Baylor and Father Ryan with the championship trophy.
photo by Greg Davick
It was near dinnertime and inside McKenzie Arena pencils and paper were at a premium. College professors who teach probability across the street could have upped their hourly tutoring fee.
Fans of both schools – wearing Baylor red and Father Ryan purple – and even those with no dog in the hunt, were peering over shoulders and trading questions with strangers, all interested in the team score after each weight class final.
Four-time defending state wrestling champion Baylor and longtime foe Father Ryan battled for just past two hours. And when all questions were asked and answered and numerous scenarios determined, they were declared co-team champions.
Each team had 13 medalists, 275 points, a TSSAA first place trophy and their name in the record book.
Never before – not in any of the previous 47 state traditional tourneys – had teams shared the traditional championship trophy. There are no tie-breaker rules in traditional tournaments.
The closest previous finish was in 1999 as Baylor edging Ryan by one half point (217.5 to 217).
The two mat powers were co-leaders entering the championship finals – each with 255 points – and when the smoke had cleared co-champions were crowned.
Third place went to Christian Brothers (186.50 points, one champion) followed by Brentwood Academy (179, one champion), Montgomery Bell Academy (151, one champion) and McCallie (149, two champs) for the top six.
Baylor sent eight to the finals with a quartet of champions in Zach Watson (103), Stuart Doster (119), Bailey Whitaker (125) and Cole Hayes (130).
Ryan had six in the finals and five champions crowned in Patrick Marchetti (140), Wes Wesley (160), Kevin Mix (189), Sam Clanton (215) and Zach Hermann (285).
“I believe it is great to win a share of the title, but I am thrilled for our five champions,’’ said Father Ryan head coach Pat Simpson.
“It’s also a tribute to the guys such as Johnny Maurizi (103), Matt Brewer (125), Ryan Miller (152) and Michael Goodrum (171) who each lost tough semifinals matches and rebound to win twice this morning and take third.’’
That quartet contributed four pins, one major decision and three regular decisions, including a pair of one-point victories, in eight consolation matches for 40 points.
“We knew that we had to win both our matches with Baylor (140 and 160) and also get some help and both happened,’’ said Simpson.
That help came in the form of McCallie’s Hooker (112) and Christian Brothers’ George Harmon (152) who defeated their Baylor foes.
For Baylor, five guys in consolations produced a pair of thirds – none more important than freshman David Helton’s 2-0 win for third at 189 to tie Ryan at 255 ponts – one fourth and two, sixths for 23 points. Joe Scott (215) also took third.
“It was a true team effort and all 14 wrestlers scored points,’’ said Baylor coach Jim Morgan. “And it’s obvious that we needed every point.’’
The 10th Anniversary of the D-II tourney gave us …
…a well worn Wheaties cap … a four-timer who got off his back … youth served with eighth and ninth grade winners … fathers coaching sons and one to a title … an undefeated season gone lost … and one preserved (Watson, 45-0) …. Ryan’s big guns – The Purple Trilogy - came through … a fourth Doster winner … a shared trophy … a D-II record fifth straight team title … 10 of 14 No. 1 seeds win …
EIGHTH Graders: There have been four eighth graders in the past two years win titles ... In 2007 – Jeremy Miller (Greenback) and T.J. Duncan (McCallie) … In 2008 – Zach Watson (Baylor) and Michael Hooker (McCallie) … The first 8th grade winner was Jody Chamberlain (Tenn. School for the Blind) in 1963.
