FRANKLIN, Tenn. — (UPDATED) The stage is set for the Saturday finale of the 2023 version of the Tennessee State Wrestling Championships and unless the Rapture occurs between Friday night and Saturday afternoon, the Cleveland Blue Raiders are lined up to win their sixth consecutive state championship..
Cleveland leads the field headed into the final day of competition with 173 points.
The Bradley Central Bears made up considerable ground during Friday's championship semifinals and consolation rounds, but still sit in third place with 120 points. Summit sits between the Bears and Blue Raiders with 136.5 points.
Dobyns-Bennett (113 points) and Maryville (70) round out the top five.
“It's been a good day, so far,” said Blue Raiders head coach Joey Knox. “We had eight guys in the semis and got seven of those though. The one was a questionable loss, but it is what it is.
Cleveland will send seven Blue Raiders to the mat in Saturday's finals while the Bears will field four wrestlers.
Only one head-to-head battle for gold will take place with Bradley's Bryson, Terrell, a two-time medalist, and Cleveland's Zac Bosken, a 2022 medal winner, looking to stand atop the podium.
Cleveland's Jose Cordero will go against 2022 medalist Sebron Colson, of Blackman at 106 pounds. 2022 medalist Chase Walker will battle Mason Jakob from Dobyns-Bennett at 113.
“I have four in the finals, that's pretty good, and five in the semis. I've got six medalists. I'm happy for them, that's all I can really say right now,” said Bears head coach Ben Smith. “I'm frustrated in some areas and some situations. We've got to figure out why we're just now winning big matches and not winning the close ones. It's too late in the year to do that right now.
Three-time Cleveland medal winner Bentley Ellison will be looking for goal against Jarvis Little, from Summit, who medaled in 2022 in the 126-pound championship.
Bradley Central's Ethan Lipsey, a two-time state medalist, will take on Damen Pullen, of Collierville at 132.
In the 138 pound title match, Landon Desselle (Summit) and Connor Warnock (Wilson Central) will match up.
At 145, Bears' wrestler Luke Belcher, another two-time medal winner, will be wrestling against three-time medalist Mason Sells, of Blackman. Cleveland's two-time medal winner, Logan Fowler, will take to the mat against another two-time medalist in Summit's Finley Jameson.
Nolensville will sen Tre McTory up against 2022 145-pound champion Max Norman, of Dobyns-Bennett.
A pair of 2022 medalist will fight it out for the 170-pound championship as Cleveland's Luke Szymborski and Brentwood's Wyatt Gibbs prepare to do battle.
Bradley Central's Knox Watson will look to deny two-time medalist Aiden Brenot (Clarksville) at 182 pounds.
The Raiders' Tyson Russel will battle defending champion Devon Medina, of Science Hill, in the 195-pound bout.
At 220 pounds, Wilson Central's two-time medal winner Noah Todd will face 2022 medalist Garrett Crowder from Dobyns-Bennett. In the finale, Science Hill's Keimel Redford and Maryville's Hayden McDonald will be looking for goald at 285.
In the chase for third place Cleveland's Kaden Rice will take on Oakland's Landon Beasly in a 132-pound matchup.
“Kaden Rice is going for third place He got pinned by that kid (he beat in the consolation semis) earlier in the year. He's had a great tournament,” said Knox of his 132 pounder. “He battled all the way back. He lost his first match and battled back for third place. That really speaks to his character.
2022 medalist Cy Fowler fought back from a loss in the semifinals and will go for a third-place medal against Clarkville's Jack Stein.
“He (Fowler) lost in the semifinals, to an official,” said Knox.
“We're looking forward to tomorrow. It's been a good day today and we're looking to keep it going.”
Bradley Central has one Bear in the hunt for third as Manuel Rincon will face off against Wilson Central's Chase Fisher.
“I hate it for those kids who's senior year came to an end without a medal and the kids' year is going to come to an end tomorrow. We're going to focus on those that are here right now and be positive for them,” Smith said.
“We've got a chance for four state champions tomorrow and a chance for a third. Six medalists isn't going to win it in this day and age. We knew we needed seven or eight, eight or nine and we fell short. We're just going to make the best of it. I'm happy for those who are here and heart broken for those who are not. We'll start the 366 days journey to being back here next year.”
Walker Valley had one Mustang looking to make the podium. The Mustangs' Christian Wilson battled back after a loss to the Blood Round, but fell short in his bid for a medal
“Heading into the tournament, we felt like each of our qualifiers could place. That’s not the case but we feel like we have to look at the positives and build on those for next year,” said Mustangs head coach Al Morris.
“Christian Wilson took an early loss but battled all the way back to the Blood Round. That’s hard to do. It takes guts. Then to lose a close match knowing you're so close to being on the podium. That will sting for a while, but we expect that to drive Christian this offseason.”
Morris also said said the Mustangs have much to build on as Walker valley gains experience and maturity on the mat.
You hate it for a guy like senior David Cantrell, who had a solid season and had big expectations for this weekend. Things just didn’t unfold that way. David wrestled tough. The effort is never an issue with David. He leaves it all out on the mat. He won’t be defined by this tournament. Being a finalist in the region and the sectional tournament were big accomplishments he should be proud of,” Morris said.
“Even though Jeremiah Townsend isn’t on the podium, he made big steps at this tournament. He’s only a sophomore and a second year wrestler with a ton of upside. He’s a hard worker and a smart kid. Every placer at 285 this year is a senior and he knows he was close. We expect big things from Jeremiah in the near future.”
Girls
As with the Blue Raiders, the Cleveland girls have solid hold on their bid for a state championship with a 126-118 lead over Rossview.
Clarksville hold third place with 102 points in front of Riverdale with 80. Montgomery Central stands in fifth spot with 76.
Cleveland will also be well represented in the girls championships as four Lady Raiders look to stand atop the podium.
At 107 pounds, Cleveland's Makya Parker will take on 2022 medalist Mila Risner, of Oakland. Piper Fowler, who medaled in 2022 for the Lady Raiders, will go against another 2022 medal winner in Maryville's Ella Murphey. At 235 pounds, Lady Raider Diamond Young will be looking to dethrone 2022 champion Sha'Niayha Wysinger, of Clarksville.
One Bradley Central Bearette will be wrestling for a championship at 114 pounds when Nataleigh Shane goes against Clarkville's three-time medal winner Ella-Lina Gonzalez.
Cleveland's Senna Grassman will be shooting for a third-place medal against 2022 114-pound champion Melanie Val of St. Andrew's-Sewanee.
(Email Richard Roberts at richardvol55@yahoo.com)