Father Ryan Beats Baylor For Cleveland Duals Title

CLEVELAND – It was a rematch of last year’s championship match in the Al Miller Cleveland Duals here at Cleveland High School Saturday, but the results were reversed this year.

Father Ryan beat Baylor in its latest meeting, winning by a 34-23 margin after winning four earlier matches and improving to 13-0 for the young season.

Woodland finished third after beating Cleveland by a 42-24 score in the consolation round.

The initial state wrestling poll came out earlier in the week with Baylor and Bradley both ranked ahead of Father Ryan. 

Whether or not that was used as a motivational tool, the Purple Irish proved that the poll may have a different look after beating Baylor and Bradley on Saturday after whipping Cleveland on Friday night.

“We’ve had a great weekend here,” said veteran Father Ryan coach Pat Simpson following Saturday’s final match.

“Our kids were a little bit disappointed with that first poll, so we may have been wrestling with a little bit more purpose because of that.  It was a close match as always with Baylor and the key may have been our win at 285.

“That was a match we weren’t sure we could win, but Jeremy beating a defending state champ was huge.  It’s still early, but Baylor beat us three times last year and we’re just trying to even things out,” he added.

“Father Ryan wrestled really well, but I thought we gave a good effort,” said Baylor coach Ben Nelson.

“We’re just trying to get better, but they outfought us in a couple of spots.  They were better coached and better prepared and that’s all on me, but it’s up to us to catch up now,” he concluded with a smile.

The final match had four lead changes.

Father Ryan’s biggest lead was at 34-20 following a 21-9 major decision by Trey Chalifoux at 126 while Baylor’s biggest lead came at 14-9 after Khamari Whimper posted a 16-6 major decision at 182.

There were only three pins in the match with Father Ryan getting one each from George Hooker and James Killian while Baylor countered with a fall from Caleb Powell.  The Purple Irish also had a forfeit at 113.

While Father Ryan beat Baylor for first place, Woodland had Cleveland’s number in the consolation final, winning by a comfortable 42-24 margin.

Cleveland had beaten Gilmer, Sonoraville and Buckhorn to win its pool and faced Baylor in one semifinal.  It wasn’t very close as the Red Raiders advanced with the 43-27 victory.  Father Ryan beat Woodland by a 48-21 final in the other semifinal.

Colton Landers got things started in the match with Baylor, giving his team a 3-0 lead with a 3-1 decision over Jack Reynolds at 132 pounds.

By the time Seth Garcia had recorded a first-period pin at 195, Baylor was well on its way after winning straight matches for a commanding 28-3 lead.

The difference was 37-9 when Bryce Pond and Logan Whiteside sandwiched pins around a forfeit to David Freeman to draw the Blue Raiders within 10 at 37-27, but Baylor won the final match by pin for the 16-point difference.

“I don’t think we forced our position enough, but we fought hard and that’s all I can ask,” said Cleveland coach Jake Yost following the loss to Baylor.

“We lost a close one at 160, but Baylor is always good.  They just happened to win a few more than we did today,” he added.

Yost was still somewhat upbeat, even after losing by 18 points to Woodland.

“We lost the last two, but won three of five matches today and that’s not bad for a bunch of young guys.  We still have a long way to go, but I think we got better today.  We just have to keep building.

“Today was a good day as we saw a lot of good stuff, but this is all just practice for February,” he concluded with a smile.

While Cleveland finished fourth, the Bradley Bears weren’t as fortunate.

They were in the same pool with teams from Southeast Whitfield, Pope and Father Ryan.  The Bears breezed to a win in those first two, but the Purple Irish were simply too strong on Saturday.

Bradley was victorious in four matches with Hunter Parker and Donnie Beyer getting decisions at 132 and 160 pounds respectively, before the Bears ended the match on pins from D.J.

Hicks at 113 in 1:01 and by 120-pound Ryan McElhaney in 5:06.

Bradley coach Ben Smith had been at Cleveland on Friday to watch Father Ryan win in a 53-10 romp and felt like his team had a chance to compete with Nashville’s best team.

It didn’t turn out that way.

“There’s not much to say.  We just got whipped,” Smith began after a post-match pep talk with his team.

“They’re clearly better than we are in spots, but when our captain Knox Fuller got beat, that completely took the wind out of our sails.  Give Father Ryan a lot of credit.  They have a fine team.

“I certainly hate losing to anyone, but that was still a fun match in a great atmosphere.  We still have a couple of matches left, so we’ll see what happens, but we couldn’t beat our way out of a wet bag in that last one,” Smith added.

The Bears did finish the day on a positive note with a win over Soddy Daisy.

CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

FATHER RYAN 34, BAYLOR 23

(Match began at 138 Pounds)

106 – James Killian (FR) pinned Clayton Pettway, :22;

113 – Christian Simpson (FR) won by forfeit;

120 – Hayden Hartline (Bay) dec. Matt Klett, 8-4;

126 – Trey Chalifoux (FR) major dec. Andy Atchley, 21-9;

132 – Jack Reynolds (Bay) dec. Joey Vogelpohl, 3-2;

138 – Kirby Simpson (FR) dec. Austin Atchley, 4-1;

145 – Eli King (FR) dec. Mason Reiniche, 6-1;

152 – Michael Murphy (Bay) major dec. Daniel Wesley, 16-7;

160 – Jack Wilson (FR) dec. Riley Westlake, 8-4;

170 – Caleb Powell (Bay) pinned Robert Garstin, :54;

182 – Khamari Whimper (Bay) major dec. Andrew Wesnofske, 16-6;

195 – George Hooker (FR) pinned Tyree Toliver, 1:07;

220 – Ryan Parker (Bay) dec. Ben Stacey, 7-1;

285 – Jeremy Darvin (FR) dec. Cooper Reiniche, 2-1 in overtime.

 

CONSOLATION FINAL

WOODLAND 42, CLEVELAND 24

(Match started at 138 Pounds)

106 – Gavin Nix (W) dec. Bryce Pond, 5-0;

113 – Kyle Gollhofer (W) dec. Phillip Freeman, 6-4;

120 – Jahvar Lewis (W) dec. Michael Whiteside, 9-3;

126 – Neuro Montero (W) pinned Jayce Mullin, :10;

132 – Colton Landers (Clev) won by forfeit;

138 – Dawson Woods (W) pinned Austin Sweeney, :34;

145 – Caleb Eachus (Clev) pinned Joshua Veley, 2:00;

152 – Spencer Cooper (W) pinned Seth Eachus, 1:09;

160 – Cody Cochran (W) won by forfeit;

170 – Steven Wilson (Clev) dec. Jacob Frye, 8-6;

182 – Dylan Jones (Clev) dec. Nathaniel Johnson, 19-12;

195 – Seth Garcia (Clev) pinned Brett Shedd, 2:17;

220 – Hunter Hardin (W) dec. Kevin Martinez, 5-1;

285 – Dalton May (W) pinned Michael Lewis, 2:48.

 

(Email John Hunt at nomarthonmoose@gmail.com)