SIX Sisters: McCallie’s Michael Hooker (112) is the 7th of 9 children ... six older sisters and two younger brothers … maybe Michael (44-2) learned the art of successfully escaping from his opponent from his younger days when older sister, Lydia (a senior at Webb School), would sit on him in spur-of-the-moment matches … maybe he should let her borrow his first place medal …
FIVE Straight: Baylor set a D-II record with its fifth straight team title (2004-05-06-07-08) … McCallie won four (1990-91-92-93) … In D-I, Bradley Central has also won five (2001-02-03-04-05) …
FIVE Champions: A Father Ryan school record tied with five individual champions; also accomplished in 1998 and 2001 …
FOUR Titles: Baylor’s Bailey Whitaker has a flair for the dramatic as he fought off his back (and trailed 5-0) in the first period and pinned MBA’s Jeff Francis in 5:00 … Those six team points would prove to be crucial to the Red Raiders …Whitaker trailed Francis, 6-0, early in the 2007 finals (112 lbs) and rallied to win …
Other four-time champs are Martin Francis (Note Dame), Phillip Simpson (MBA), Matt Keller (Bradley Central), Jordan Leen (Baylor) and Ryan Scott (McCallie) ...
FOUR Dosters: Preceding Stuart Doster with first place state medals were David (uncle), Stokes (cousin) and Reed (brother) …
THREE Heavies: Father Ryan set a state record for winning the final three weight classes … Kevin Mix (189), Sam Clanton (215) and Zach Hermann (285) all won titles Saturday … No other school has ever won the final three weights in the same year … Ryan needed those 13 points – decision, major decision, decision – to tie Baylor for the team championship …
Father Coaching Son: Justin Cash of Brentwood Academy won the 152 pound class … His father, Rodney Cash, is head coach who wrestled at Brainerd …
On the D-I side, Greeneville head coach Bill Brimer was mat side as his son, Joel, won the 160-pound class … Coach Brimer, a member of the Tenn. chapter of the national wrestling hall of fame, has retired and is considering being a wrestling official …
Father/Son: Michael Hooker’s dad, Mike, was a state finalist from Father Ryan in 1974 … He lost to Hixson’s Steve Griffith, 3-2 ... In 1973, he lost in overtime to McCallie state champion, John Nelson, in the quarters … Mike was a member of the 1974 Father Ryan state championship team and later wrestled with Pat Simpson at Middle Tennessee State for current McCallie coach Gordon Connell ...
Breakfast of Champions: Michael Hooker wears the Breakfast of Champions cap –
Wheaties – but, he had pancakes for breakfast on Saturday … Former pro basketball star Michael Jordan might send him a TV commercial video complements of the cereal company … “You better eat your Wheaties.’’
2 of 5 ??: McCallie’s T.J. Duncan defeated Father Ryan’s Cody Austell, 11-4, for his second state championship … Upon having his hand raised, he put up fingers – two and then five – in hopes of winning five championships …
“It was harder to win (a state championship) this year than last,’’ said Duncan. “There is definitely a bull’s eye on my back.’’
Anchors Away: Baylor’s Bailey Whitaker (wrestling) and Brentwood Academy’s Jabaree Tuani (football) have received appointments to the Naval Academy …
D-II Championship Finals Recap
103: No. 1 Zach Watson (Baylor) major dec. No. 3 Blake Hataway (Christian Brothers), 12-3 …Watson (45-0), an eighth grader was voted the tournament Outstanding Wrester … was in control throughout … Hataway (26-9) is a 9th grader and beat the No. 2 seed to reach the finals.
