By dinner time Saturday in the Walker Valley High School gym, Bradley Central wrestlers held their 17th straight Region 3 wrestling championship plaque. But coach Steve Logsdon was far from a happy camper or coach.

The Bears advance 12, including nine region champions, to next week's state tournament, but Logsdon saw too much average wrestling and not much great wrestling five days before the Big Dance at McKenzie Arena, February 18-20.

"For some reason, we were flat out there today,'' said Logsdon with a bewildered look on his face. "A few of our guys wrestled real well, but for the most part it was a lack luster performance.

"I expect greatness and we have to perform at a higher level than today to win the state tournament.''

Asked if there was any comments or feedback from the wrestlers in the post-tournament meeting, Logsdon emphatically stated, "When I talk there is no discussion, unless I ask a question. It's not friend Logsdon. It is COACH Logsdon.''

The Bears easily outdistanced runner-up Cleveland (207 pts, 10 state qualifiers). Cookeville (139.50 and 8 SQ), Walker County (121 and 7 SQ) and McMinn County (59.50 and 2 SQ) round out the top five in the 10-team tournament.

Bradley champions were Tyler Pitts (103), Ethan Hames (112), Logan Biddy (125), Vine Aguilar (130), Bradley Colbaugh (135), David Graham (135), Chris Aguilar (145), Gabe Murphy (152) and Tucker Bolton (189).
Cleveland was next with three champions (Bailey Jones, 140, Max Ofori, 215, Adam Peters, 285), while Cookeville had a pair of winners (Joe Proctor, 160; John Salada, 171).
Best Match: 140 - Bailey Jones (Cleveland) defeated top seeded Randall Taylor (Bradley Central), 6-4.

The second seeded Jones had an opening period takedown, followed by a Randall escape and it stayed 2-1after four minutes. The two traded takedowns (Jones, 2) and escapes (Taylor, 3) in the third period and Jones had his upset. Taylor had beaten Jones in the regular season and the region duals.
OW: Outstanding Wrester went to Bradley's David Graham (135) who had first period pins in the semis and finals.

Tournament Awards:
Best Match: 140 - Bailey Jones (Cleveland) defeated top seeded Randall Taylor (Bradley Central), 6-4. The second seeded Jones had an opening period takedown, followed by a Randall escape and it was 2-1after four minutes. The two traded takedowns (Jones, 2) and escapes (Taylor, 3) in the third period and Jones had his upset. Taylor had beaten Jones in the regular season and the region duals.
OW: Outstanding Wrestler went to Bradley's David Graham (135) who had first period pins in the semis and finals.

Region 3 Freshman of the Year: Jesse Jones (Cleveland) ... Jones was the No. 3 seed at 171 and finished second to top seeded John Salada (Cookeville), 1-0 ... Jones upset No.2 seed Robert Vipond (Chattanooga Central), 5-3, in overtime in the semis.

Wrestling's Big Dance: The 49th state tournament is February 18-20 (Wednesday-Friday) at McKenzie Arena. Round of 32 and 16 will be held on Wednesday with a “ladies and gentlemen, it's four o'clock and it's time to wrestle'' declaration.
17 Straight: Bradley Central has won 17 straight region titles ... The last time the Bears did not win the region was 1992 when the Black and Gold finished second to Soddy Daisy.

Close Call: Defending champion Lindsey Aragon (Walker Valley) injured his left arm (dislocated elbow) in his 145 pound finals match with Bradley's Chris Aguilar. X-rays were negative on a break. According to coach Alan Morris, Aragon said he will wrestle in the state tournament, while the doctor said he might be able to wrestle.
Aragon injured his elbow when Aguilar scored a takedown near the edge of the mat in the first period. Aguilar won on injury default when the Mustang senior could not continue.

College Bound: Cleveland's Adam Peters (285, 40-0) is considering wrestling for Northern Idaho Junior College ...Peters is a two-time state medalist … 6th for Sonoraville (Ga.) in 2006 and 4th for Cleveland in 2008 ... Josh Disney (Bradley) hopes to wrestle at the next level and has talked with Carson-Newman ... Cookeville's Nick White is considering football or wrestling.

Best Dressed: McMinn County coach Dave Stoika wore dress slacks, shirt and tie during each of the three sessions of wrestling. He says he is "old school'' and wears at least dress slacks and shirt at matches and many times a tie.
"For me, how I dress is out of respect for the sport and the tournament,'' said Stoika. "If Kelsey Hampton (wrestling in the girls invitational) makes the finals on Friday, I'll sit in the chair matside in a suit and tie.''

