Signal Mountain Wrestlers Win Vandergriff Duals

Eagles Rally Late To Defeat Cleveland JVs In Exciting 39-32 Championship Match

Saturday, November 27, 2021
John Hunt

The Signal Mountain Eagles are the champions of the 2021 Vandergriff Duals wrestling tournament held at Hixson Middle School Saturday.

The Eagles won their pool with wins over Chattooga, Chattanooga Christian and the Bradley JVs to earn a spot in the championship match against the Cleveland JVs, who advanced with pool wins over Hixson, James Clemons and Northwest Whitfield.

It was a battle of runs in the championship match where Signal Mountain won the first four matches before Cleveland won six straight. And with the outcome still on the line, the up-and-coming Eagles won the final four matches to prevail by a 39-32 final.

“I couldn’t be any more proud of these kids,” said first-year Signal Mountain head coach Houston Clements after his team won its first tournament of the season.

“I thought we won the takedown battles and we were just in better shape than most, but we really battled with a lot of heart today. I really liked our effort and energy. We’ve really been working hard in recent months and it paid off today, but having three Uhorchuk brothers in the same lineup is like having three Michael Jordans on your team.

“They were the difference today,” Clement said while pictures were being taken and congratulatory pats on the back were being exchanged.

Cleveland coach Joey Knox knows just a little bit about winning big tournaments as his Blue Raiders are the four-time defending state champs for the duals and traditional tournaments. He was just happy to get some of his younger kids on the mat for some valuable experience.

“It was a great day for our JV guys as we got better in a lot of areas,” Knox began.

“A bunch of guys bumped up to heavier weights, but I’m proud of our guys as this is the first time to be in the final of this tournament. Hard work is paying off, but I’m really proud of the heart and fight that my guys showed. We wrestle these guys again in January and the results might be a little different then,” the veteran Cleveland coach concluded with a smile.

Noah Shriner gave the Eagles an early 3-0 lead with a 6-0 decision at 126 pounds to start the match.

Teammates Jackson Owens and Ian Bryant followed with pins before a forfeit to John McPherson at 145 gave Signal Mountain a 21-0 lead.

Cleveland then won the next six matches, including pins from Cy Fowler at 152, Lucas Szymborski at 170, David Giraldo at 182 and Stonewall Shurette at 220 while Dylan Harrold won by decision at 160 and Juden Aceredo by forfeit at 195.

Shurette’s pin put the Blue Raiders ahead by 13 points, setting the stage for wins in the final four matches for the Eagles.

Daniel Odom got the ball rolling in the right direction with a first-period pin at 285 to make it 33-26 before the talented Uhorchuk brothers won the final three.

Joseph, who is just an eighth grader, started with a 9-1 major decision while freshman Ethan put the Eagles back on top with an 8-4 decision at 113. And then in the last match of the day, Caleb posted a first-period pin for the final seven-point margin of victory.

Ethan and Caleb are both reigning state champions and Caleb committed to wrestle at West Point where older brother Daniel is a freshman.

Both Signal Mountain and Cleveland were penalized a team point for having a wrestler pull his singlet down off his shoulders before exiting the mat.

The Bradley JVs defeated Hixson for third place in Saturday’s tournament.

SIGNAL MOUNTAIN 39, CLEVELAND JVs 32

(Match began at 126 Pounds)

106 – Joseph Uhorchuk (SM) major dec. Zac Bosken, 9-1;

113 – Ethan Uhorchuk (SM) dec. Chase Walker, 8-4;

120 – Caleb Uhorchuk (SM) pinned Cole Dyer, 1:10;

126 – Noah Shriner (SM) dec. Hudson Sims, 6-0;

132 – Jackson Owens (SM) pinned Reggie Tumlin, 4:44;

138 – Ian Bryant (SM) pinned Roman York, :52;

145 – John McPherson (SM) won by forfeit;