112: No. 1 Michael Hooker (McCallie) dec. No. 3 Alex Manley (Baylor), 4-2 …
… Hooker (43-2), is also an eighth grader … led 4-0, until Manley scored late … smart on the mat and in the classroom with a 4.0 GPA … also defeated Manley, 9-0, during the season … Manley (44-4) was second at 103 in 2007 … beat defending champion Daniel Baucke in the semis, in a re-match of 2007 final …
119: No. 1 Stuart Doster (Baylor) vs. No. 3 Chase Brannon (Brentwood Academy)
… Three other Doster family members have won state titles … Brannon, a junior, is 98-29 for a career … Stuart was 45-6 on the season …
125: No. 1 Bailey Whitaker (Baylor) pinned No. 2 Jeff Francis (MBA), 5:00 …
… D-II Best Match … Francis was up 5-0 early on takedown and 3-point near fall .. Whitaker (3.8 GPA) later matched with a five spot of his own and later pinned Francis … Re-match of 2007 finals at 112 … Francis led 6-0 early, but Whitaker (43-5 and 3.8 GPA) rallied ... Whitaker has his fourth title ... will wrestle for the Naval Academy next year … Francis, a junior with a 3.8 GPA, won a state title at 103 pound class as a 9th grader … now a three-time finalist … Francis was 26-2 on the season and is 98-10 for a career and is a junior …
130: Cole Hayes (Baylor) pinned No. 4 Joel Stark (St. Benedict), 4:50 …
The consensus among coaches was that Hayes (45-3) was the best in the weight before the tournament started … and he proved them correct with a third period fall … No.1 seed Evan Barry (St.Andrews-Sewanee) failed to medal … In 2007, Stark (3.4 GPA) was 6th at this weight … Stark had 151 career wins …
135: No. 1 T.J. Duncan (McCallie) dec. No. 2 Cody Austell (Father Ryan), 11-4
… Duncan (37-4) has his second state title … Close early, but Duncan opened it up the third … Austell is 30-6 with a 3.8 GPA …
140: No. 1 Patrick Marchetti (Father Ryan) dec. No. 2 Chanse Hayes (Baylor), 7-5
… Marchetti (35-4) beat Hayes (40-6) for the second time; also had a 5-3 win in state duals finals … Marchetti has placed 3rd twice … has a 4.0 GPA …
145: No. 1 Justin Cash (Brentwood Academy) dec. No. 2 Duke Deloache (Ensworth), 3-2 …
… Justin’s dad, Rodney, is his coach … Justin (44-1; 134-11 for a career) has three medals in three years … Was state runner-up at 112 in 2006 … jumped five weights to 140 and took 3rd in 2007 … Deloache (4.0 GPA) was 108-18 for a career …
152: No. 1 George Harmon (Christian Brothers) dec. No. 2 Colton Popp (Baylor), 8-4
… Harmon (45-3) rallied late for the win …In 2007, Harmon was 2nd at 152 … Colton’s dad, Dr. Tom Popp, was 1975 state champion at Hixson and tourney OW… Tom is a C-I (canoeing) national champion ... Colton was 40-7 on the season …
160: No. 2 Wes Wesley major dec. No. 1 Wesley Idlette (Baylor), 14-3 …
… an important five team points for Ryan … Idlette (30-10) dec. Wesley, 8-3, in state duals finals …
171: No. 2 Max Jarrel (MBA) dec. No. 1 Brandt Campbell (Webb), 6-3 … MBA’s 28th state champ … Jarrell, a junior, is 30-12 for a career … Campbell (30-4) was 3rd in 2007 …
189: No. 1 Kevin Mix (Father Ryan) major dec. No. 2 Chad Hooker (Pope John Paul II), 11-3 …
Mix (60-6 for a career) scored late to attain the major dec. … In 2007, Mix was 2nd at 189 and Hooker was 5th at 171… Mix ends career at 60-6 … Hooker is 112-66 for a career
215: No. 3 Sam Clanton (Father Ryan) dec. No. 1 Jabaree Tuani (Brentwood Academy), 6-4 … lowest seed to win a state title this year … Clanton (83-12) beat a No. 1 and No. 2 seed in consecutive matches … Tuani (3.6 GPA) finished at 25-1 … will play football for the Naval Academy in the fall …
285: No. 1 Zach Hermann (Father Ryan) dec. No. 3 Andrew Severson (St. Benedict), 8-2 … Now a two-time champions, Hermann (26-1) needed a major dec. for the team title outright, but came up two points shy … has a 4.0 GPA … Severson (3.8 GPA) dec. No. 2 seed in semis.
Contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net