2017 D-II Middle/East Region Champion McCallie Wrestlers
photo by Tom Herring
2017 D-II McCallie Region Champs (l-r): River Henry, Brock Herring, Alex Whitworth, Judah Duhm
photo by Tom Herring
It was the tale of two D-II East/Middle Region tournaments in one afternoon Saturday as host McCallie built a big lead and then held on to win the team title.
The victorious Blue Tornado came out of the gate fast building a 29-point lead through the championship semis, only to have Baylor rebound and make a run at the title with a strong showing in the consolations and finals.
McCallie, with four champions, finished with 226 points, while runner-up Baylor with six champions tallied 214 points and Montgomery Bell Academy with four winners was third at 203. Battle Ground Academy (57 pts.) was fourth and Franklin Road Academy (51) fifth in the nine-team field
“The region is always close as you have to ride the highs and lows and keep battling to the last match,” said McCallie coach Mike Newman. “We will build on this for next week’s state traditional tournament in Franklin.”
Baylor coach Ben Nelson said,” We are excited and looking forward to next week’s state tournament as we wrestled well today.”
Marquee Match: at 152, defending state champ Mason Reiniche (Baylor) used a late second period reversal and fall to defeat previously unbeaten Ethan Dendy of McCallie. After a scoreless first period, Dendy rode Reiniche for most of the second until the reverse and pin.
Top Four Advance (56 all total advance): Baylor sends 14 to the state traditional, while McCallie and MBA will send 13 each … other teams sending wrestlers to the state BGA (4), Franklin Road Acad. (4), Friendship Christian (3), Knox Webb (3), Pope John Paul (1)
Baylor Champs (6): Porter Kaufman (113), Austin Atchley (138), Mason Reiniche (152), Connor Duffy (160), Khaman Whimper (170), Tyree Tolliver (220)
McCallie Champs (4): Alex Whitworth (106), Brock Herring (132), Judah Duhm (182), River Henry (285)
MBA Champs: (4) Gabriel Elkin (120), Michael Elkin (126), Bryce Wittman (145), Ryan Kosson (195)
Team Finals: 1 McCallie (226) 2 Baylor 214 3 MBA (203) 4 BGA (57), 5 FRA (51), 6 Knox Webb (38.5), 7 Friendship Christian (24), 8. Sewanee-St.Andrews (19) 9. Pope John Paul II (11)
Notes - Good Name: Elijah Andrews wrestled for St. Andrews-Sewanee … MBA’s Elkin brothers both won titles … All 14 No.1 seeds won titles …
First Region in 23 Years … Sort of: McCallie won its first D-II Middle/East Region team title and its first region crown since 1993 … BUT – when the Blue Tornado won the 1993 region there was one tournament for both public and private schools (McCallie also won state duals and traditional titles in 1993) and the D-II region tourney did not begin until 2014.tor
Kudos: Thanks to the McCallie wrestling parents who always provide an excellent hospitality room with plenty of food for coaches and officials and workers
... And to middle school coach Tom Herring and his staff who kept the tournament moving along .. finals started at 4 p.m. .. right on schedule
Championship Finals
106 – No.1 Alex Whitworth (McC) pinned No.2 Clayton Pettway (Baylor), 1:27
113 – No.1 Porter Kaufman (Baylor) dec. No.3 Eddie Suh (McC), 13-6
120 – No.1 Gabriel Elkin (MBA) major dec. No.2 Zach Ward (McC), 10-2
126 – No.1 Michael Elkin (MBA) pinned No.3 Tiy Reed (BGA), 3:10
132 – No.1 Brock Herring (McC) major dec. No.2 John Micha Glover (MBA), 10-2
138 – No.1 Austin Atchley (Baylor) dec. Joe Tarquine (MBA), 9-2
145 – No.1 Bryce Wittman (MBA) pinned No.2 Thomas Sell (McC), 3:51
152 - No.1 Mason Reiniche (Baylor) pinned No.2 Ethan Dendy (McC), 3:59
160 – No.1 Connor Duffy (Baylor) pinned No.2 Russell Barry (McC), 5:04
170 – No.1 Khamari Whimper (Baylor) pinned No.3 Clay Garstin (MBA), 0:40
182 – No.1 Judah Duhm (McC) pinned Dominic Fisher (MBA), 3:49
195 – No.1 Ryan Kosson (MBA) dec. Walker Robinson (McC), 2-1
220 – No.1 Tyree Toliver (Baylor) pinned No.2 Wyeth Patton (MBA), 1:34
285 – No.1 River Henry (McC) pinned No.2 Tymon Mitchell (Franklin Road Acad.), 5:30
Third Place Matches
106 – No.3 Frank Penazinni (MBA) pinned No.4 Ethan Rhoden (FRA), 2:42
113 – No.2 Adam Garfinkle (MBA) pinned No.4 Harrison Noffsinger (Friendship Christian) 2:37
120 – No.3 Mark Austin (FRA) pinned No.4 Chase Radpour (Baylor), 4:19
126 – No.2 Hayden Hartline (Baylor) pinned No.4 Evan Hughes (McC), 1:40
132 – No.3 Zack Tieng (Knox Webb) dec. Luke Fraley (Baylor), 8-4
138 – No.3 Devin Badgett (Knox Webb) dec. No. 4 Dolan Eckhart (BGA), 9-4
145 – No.3 Alex Atchley (Baylor) dec. No.4 Connor Mitchell (BGA), 5-1
152 – No.3 Perry Matthews (MBA) major dec. Drew White (FRA), 12-0
160 – No.3 Charlie Morton (Knox Webb) pinned Ben Dotye (MBA), 3:18
170 – No.3 Clay Garstin (MBA) dec. No.2 Hayden Rowland (McC), 6-2
182 – No.4 Teddy Holloway (BGA) defeated No.2 Riley Westlake (Baylor), by forfeit
195 – No.3 Sam Reynolds (Baylor) pinned No.4 Matt Patterson (JP2), 2:47
220 – No.3 Adam Smith (McC) pinned No.4 Tyson Strickland (Friendship Christian), 0:57
285 – No.4 Ryan Jackson (Friendship Christian) dec. No.3 Riley Bodine (Baylor), 5-3
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net