FRANKLIN - Saturday night at the Williamson County Ag Expo Center, top-ranked Father Ryan used a dominate light weight lineup (26 points in six weight classes) to lead the Purple Irish to a 36-21 win against two-time defending state duals champ Baylor here.
Quick Start: The Purple Irish won the first eight weights for a 36-0 and Baylor needed to win the final six matches by fall for a tie.
Ryan clinched the team title when Baylor's Michael Murphy won by a major decision and not via pin at 145 (ninth match) and the purple-clad boys from Nashville had their title - eighth in school history and first since 2010 - proving they are the best dual team in the state. Baylor won the final six weights, including a pin by Khamari Whimper (182).
Father Ryan opened with a major decision (Ben Stacey, 220) and a pin (Jeremy Darvin, 285) for a 10-0 lead after two matches and then the Irish fans watched as the light weights pushed the lead to 36-0 with the aformentioned 26 points.
Ryan secured back-to-back pins from Jeremy Darvin (285) and James Killian (106) and tech falls from Christian Simpson (113) and Eli King (138).
Champions in the Lineup: Ryan’s lineup showed six returning state champs to three for Baylor (seniors Michael Murphy, Ryan Parker, Copper Reiniche). Ryan’s champs are Christian Simpson (Jr.), Raymond Eason (Jr.), Trey Chalifoux (Sr.), Kirby Simpson (Sr.), Eli King (Jr.) and Ben Stacey (Sr.).
"A couple of keys to the win was winning the first two weight as Ben Stacey won at 220 and Jeremy (Darvin) getting a pin at 285," said Father Ryan coach Pat Smpson.
"I am proud of our guys as we wrestled better than we did two weeks ago (lost 46-20)," said Baylor coach Ben Nelson.
"The match started at 220 which was to their advantage, but you have to give them credit as they wrestled well."
Overall, Ryan had the advantage in wins (8-6) and bonus points(12-4).
Simply The Best: As Ryan wrestlers listened to coach Simpson's championship comments, the song Simply the Best by Tina Turner was played over the loud speaker for the best team in the state.
"We are so strong in our first six weights and we knew we were favored in nine matches (won eight) and just had to take care of business," said coach Simpson.
Kudos to Hooker: "We had planned to forfeit to Baylor's Ryan Parker in the final match, but George Hooker said he would wrestle him and losing by a regular decision speaks volumes for his character and heart. he easily could have told me he didn't want to wrestle Parker."
And Hats off to Bradley Central and coach Ben Smith and Red Bank and coach Shane Turner for taking home the state duals crowns. First state championship for each as a head coach.
Father Ryan 36, Baylor 21
220 – Ben Stacey (Ryan) major dec. Tyree Tolliver, 17-9 … Father Ryan, 4-0
285 – Jeremy Darvin (Ryan) pinned Cooper Reiniche, :48 … Ryan, 10-0
106 – James Killian (Ryan) pinned Clayton Pettway, :41 … Ryan, 16-0
113 – Christian Simpson (Ryan) tech fall Haden Hartline, 15-0 … Ryan, 21-0
120 – Trey Chalifoux (Ryan) major dec. Trevor Milling, 12-3 … Ryan, 25-0
126 – Raymond Eason (Ryan) dec. Andy Atchley, 8-3 …. Ryan, 28-0
132 – Kirby Simpson (Ryan) dec. Jack Reynolds, 5-0 … Ryan, 31-0
138 – Eli King (Ryan) tech fall Austin Atchley, 18-3 … Ryan, 36-0
145 – Michael Murphy (Bay) major dec. Daniel Wesley,18-6 … Ryan, 36-4
152 – Mason Reiniche (Bay) dec. Jake Wilson, 9-5 … Ryan, 36-7
160 - Caleb Powell (Bay) dec Robert Garston, 5-1 … Ryan, 36-10
170 – Riley Wetstlake (Bay) dec. Andrew Wesnofske, 4-3 … Ryan, 36-13
182 – Khamari Whimper (Bay) pinned Patrick Clements, 2:54 … Ryan, 36-19
195 – Ryan Parker (Bay) dec. George Hooker, 7-1 … Ryan, 36-22
Ryan 36, Baylor 21
- 1 team point against Baylor
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net