Top-Ranked Soddy Daisy Advances To State Duals

Unbeaten Trojan Wrestlers Manhandle Alcoa, 69-9, To Advance

Friday, January 26, 2024
John Hunt

The Soddy Daisy Trojans didn’t waste any time taking care of business Friday afternoon at the Trojan Wrestling Arena, located on Highway 27 at the Steve Henry Athletic Complex.

Facing the Alcoa Tornado less than 24 hours after defeating Signal Mountain for the Region Duals title, the Trojans needed about 53 minutes to claim their spot in next Saturday’s TSSAA State Duals, which will be held in Franklin at the spacious Williamson County Agricultural Exposition Center.

The Trojans have had an incredibly successful season as they entered Friday’s match with 30 straight wins against no losses.

After posting an impressive 55-19 victory over second-ranked Signal Mountain on Thursday night, they were even more impressive on Friday afternoon as they waltzed to a 69-9 victory over Alcoa.

The Trojans won the state duals title back in 2012 and they’re hoping to get another next weekend. Coach Ulric Winesburgh just hopes that his guys can stay focused, motivated and mentally prepared as the stakes just keep getting higher.

“We’ve been trying to approach every match like it’s our last one, but I feel like we’re doing a really good job of staying humble,” the coach said following Friday’s romp.

“We showed up ready to wrestle today. We always have to come prepared to fight because there’s always someone wanting to beat us, so we’re doing our best to not overlook anyone.

“We just need to stay healthy, continue to prepare and just wait to see who we will see next Saturday,” the veteran coach said while watching some of his JV guys in action.

Alcoa entered Friday’s match with a record of 26 wins and eight defeats. It hasn’t been too many years ago that the Tornado went an entire season without winning a match before winning three the next.

Coach Brian Gossett remembers those dark days better than anyone and he’s just ecstatic that his guys are headed in the right direction. They didn’t have the firepower to match Soddy Daisy on Friday, but it’s amazing just how far they’ve come in a short period of time.

“That’s what you get when you wrestle the best team in the state,” Gossett said following the match.

“I thought the whole team effort was pretty good, but we just have to learn how to compete with them to be at this level. We were a little overmatched in a couple of places, but for us to be where we are today, battling for a spot in the state duals, is a really big deal,” Gossett nodded.

The match began at 157 pounds where Soddy Daisy’s Colin Bull got the ball rolling with a second-period pin. Tucker Ross and Logan Rawlinson both followed with first-period pins to put the Trojans up 18-0 before the crowd had gotten comfortable in their seats.

Darius Sudderth posted a 12-6 decision at 190 for Alcoa’s first win while teammate Kenny Harris followed with a first-minute pin at 215, but it was all Soddy Daisy the rest of the way as the Trojans finished with nine pins, including seven in the first period, in addition to one technical fall, one major decision and one forfeit.

Zander Duncan had the quickest pin as he got the slap on the mat from referee Jeff Rufulo in just 21 seconds. Ayden Jenkins was almost as quick in 33 seconds.

Other Soddy Daisy pins came from Jonathan Davis, Luke Myhan, Nate Moungsiharat and Jeremiah Wysong.

Drew Lewis posted a 13-5 major decision at 138 while Boogie Cosper wrapped up the action with a second-period technical fall at 150.

Tyson Flavin got six easy team points with a forfeit at 120.

SODDY DAISY 69, ALCOA 9

(Match began at 157 pounds)

106 – Luke Myhan (SD) pinned Drake Nutter, 1:13;

113 – Ayden Jenkins (SD) pinned Silas Ropert, :33;

120 – Tyson Flavin (SD) won by forfeit;

126 – