The Region 2-A/AA wrestling tournament may be one of the most competitive in the state as any of four or five teams could conceivably win it Saturday afternoon, but the defending champion Hixson Wildcats have the most slim of leads following the championship quarters and two rounds of consolations at Signal Mountain.
The Wildcats, who finished second in the A-AA State Duals last week and are the defending A-AA state traditional champs, advanced 10 wrestlers to Saturday morning’s championship semis and have the lead over the rest of the 14-team field with 51.5 points.
Red Bank is right on their heels as the Lions also advanced 10 individuals while piling up 50 points. Central is a close third with 47 while Notre Dame is sitting pretty in fourth place with 45. Signal Mountain is fifth with 32 points.
None of the top two seeds in any of the 14 weight classes got beat, so there were really not many surprises along the way. But things will get interesting during the championship semis when the advancement points get bigger.
Hixson coach Garrick Hall never wants to say much of anything one way or the other concerning his Wildcats as he’s just a bit superstitious at times, but he knows that this is one of the toughest regions in the state and qualifying for next week’s state tournament in Franklin isn’t a guaranteed thing for anyone.
“Some of us didn’t show up ready to wrestle, but my kids need to understand that we need to bring our “A” game every time we step on the mat as this is a tough region,” he said while watching the last few consolation matches Friday night.
“Most of it went the way we figured it would. We had a few we didn’t expect go our way and we had a few that didn’t, but that’s just a fact of life when you’re dealing with teenaged boys. This may not be determined until the final match Saturday afternoon,” Hall said quietly.
Red Bank coach Shane Turner echoed similar feelings.
“So far it’s been a good day for the Lions as we have 10 of our 12 in the semis, but we just have to keep executing like we’ve been practicing. We won the matches we were supposed to win and I think we have a shot, but we’ll have to wrestle really well tomorrow if we plan to beat Hixson as they have a solid team.
“But I’m just happy about where we are at this point and glad that we have a shot to win tomorrow,” he added.
Central’s John Lennon had incredible success as a three-time state champ at Cleveland back a few years ago and he’s just trying to implore his kids to bring the same intensity that he used to bring when he was so dominant for the Blue Raiders.
“We just want to keep getting better, but this is all about punching our ticket for Franklin next week,” Lennon said.
“I was really proud of Dylan Rowe, a sophomore at 145 who stepped in when our starter didn’t make weight. He got a big pin for us and that really helped, but we wear our heart right on the edge of our sleeves and we’re loud and proud,” he nodded.
Notre Dame coach John Mullin has been through more than his share of region tournaments and he doesn’t get overly excited one way or the other, but he’s also smart enough to know this tournament is a long way from being over.
“We lost a couple that we maybe should have won, but overall it was a good day for us,” he began.
“It’s a really close race right now and I’m not sure it won’t still be that way when it’s over, but it should be interesting tomorrow. It will be a lot of fun,” he smiled.
Hixson’s 10 in the semifinals include Spencer Groves at 113, Konnor Ziegler at 120, Isaac Yates at 126, Cederick Harris at 132 and Jonas Shackleford at 138. Landon Goforth advanced at 145 as did Chris Nicholson at 182, Dylan Bargerstock at 195, Truman Ross at 220 and Brody Gregory at 285.
Red Bank’s group includes Blake Reichel at 106, Trent Comeaux at 113, Jonah Bird at 120, David Johnson at 138, Gabe McDuffie at 152, Kaine Kell at 160, Robert Perry at 170, Devin Crawl at 182, Christian Jackson at 195 and Anthony Ottinger at 285.
Central’s seven include Bryson Lemons at 126, Isaac Coffman at 132, Alonso Heyward at 152, Xavier Norwood at 160, Brian Sledge at 182, Curtis Noiseaux at 220 and Sam Stephenson at 285 while Notre Dame’s seven include Tucker Gill at 106, Luke Mullin at 120, Ned Warwick at 126, Packy Mullin at 145, Noah Bankston at 152, Michael Quatrano at 170 and Chris Hornsby at 220.
Signal Mountain and East Ridge both have five in the semis while Whitwell has four and Boyd-Buchanan three. Chattanooga Christian has two while Tyner and Sequatchie County both have one apiece.
The championship finals are set to begin around 3 p.m.
LEGEND AND TEAM SCORES FOLLOWING FRIDAY’S ACTION: 1.
Hixson (Hix) 51.5; 2. Red Bank (RB) 50; 3. Central (Cen) 47; 4. Notre Dame (ND) 45; 5. Signal Mountain (SM) 32; 6. East Ridge (ER) 30.5; 7. Whitwell (W) 28; 8. Boyd-Buchanan (BB) 23; 9. Chattanooga Christian (CCS) 11.5; 10. Howard (How) 11; 11. Tyner (T) 10; 12. Sequatchie Co. (Seq) 9; 13. Sale Creek (SC) 7; 14. Brainerd (Bra) 3.
106 Pounds
Round of 16: Kashawn Cosey (ER) pinned Logan Silvers (Seq), 1:18; Austin Biddy (Cen) pinned Roderick Bonds (How), 2:00.
Quarterfinals: Tucker Gill (ND) won by forfeit over James Gray (Bra); Isaac Tate (SM) dec. Jacob Newman (Hix), 10-9; Kashawn Cosey (ER) pinned Logan Silvers (Seq), 1:18; Blake Reichel (RB) pinned Austin Biddy (Cen).
113 Pounds
Round of 16: Jimmy Herrera (Cen) pinned Addison Cornell (W), 3:59.
Quarterfinals: Trent Comeaux (RB) pinned Jimmy Herrera (Cen); Scott Weaver (BB) pinned Grant Speer (ND), 1:10; Spencer Groves (Hix) won by technical fall over Gary Smith (Seq), 4:00; Hunter Owens (ER) pinned Reed Wickizer (SM).
120 Pounds
Quarterfinals: Luke Mullin (ND) pinned Colton Brookshire (W), :22; Konnor Ziegler (Hix) pinned Jay Brock (Seq); Logan McDonald (ER) won by forfeit over Christian Salazar (T); Jonah Bird (RB) dec. Manuel Bernal (Cen), 6-1.
126 Pounds
Round of 16: Daidrick Dunham (How) pinned Josh Williams (ER), :20.
Quarterfinals: Isaac Yates (Hix) major dec. Daidrick Dunham (How), 12-2; Hunt Drennan (SM) pinned Gavin Gardner (Seq), 4:00; Ned Warwick (ND) pinned Cornelius Woodruff (Bra), 2:20; Bryson Lemons (Cen) major dec. Gage Evans (RB), 13-1.
132 Pounds
Quarterfinals: Spencer Griffey (ER) advances with a bye; Daniel Dawson (SM) dec. David Hodges (ND), 7-5; Isaac Coffman (Cen) major dec. Domanique Rahman (How), 13-4; Cederick Harris (Hix) pinned Jared Smith (BB).
138 Pounds
Quarterfinals: Tabrin Walker (ER) pinned Alex Spraker (ND); Jonas Shackleford (Hix) dec. Hans Casseus (Cen), 5-3; David Johnson (RB) pinned Hank Warren (BB), 4:00; Justin Wheeler (CCS) won by technical fall over Will Davis (SM), 4:00.
145 Pounds
Round of 16: Dylan Rowe (Cen) pinned Nam Dong (ER), 2:00.
Quarterfinals: Packy Mullin (ND) pinned Dylan Rowe (Cen); Greg Layne (W) pinned Cody Slatton (How), 2:00; Alex Hundley (CCS) pinned Matthew McDonald (BB), 2:00; Landon Goforth (Hix) pinned Brelyn Grant (Seq).
152 Pounds
Round of 16: Chris Neaderhiser (SC) pinned Kobeai Ford (Bra), 3:04; Avery Shrum (W) pinned Darian Smith (ER), 2:00; Parker Ward (Hix) pinned Brayden Grant (Seq).
Quarterfinals: Noah Bankston (ND) pinned Chris Neaderhiser (SC), 3:12; Chaysen Patrick (T) pinned Avery Shrum (W); Alonso Heyward (Cen) pinned Niejel Billingley (How), 5:23; Gabe McDuffie (RB) pinned Parker Ward (Hix), 2:00.
160 Pounds
Round of 16: Jarred Keener (Seq) pinned Luke Faulkner (ND), 2:30; Austin Smartt (W) pinned Billy Hanley (SC), 4:00.
Quarterfinals: Xavier Norwood (Cen) dec. Ty Boeck (SM), 10-9; Brandon Spurling (BB) pinned Matthew Mapp (ER), 4:00; Jarred Keener (Seq) dec. Ronny Huff (Hix), 14-11; Kaine Kell (RB) major dec. Austin Smartt (W), 13-4.
170 Pounds
Round of 16: Skylar Sivley (Cen) pinned Daniel Mikel (W), 2:00; Kell Stott (BB) pinned Ryan Turner (Hix), 5:20.
Quarterfinals: DeAngelo Johnson (ER) won by technical fall over Skylar Sivley (Cen), 4:46; Michael Quatrano (ND) pinned Kaleb Parcel (T); Robert Perry (RB) major dec. Richard Daniels (Seq), 12-1; Seth Petarra (SM) pinned Kell Stott (BB), 1:28.
182 Pounds
Round of 16: Thomas Martin (ND) pinned Michael Sewell (BB), 2:00.
Quarterfinals: Devin Crawl (RB) pinned Thomas Martin (ND); Brian Sledge (Cen) dec. Andrew Mapp (ER), 10-7; Bailey Blaylock (W) pinned Kevin Cortes (T), 4:00; Chris Nicholson (Hix) pinned Marcus McMillan (Bra), 2:00.
195 Pounds
Quarterfinals: Cale Shelton (SM) pinned Jonathon Alston (Cen), :51; Seth Cumby (W) pinned Calvin Conn (BB), 4:00; Christian Jackson (RB) pinned Deonta Tyson (T), 2:00; Dylan Bargerstock (Hix) pinned Doug Salvador (ER).
220 Pounds
Quarterfinals: Chris Hornsby (ND) pinned Julian Capehart (SC); Will Watkins (BB) pinned Gabe Smith (RB), 1:43; Truman Ross (Hix) pinned Andrew Kilgore (W), 2:00; Curtis Noiseaux (Cen) pinned Michael Nelson (CCS), 4:00.
285 Pounds
Quarterfinals: Brody Gregory (Hix) pinned Christian Camacho (ER), 1:38; Chase Cantrell (W) pinned Keith Thomas (T); Anthony Ottinger (RB) pinned Hunter Whiting (ND); Sam Stephenson (Cen) pinned John Sewell (BB).
(email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@comcast.net)