robert McAvoy (ER, 138)
35 – Michael Labbe (ND, 160)
35 – Harrison Hall (SM, 182)
33 – Isaiah Hawthorne (Hix, 126)
31 – Matt Lemons (Ool, 132)
31 – Noah Bankston (ND, 132)
Best Records: (min. 15 wins)
30-1 … Larry Dickerson (Chatt Central, 152)
28-2 … Jacob Stevens (Soddy Daisy, 120)
21-2: Landon Goforth (Hixson, 132)
18-2: Max Kuenzli (CCS, 220)
29-3: Gage Richmond (SD, 145)
19-3: Joseph Allen (Brainerd, 170)
44-4: C.J Baker (East Ridge, 220)
22-4: Sam Murray (CCS, 145)
20-5: Ronardo Bussey (How, 106)
19-3: Garrett Thompson (CCS, 113)
18-4 – Cedric Jordan (Brainerd, 285)
Team Legend
Boyd Buchanan (Boyd Buc), Brainerd (BR), Chattanooga Central (Chatt Central), Chattanooga Christian (CCS), East Hamilton (EH), East Ridge (ER), Hixson (Hix), Howard (How), Ooltewah (Ool), Notre Dame (ND), Red Bank (RB), Sale Creek (SC), Sequatchie County (Seq. Co.), Signal Mountain (SM), Silverdale (SILVER), Soddy Daisy (SD), Tyner (TY), Whitwell (WHIT)
Brackets
106
Round of 16
(4) Ronaldo Bussey (How, 20-5) vs Deelandis White (TY, 16-13); (3) Luke Mullin (ND, 26-6) vs. Cody Davis (WHIT, 9-6); (2) Briar Potter (EH, 36-5) vs. Konnor Zigler (Hix, 13-19)
Quarterfinals
(1) Jacob McClure (SD, 19-13) vs. Cornelius Woodruff (BR, 2-14 ), Trent Walliser (CCS, 10-1) vs. White (TY, 16-13)-(4) Bussey (How) winner; Hunt Drennan (SM, 17-24) vs. (3) Mullin (ND) -Davis (WHIT) winner; Trent Cormeaux (RB, 15-9) vs. Zigler (Hix)-(2) Potter (EH) winner
113
Round of 16
(1) Austin Houser (SD, 15-7) vs. Jordan Goemple (EH, 14-5); (5) Warren Weaver (SM, 22-13) vs. Slade Dickerson (SILVER); Alex Eberle (ND) vs. Cedrick Ricks (How, 12-5)
Quarterfinals
(1) Houser (SD)-Giemple (EH) winner vs. Devonte Clark (RB, 13-19); (4) Bryson Lemons Central, 22-6) vs. Weaver (SM)-Dickerson (SILVER) winner; (3) Grayson Layne (Hix, 27-11) vs. Cesar Aguilar (Seq. Co., 20-6); (2) Carter Thomas (CCS, 19-3) v. Eberle (ND)-Ricks (How).
120
Round of 16
(1) Jacob Stevens (SD, 28-2) vs. Jared Andrews (ND); Domonique Rahman (How, 2-12) vs. (4) Steven Sklavenitis (Hix, 20-15); Garrett Thompson (CCS, 4-10) vs. Andrew Gardner (Seq. Co., 16-12); (2) Brandon Whitley (ER, 38-8) vs. Cody Baugh (RB, 9-18)
Quarterfinals
Mason Chamberlain (TY, 8-18) vs. (1) Stevens (SD) –Andrews ND) fared.; Riggs Glascock (SM) vs. Rahman (How)-(4) Sklavenitis (Hix); (3) Matt Meeks (EH) vs. Gardner (Seq. Co.)-Thompson (CCS) winner; Jeff Gaines (Chatt Central) vs. (2) Whitley (ER)-Baugh (RB) winner.
126
Round of 16
Andrew Fite (CCS) vs. Brennen Smyth (EH)
Quarterfinals
(1) Tucker Russo (SD, 28-4) vs Cook (Chatt Central); (4) Spencer Griffey (ER, 25-18) vs. Fite (CCS)-Smyth (EH) winner; (3) Isaiah Hawthorne (Hix, 33-7) vs. Jacob Newman (SM, 26-14); (2) Pack Mullin (ND, 39-4) vs. Devin Russell (Ool, 2-7).
132
Round of 16
(4) Noah Bankston (ND, 31-10) vs. Cordaro Cummings (ER, 21-8)
Quarterfinals
(1) Landon Goforth (Hix, 21-2) vs. Chris Beckwit (Seq. Co., 7-5); (4) Bankston (ND)-Cummings winner vs. Chaysen Patrick (TY, 17-15); (3) Jacob Wolfe (EH, 21-8) vs. Conner Stiles (SD); (2) Matt Lemons (Ool, 31-7) vs. Jeff Fleishmann (SILVER)
138
Round of 16
Joe Dewild (SILVER) vs. Gabriel McDuffe (RB, 10-19); Robert McAvoy (ER, 35-12) vs. Andre Fugh (BR); (3) Tyler Reid (Ool) vs. Eli Ellis (Sale Creek, 14-9); Connor Christian (EH) vs. Matt Lewis (Seq. Co.); (2) Ameer Jibrin (Hixson) vs. Juan Camacho (TY, 17-15)
Quarterfinals
Austin Williamson (SD, 24-8) vs. Dewild (SILVER)-McDuffie (RB) winner; (4) Will Henley (SM) vs. McAvoy (ER)-Fugh (Br) winner; Nick McGirl (ND) vs. (2) Jibrin (Hix)-Camacho (TY) winner.
