Fast Start Helps Bradley Roll Past McCallie, 48-22

Hixson Posts 50-30 Victory Over Walker Valley

Tuesday, December 3, 2019
John Hunt

Bradley and McCallie have probably won more state wrestling titles than any other two teams in Tennessee and you can bet your last buck these two teams will be right in the thick of the action when all is said and done come mid-February in Franklin.

These two teams squared off at McCallie’s Sports & Activities Center Tuesday evening. McCallie is gearing up for a state championship football game on Thursday, so the Blue Tornado was missing at least six key members of their starting lineup.

Bradley was also missing some key performers as well, but for the first dual meet of the season for both teams, the visiting Bears headed back to Cleveland with bragging rights for now after posting an impressive 48-22 victory.

Bradley won nine matches while McCallie won five. The Bears had four pins, three forfeits and two regular decisions while the Blue Tornado countered with two pins, one major decision and two regular decisions.

The match began at 195 pounds with Cody McDaniel's 6-2 decision getting the Bears off and running. With three forfeits and a pin from Ethan Wilson, Bradley's lead was 27-0 before McCallie won its first match.

“It’s early and there are a lot of guys out on both sides, so this wasn’t your typical Bradley-McCallie match,” said Bradley coach Ben Smith afterward.

“We made weight and showed up. We wrestled hard and put forth pretty good effort. I felt like we had the edge when I saw who they were missing, but we still have to get better on the mat. Even in the matches we lost, I liked our heart and hustle.

“I was really proud of my freshman Luke Belcher, who lost in triple overtime to a state champ named Jack Braman. We were right there with him and Luke is really disappointed to have lost, but he’ll be just fine. I’d love to see these two teams at full strength, but I can promise you it will be two totally different teams in February,” Smith added.

McCallie coach Jake Yost didn’t seem to be the least bit worried over the final score. He knows the season is long and that state championships aren’t won the first week of December. Despite the lopsided loss, the veteran coach still saw plenty of things to be happy about.

“We had at least five or six starters out, but that just created a good opportunity for some of our backups to get some mat experience,” Yost said later.

“They’ve had more matches than we have. We are nowhere close to where we’ll be in three months, but it’s a process and we all know that. We just have to make sure we’re in the right position to be able to do what makes us successful.

“I thought Coen Campbell did a good job at 182 as that was a good win for him. Rand Holtzclaw got a pin at 152 and I was happy about that. And Jack Braman won a big overtime match at 120 against a really good young kid. I’m just proud that Jack somehow found a way to win.

“Overall, I saw a lot of fight and hustle and that’s what our main goal was. And I can promise you that we’ll only get better as the season progresses,” Yost nodded.

Braman’s 4-2 overtime win at 120 was for sure one of the best matches. Braman scored the first takedown and led 2-0 after the first period. The score remained the same after the second before Belcher knotted the score with a reversal midway through the third.

Nobody scored in the first three overtime periods, but Braman took the up position in the fourth and earned two back points late for the win.

Another close match took place at 170 pounds where McCallie’s Alex Whitworth posted a come-from-behind 4-3 win over Tyrone McDonald.

After a scoreless first period, Whitworth took a 2-0 lead with a reverse in the second. McDonald then escaped and got a takedown for a 3-2 advantage with two minutes remaining. McDonald then chose the neutral position in the third period before Whitworth scored the winning takedown with 54 seconds left.

While McCallie won both of those two close matches, Holtzclaw and Campbell both had pins for the Blue Tornado. Emory Taylor added a 16-7 major decision at 126 for McCallie’s other win.

Bradley got pins from Wilson at 106, Gavin Hughes at 132, Seth Gregory at 138 and Benjamin Stansberry at 160. McDaniel and Carson Parker both scored regular decisions at 195 and 145 while Gavin Sewell, Austin McClure and Easton Lipsey all won with forfeits.

WALKER VALLEY DROPPED a 50-30 decision to Hixson in a three-way meet at Soddy Daisy Tuesday night.

The Mustangs had five pins in the match from Michael Teasley at 160, Caden Decker at 170, Heath Tanksley at 182, Kallum Lowe at 195 and Joshua Bramlett at 113, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Wildcats from winning.

BRADLEY 48, McCALLIE 22

(Match began at 195 Pounds)

106 – Ethan Wilson (Brad) pinned Ellis Haney, 1:41;

113 – Easton Lipsey (Brad) won by forfeit;

120 – Jack Braman (McC) dec. Luke Belcher, 4-2 in sudden death overtime;

126 – Emory Taylor (McC) major dec. Taron Patterson, 16-7;

132 – Gavin Hughes (Brad) pinned Ian Herring, :28;

138 – Seth Gregory (Brad) pinned Lance Ward, 1:06;

145 – Carson Parker (Brad) dec. Clayton Kushman, 7-5;

152 – Rand Holtzclaw (McC) pinned Austin Lynn, 3:31;

160 – Benjamin Stansberry (Brad) pinned Grayson Smith, 1:29;

170 – Alex Whitworth (McC) dec. Tyrone McDonald, 4-3;