Hixson's Devotis McCurdy works on a take down against Alcoa's Lance Williams in the 285 weight class championship during the Region 2-A/AA tournament at Hixson Saturday afternoon. Williams eventually won the match with a pin at the 4:20 mark, but Hixson won the region championship. amassing 249 points with seven individual championships.
photo by Dennis Norwood
The Hixson Wildcats won their third straight Region 2-A/AA wrestling tournament at Hixson Saturday afternoon and head coach Garrick Hall was pleased for the most part as he’s more concerned about what happens at the traditional state tournament next weekend in Franklin than winning another region title.
The Wildcats, who came back strong last Saturday to claim third in the state duals, qualified all 14 of their individuals while scoring 249 points.
Runner-up Alcoa had 10 qualifiers and 169.5 points while Upperman was third with 98. Central and Polk County rounded out the top five teams with 86 and 75 points, respectively.
“We did okay, but I’m tired and ready to go home,” said Hall after a long day as not only the tournament director but leader of the Wildcats.
“We’ve got to show up next week when it really counts. We were able to win this tournament for the third straight year, which is one of our goals every season, and I feel like we have a legitimate shot of being in the top three next Saturday.
“For the most part, I’m pleased with how we wrestled today. I was really proud of Caleb Miller at 138 as he got pinned by that Central kid earlier in the season and he wasn’t even a starter in November, but he really stepped up for us today,” Hall added.
Alcoa coach Brian Gossett was happy with how his Tornadoes performed.
“We qualified 10 of the 11 we brought and had six region champs, so that’s pretty good, but Hixson showed what kind of depth they have today. We’re still trying to catch them. I like how we fought today and I’m looking forward to next weekend,” Gossett smiled.
Hixson led the way with seven individual champs, including 132-pound Jeremiah Shackleford, who was named Outstanding Wrestler for the lower weights after improving to 48-8 for the season with two pins Saturday, including a 44-second win in the finals.
Alcoa’s Ryan Wimbley, who won the 152-pound title with a 10-4 decision, was the Outstanding Wrestler for the upper weights.
Other winners for the Wildcats included Trevor Lewis at 120, Vladimir Hollingshead at 126, Miller at 138, Chris Rogers at 145 and Parrish Pacetti at 220.
Kaleb Mayes (152), Kobie Smith (160) and Devotis McCurdy (285) all finished second for the Wildcats while Chris Lagorio (106), Jonas Vandergriff (170), Jaheem Culberson (182) and Silas Minton (195) all claimed third.
Alcoa’s six champions included Gordon McCall at 106, Ryan Wimbley at 152, Anthony Jones at 160, William Carter at 170, Kambell Brown at 195 and Lance Williams at 285.
The only other champion was Cumberland County’s Grayson Hale, who had a second-period pin at 182.
Perhaps the most impressive individual of the tournament was Alcoa heavyweight Williams. He’s just a 14-year-old freshman, but he improved to 31-0 with a pin over Hixson’s McCurdy, the third time he’s pinned the Hixson senior, who is now 41-9 for the season.
FINAL TEAM SCORES: 1. Hixson 249; 2. Alcoa 169.5; 3. Upperman 98; 4. Central 86; 5. Polk Co. 75; 6. Greenback 45; 7. Sale Creek 38; 8. Cumberland Co. 31; 9. Tyner 22; 10. Brainerd 18; 11. Livingston Academy 9; 12. Kingston 0.
CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
106 – Gordon McCall (Alcoa) major dec. Tyler Tolzman (Polk Co.), 17-4;
113 – Conner Leffew (Hixson) won by forfeit over Tyler Barham (Alcoa);
120 – Trevor Lewis (Hixson) pinned Eli Norwood (Sale Creek), :28;
126 – Vladimir Hollingshead (Hixson) pinned Wyatt Coleman (Sale Creek), 4:19;
132 – Jeremiah Shackleford (Hixson) pinned Garrett Shockley (Greenback), :44;
138 – Caleb Miller (Hixson) pinned Jack Neely (Central), 1:57;
145 – Christopher Rogers (Hixson) major dec. Jordan Wright (Central), 12-3;
152 – Ryan Wimbley (Alcoa) dec. Kaleb Mayes (Hixson), 10-4;
160 – Anthony Jones (Alcoa) dec. Kobie Smith (Hixson), 6-4;
170 – William Carter (Alcoa) pinned Caleb West (Upperman), 5:52;
182 – Grayson Hale (Cumberland Co.) pinned Aaron Tipton (Alcoa), 2:29;
195 – Kambell Brown (Alcoa) pinned Zachary Stewart (Upperman), :44;
220 – Parrish Pacetti (Hixson) pinned Donavyn Walker (Central), 2:19;
285 – Lance Williams (Alcoa) pinned Devotis McCurdy (Hixson), 4:20.
CONSOLATION FINALS FOR THIRD PLACE
106 – Chris Lagorio (Hixson) pinned Manuel Cory (Greenback), :45;
113 – No match; only two in weight class;
120 – Ryan Leonard (Upperman) major dec. Noah Pinion (Central), 14-2;
126 – Joshua Emerson (Polk Co.) won by forfeit over Jacob Watkins (Upperman);
132 – Devin Harwell (Alcoa) pinned Jacob Speights (Polk Co.), 2:26;
138 – Patrick Lair (Upperman) pinned Sasha Warner (Polk Co.), 4:55;
145 – Brandon Colon (Alcoa) dec. Jerrel Espy (Polk Co.), 9-7;
152 – Jacob Wright (Central) pinned Demetri Lovick (Tyner), 2:51;
160 – Randall Gray (Central) won by forfeit over Chase Sellers (Greenback);
170 – Jonas Vandergriff (Hixson) pinned Ricardo Cancino (Tyner), 2:12;
182 – Jaheem Culberson (Hixson) pinned Nic Fields (Upperman), 1:35;
195 – Silas Minton (Hixson) pinned Logan Caldwell (Greenback), 2:42;
220 – Xavier Wood (Brainerd) pinned Romeo Candelario (Upperman), 1:12;
285 – Ben Stone (Polk Co.) pinned Jakob Hicks (Cumberland Co.), 1:22.
(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)