Hixson was the biggest winner in a three-way wrestling match at East Ridge's Catherine Neely Gymnasium on Thursday night.
The Wildcats improved to 6-1 with wins over Whitwell and East Ridge while East Ridge avoided a shutout by beating Whitwell.
East Ridge began the action with a 60-16 win over Whitwell before Hixson posted a 63-12 victory over the Tigers. Then in the third match, Hixson was a 51-30 winner over the Pioneers.
"I thought we looked good in spots, but we have to learn how to stay off our backs," said Hixson coach Garrick Hall once the wrestling had ended.
"I'm pretty pleased for the most part. We showed signs of brilliance, but we'd turn around and go to our back in the next match. We just need some more mat time for some of our younger guys, but we'll keep plugging away," he added.
East Ridge coach Chris Bird echoed similar feelings.
"We fought hard, but we still have a lot of work to do on fundamentals. We're getting there, but we still have lots of stuff to work on. We fought better than I thought we would as they surprised me in the match with Hixson.
"I'm always doom and gloom as I stay excited and nervous at the same time. I just wish we had more kids out here," he concluded.
Whitwell coach John Weiss is working hard to get his guys on the right track. But for a guy who graduated from Hixson in 2001, he's cautiously optimistic about the future of his program.
"I thought we showed a lot of heart and fight, but we're just continuing to grow and develop as a team. It's not about where we start, but where we finish that counts. But I was proud of Avery Shrum for getting a couple of big wins and I thought Seth Cumby and Will Carter both looked good," Weiss added.
Shrum was the only double winner for Whitwell as he scored a major decision in his match against
East Ridge before getting a first-period pin against Hixson.
Kashawn Cosey and Christian Castro both had a pair of pins for East Ridge while Nam Dong and Darian Smith both won twice for the Pioneers.
Hixson had six guys with two wins, including Cederick Harris, Landon Goforth and Brody Gregory with two pins apiece. All came in the first period, but none any faster than Harris who won his first match in 25 seconds and his second in just 47.
Goforth had the quickest one at 13 seconds.
Hixson's other double winners included Jacob Newman, Spencer Groves and Jonas Shackleford.
Hixson is now 6-1 while East Ridge improves to 2-4. Whitwell is now 1-4 for the young season.
The annual Ooltewah Invitational is set for Saturday with a 14-team field. Those teams include the host Owls, Bradley, Walker Valley, Signal Mountain, Chattanooga Christian, Central, Red Bank and Sale Creek for this area while other teams include Auburn (Alabama), Brentwood, Gordon Lee, Lawrence County, Science Hill and Warren County.
Action is set to begin around 9 at the Edward M.
Foster Gymnasium with championship finals to start around 3 or 3:30.
EAST RIDGE 60, WHITWELL 12
(Match started at 113 Pounds)
106 – Double forfeit;
113 – Jesus Baltazar (ER) won by forfeit;
120 – Kashawn Cosey (ER) pinned Jaren Thames, 4:20;
126 – Addison Cordell (W) won by forfeit;
132 – Logan McDonald (ER) pinned John King, :34;
138 – Josh Williams (ER) pinned Nathan Harvey, :20;
145 – Steven Davoren (ER) won by forfeit;
152 – Brandon Day (ER) won by forfeit;
160 – Nam Dong (ER) pinned Colby McCrary, 1:10;
170 – Avery Shrum (W) major dec. Dehaven Johnson, 14-5;
182 – Darian Smith (ER) pinned Austin Smart, 2:30;
195 – Doug Salvador (ER) pinned Daniel Mikel, 1:20;
220 – Will Carter (W) pinned Deveyon Johnson, 1:38;
285 – Christian Castro (ER) pinned Blake Muir, 1:30.
HIXSON 63, WHITWELL 12
(Match started at 120 Pounds)
106 – Rylie Hart (H) won by forfeit;
113 – Jacob Newman (H) won by forfeit;
120 – Jordan Lewis (H) dec. Jaren Thames, 6-3;
126 – Spencer Groves (H) pinned Addison Cordell, 2:58;
132 – Konner Zeigler (H) pinned John King, 1:17;
138 – Cederick Harris (H) pinned Nathan Harvey, :25;
145 – Jonas Shackleford (H) won by forfeit;
152 – Double forfeit;
160 – Landon Goforth (H) pinned Colby McCrary, :13;
170 – Avery Shrum (W) pinned Jerrold Higginbotham, 1:45;
182 – Hunter Ali (H) pinned Austin Smart, 2:45;
195 – Seth Cumby (W) pinned Drew Keith, 1:53;
220 – Brody Gregory (H) pinned T.D. Argo, :35;
285 – Guiliano Palacio (H) pinned Matthew Carter, :31.
HIXSON 51, EAST RIDGE 30
(Match started at 126 Pounds)
106 – Marcus Hester (H) won by forfeit;
113 – Jacob Newman (H) pinned Jesus Baltazar, :49;
120 – Kashawn Cosey (ER) pinned Jordan Lewis, 1:50;
126 – Spencer Groves (H) won by forfeit;
132 – Isaac Yates (H) won by forfeit;
138 – Cederick Harris (H) pinned Josh Williams, :47;
145 – Jonas Shackleford (H) won by injury default over Steven Davoren;
152 – Landon Goforth (H) pinned Brandon Day, 1:00;
160 – Nam Dong (ER) won by forfeit;
170 – Dehavon Johnson (ER) pinned Jerrold Higginbotham, 1:35;
182 – Darian Smith (ER) won by disqualification over Hunter Ali;
195 – Dylan Bargerstock (H) dec. Doug Salvador, 6-0;
220 – Brody Gregory (H) pinned Deveyon Johnson, 1:35;
285 – Christian Castro (ER) pinned Guiliano Palacio, 3:36.
(email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)