The Proctor Siblings: Region 3 champion Joe Proctor (38-2), who beat defending region champ and third place state medalist Josh Disney in the finals, is the third in his family to wrestle for Cookeville coach Scott Cook. Joe's older brother, Justin, was a 2004 state medalist (5th at 140), and older sister, Hope, wrestled as a freshman and sophomore.
Asked if Hope ever beat him when they were in grammar school, Joe smiled and gave a "no comment.''
Proctor, who is ranked No.1 in the state at 160, has wrestled with teammates Ethan Henry (152) and John Salada (171) since they were at Avery Trace Middle School.
''With these three and Nick White (215), there are some wars in the practice room,'' said Cook, who started the Cookeville program 11 years ago.

Bradley's 12: Bradley Central had 12 in the finals, the most since coach Logsdon had 13 in the region finals in 2005 ... The Bears had 10 champs that year and sent all 14 to the state and were team champions.

Best Showing: Walker Valley and McMinn Couny finished fourth and fifth, respectivey, which ties the team's best finishes in the tournament.The Mustangs also will take a team record, seven wrestlers to the state.
Good Hospitality: A well run tournament from hospitailty to table workers to medal ceremonies ... This was Walker Valley's first tournament in the four-year history of the program ... WV coach Alan Morris mentioned the possibility of hosting a duals tournament in the near future.

Good Broadcast: The finals were streamcast live by www.clevelandwrestlingtv.com. Mike Creagan handled the play-by-play with Cleveland assistant coach Al Miller doing the color commentary. The producer was Grant Feerher working the 'jonesstreamcaster".

Region 3 Team Standings:
(Points and state qualifiers)
1. Bradley Central (267, 12) 2. Cleveland (207.50, 10) 3. Cookeville (139.50, 8) 4. Walker Valley (121, 7) 5. McMinn County (59.50, 2) 6. Cumberland County (53, 1) 7. Rhea County (44, 2) 8. Chattanooga Central (32.50) 9. Tyner (31.50) 10. McMinn Central (8).

Championship Finals
103 - (1) Tyler Pitts (Brad) dec. (2) Bryan Alvarado (Cleve), 7-0
112 - (1) Ethan Hames (Brad) tech. fall (3) Nick Fuller (Rhea), 5:49 (24-9)
119 - (1) Logan Bidddy (Brad) pinned (2) Marvin Lopez (Cleve), 1:58.
125 - (1)Vince Aguilar (Brad) pinned (2) Drae Moore (Cleve), 3:04
130 - (1) Bradley Colbaugh (Brad) dec. (2) Quinton Carter (Rhea), 5-3 OT (6:56)
135 - (1) David Graham (Brad) pinned (3) Sean Bowling (Cooke), :27
140 - (2) Bailey Jones (Cleve) dec. (1) Randall Taylor (Brad), 6-4
145 - (1) Chris Aguilar (Brad) defeated (2) Lindsey Aragon (WV), injury default
152 - (1) Gabe Murphy (Brad) dec. (2) Ethan Henry (Cooke), 5-4
160 - (1) Joe Proctor (Cooke) dec. (3) Josh Disney (Brad), 8-3
171 - (1) John Salada (Cooke) dec. (2) Jesse Jones (Cleve), 1-0
189 - (1) Tucker Bolton (Brad) vs. (2) Chip Norwood (Cleve), 1-0
215 - (1) Max Ofori (Cleve) dec. (2) Nick White (Cooke), 3-2
285 - (1) Adam Peters (Cleve) dec. (3) Cody Epperson (Brad), 2-1 40-0
Consolation Finals
103 – (3) Jerry Keeling (MMCo) pinned Deangelo James (Tyner), 1:37
112 – (2) Tony Kazy (WV) dec. Brandon Strickland (Cleveland), 3-1
119 – (3) Adam Gordy (WV) tech. fall (4) Jacob Kilby (Cumb) (5:12) 24-9
125 - (3) Duane Wynn (Cumb) dec. (4) Zach Wilson (CCen), 13-11
130 – (3) John Birdwell (Cooke) pinned (4) Travis Dias (WV), 3:00
135 – (2) Cole Dias (WV) dec. (4) Wes Hampton (Cleve), 6-1
140 - (4) Bart Brown (Cooke) dec. Jeremy Aytes (Cumb), 7-2
145 – (4) Chris Epperson (Cooke) pinned Anthony Barnes (Cumb), 1:40
152 – Will Moreland (Cleve) major dec. (3) Robby Phillips (Cumb), 11-2
160 – (2) Omar Garcia (Cleve) tech. fall Chris Whitney (MMCo), 5:00 (22-6)
171 – (4) Brent Christie (WV) dec. (2) Robert Vipond (CCen) (4), 4-2
189 - (3) David Bradford (MMCo) pinned Jermichael Brewster (Tyner), 2:27
215 – (3) Isaiah Simpson (WV) major dec. (4) Devin McCulley (Brad), 13-5
285 – (20 Dylan Mills (WV) pinned (4) Antonio Brooks (CCen), 4:27
officials: Mike Craft, Don Elsea, David Heffington, Jeff Rufolo

Contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.org