145
Round of 16
(1) Michael Frazy (Chatt Central, 26-4) vs. Nick Peck (Hix, 21-14; Courtney Clay (How) vs. Evan Burns (Boyd Buc); Hunter Daughtery (TY, 25-7) vs. Eyrik Allen (SM, 17-23); (4) Sam Murray (CCS, 22-4) vs. Dakota Silvers (Seq. Co., 6-15); (3) Kendal Small (ER, 42-7) vs. Kolby Frazier (Ool, 18-11); David Johnson (RB, 14-17) vs. Michael Quatrano (ND); Blake Hodson (EH vs. Jammison Roddy (Sale Creek); (2) Gage Richmond (SD, 29-3) vs. Grant Williams (SILVER)
152
Round of 16
1 Larry Dickerson (Chatt Central, 30-1) vs. Tristan Marenic (EH); Kyler Katanek (SM, 11-3) vs. Jayson Smith (Boyd Buc); Josh Kilgore (ER) vs. Brelyn Grant (Seq. Co. , 12-9); Roderick McCauley (How) vs. Josh Blank (SILVER); (2) Jordan Russell (Ool, 36-2) vs. Kaine Kell (RB, 15-14)
Quarterfinals
Ronny Huff (Hix, 14-9) vs. Kayanek (SM)-Smith (Boyd Buc) winner; 3 Chase Daughtery (TY, 25-10) vs. Kilgore (ER)-Grant (Seq. Co.) winner.
160
Round of 16
(1) Michael Labbe (ND, 35-9) vs. Robert Perry (RB, 5-11); Kentarius Hampton (How, 13-8) vs. Corey Tucker (EH, 19-6); Xavier Norwood (Chatt Central) vs. Mike Land (CCS, 6-6); (2) DeAngelo Johnson (ER, 33-11) vs. Jaylen Grimes (TY, 14-18).
Quarterfinals
Richard Daniels (Seq. Co., 6-11) vs. (1) Labbe (ND)-Perry (RB) winner; Joe Drennan (SM, 31-7) vs. Hampton (How)-Tucker (ER) winner; (3) Aaron Alemany (Hix, 30-11) vs. Norwood (Chatt Central)-Land (CCS); Hunter Maynor (SD) vs. (2) Johnson (ER)-Grimes (TY) winner.
170
Round of 16
(1) Garrett Alexander (SD, 26-9) vs. Hayden Foster (Seq. Co., 7-8); Jordan Satterfield, Boyd Buc, 10-2) vs. Devin Crawl (RB, 10-14); (3) Chris Nicholson (Hix, 22-12) vs. James Beckett (TY, 7-10); Kendall Austin (EH) vs. James Hughes (Chatt Central, 20-9)
Quarterfinals
Tabrin Walker (ER) vs. (1) Alexander (SD)-Foster (Seq. Co.) winner; Joeseph Allen (BR, 19-3) vs. Satterfield (Boyd Buc)-Crawl (ND) winner; Donovan Thomas (Ool, 7-10) vs. (3) Nicholson (Hix)-Beckett (TY) winner; (2) Cale Shelton (SM, 30-7) vs Austin (EH)-Hughes (Chatt Central) winner.
182
Round of 16
1 Blaike Henry (SD, 17-5) vs. Denzel Robinson (BR, 6-5); Dylan Bargerstock (Hix, 20-13) vs. Nakota Culver (ER); (3) Harrison Hall (SM, 35-11) vs. Jarius Leslie (TY)
Quarterfinals
Corey Stallworth (RB, 7-18) vs. (1) Henry (SD)-Robinson (BR) winner; (4) Lawayne Ruffin (How, 14-6) vs. Bargarstock (Hix)-Culver (ER) winner; Chris Gaither (CCS, 12-5) vs. (3) Hall (SM)-Leslie (TY) winner; (2) Jordan Zink (Ool, 31-2) vs. Joshua Cooper (Chatt Central)
195
Round of 16
(1) Brandon Cantrell (ER, 39-4) vs. Calvin Conn (Boyd Buc); (4) Christian Dean (SD) vs. Justin McCrary (SILVER); Christian Jackson (RB, 17-14) vs. Ladarius Griffith (How, 11-5); Mack Fairley (Ool, 18-14) vs. Chris Hornsby (ND); (2) Truman Martin (Chatt Central, 11-4) vs. Tyler Pope (CCS, 7-9)
Quarterfinals
Marcus McMillan (BR, 15-7) vs. (1) Cantrell (ER)-Conn (Boyd Buc) winner; McKenzie Martin (Hix, 17-10) vs. McCrary (SILVER)-Dean (SD) winner; (3) Micah Pressley (SM, 27-6) vs. Jackson (RB)-Griffith (How) winner
220
Round of 16
No matches
Quarterfinals
(1) C.J. Baker (ER, 44-4) vs. Curtis Noiseaux (Chatt Central); Casey Wallen (Hix, 5-3) vs. (4) Dylan Mahoney (Ool, 9-7); (3) Max Kuenzil (CCS, 18-2) vs. Cole Dickerson (SILVER); (2) Luke Reno (SD, 14-12) bye
285
Round of 16
Will Bederman (CCS, 2-15) vs. Jerrett Wilhoit (EH, 25-11); (3) Cedric Jordan (BR, 18-4) vs. Jacob Keltch (Ool, 12-20);
(1) Will Garner (ER, 29-11) vs. Bederman (CCS)-Wilhoit (EH) winner; (4) Sam Stephenson (Chatt Central, 10-10) vs. Jacob Bird (Hix, 10-14); Hunter Whiting (ND) vs. (3) Jordan (BR)-Keltch (Ool) winner; (2) Antonio Woodall (How, 17-5) vs. Trace McNew (SD).
contact B.B. Branton at William.branton@comcast.net