Two of the oldest wresting programs in the state squared off in the finals of the Vandergriff Duals Saturday afternoon at Hixson, with AAA power Soddy Daisy defeating A-AA Red Bank, 41-36.
The two schools show a combined seven traditional state championships dating back to 1963.
In a fast moving match (started at 160) with five lead changes and six, first period pins the Trojans secured the win after a pair of forfeit victories at 138 and 145.
Soddy Daisy had pins from Charles Wheaton (106), Justin Taylor (113) and Jake McClure (132), while the Lions had falls from Trent Comeaux (126), Gabe McDuffie (160), Christian Jackson (220) and Tony Ottinger (285).
Ottinger's first period fall (:34) gave Red Bank its largest lead of the night at 21-11 after six matches before the Trojans gained back-to-back falls from Wheaton and Taylor for a 23-21 Trojan lead.
The Lions re-gained the upper hand at 30-23 with a pin from Comeaux and a regular decision from Jonah Bird.
The Trojans pulled within one at 30-29 on a pin by Jake McClure, before winning the next two matches by forfeit for a 41-30 lead and the title. Red Banks David Johnson received a forfeit win in the final match at 152.
"It was a great match and exciting start to our season," said Soddy Daisy coach Jim Higgins.
"We had five matches today and that gives us a good idea of where we are and what we need to improve on."
Best Match: 126 ... Red Bank led by 4 at 27-23 and had won four of the last six matches when Jonah Bird (RB) and Chase Payne (SD) shake hands ... Payne gains the opening takedown and leads 5-4 after one ... Bird gains a 3-point near fall before Payne has a reverse and the match is tied 7-7 after two ... three lead changes thus far ... In third period, Payne lets Bird up, but has his third takedown of the match for a 9-8 lead with :48 seconds remaining ... Bird escapes to tie the match, 9-9, but Payne has his fourth takedown of the match and leads 11-9 with 18 seconds remaining ... but Bird scores a reverse and 3-point near-fall in final five seconds for the win at 14-9 ... Red Bank's lead expanded to 30-23.
Red Bank coach Shane Turner on the Match: "I am so happy for you (his wrestlers) .. so happy for your fight and effort against one of the best teams in the state in AAA," he said in post-match comments.
"I am so excited that we competed at a high level today ... our determination and fight was outstanding.
"With only one starting senior (Christian Jackson), we are a good team and are on the verge of being a great team.
"This is where I wanted this team to be when I took the job for the 2012-13 season."
Big Turn Around: "Two years ago, Walker Valley beat us 84-0 when we had just eight kids and today we beat then 39-29 and won our pool. That's so exciting for me and shows that the kids have bought into our system and are believing in what we are teaching them."
Christian and the Lions: Red Bank senior Christian Jackson registered a pin at 220.
Championship: Soddy Daisy 41, Red Bank 36
2nds vs. 2nds: Hixson 47, Walker Valley 27
3rds vs. 3rds: James Clemens 55, Chattanooga Central 22
Soddy Daisy 41, Red Bank 36
160 - Gabe McDuffie (RB) pinned Cade Chaffari, 4:39 … Red Bank, 6-0 +6
170 – Tucker Russo (SD) forfeit win … match tied 6-6
182 – John Williams (SD) tech fall Robert Perry, 15-0 … Soddy Daisy, 11-6 +5
195 – Devin Crawl (RB) dec. Hunter Maynor, 5-4 … Soddy Daisy 11-9 +2
220 – Christian Jackson (RB) pinned Elijah Cartwright, 1:16 … Red Bank, 15-11 +4
285 – Tony Ottinger (RB) pinned Austin Aslinger, :34 … Red Bank, 21-11 +10
106 – Charles Wheaton (SD) pinned Blake Reichel, 2:00 … Red Bank, 21-17 +4
113 – Justin Taylor (SD) pinned Zach Gee, :30 … Soddy Daisy 23-21 +2
120 – Trent Comeaux (RB) pinned Slate Daniel, :54 … Red Bank, 27-23 +4
126 – Jonah Bird (RB) dec. Chase Payne, 14-11 … Red Bank 30-23 … +7
132 – Jake McClure (SD) pinned Cody Baugh, 1:31 … Red Bank, 30-29 +1
138 – Austin Houser (SD) forfeit win … Soddy Daisy, 35-30 +5
145 – Emory Holcomb (SD) forfeit win … Soddy Daisy, 41-30 +11
152 – David Johnson (RB) forfeit win … Soddy Daisy, 41-36 +5
Stats:
Matches Won: 7-7
Forfeits: Soddy Daisy, 3-1
Pins: Red Bank, 4-3
Technical Falls: SD, 1-0
Regular Decisions: Red Bank, 2-0
Fastest Fall: SD -- (113) Justin Taylor over Zach Gee... :30
Gold Pool
Soddy Daisy (4-0), Hixson (3-1), Chattanooga Central (2-2), East Hamilton (1-3), Coahulla Creek (0-4)
Soddy Daisy 63, East Hamilton 15
Soddy Daisy 72, Coahulla Creek 3
Soddy Daisy 60, Chattanooga Central 16
Soddy Daisy 54, Hixson 15
Hixson 53 Coahulla Creek 21
Hixson 48, East Hamilton 30
Hixson 52, Chattanooga Central 24
Chattanooga Central 54, Coahulla Creek 36
Chattanooga Central 48, East Hamilton 42
East Hamilton 51, Coahulla Creek 30
Black Pool
Red Bank (4-0), Walker Valley (2-2), James Clemens (2-2), East Ridge (2-2), Whitwell (0-4)
Red Bank 63, East Ridge 18
Red Bank 69, Whitwell 12
Red Bank 55, James Clemens 47
Red Bank 39, Walker Valley 29
Walker Valley 48, James Clemens 30
Walker Valley 69, Whitwell 18
East Ridge 48, Walker Valley 32
East Ridge 60, Whitwell 24
James Clemens 42, East Ridge 36
James Clemens 63, Whitwell 18
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net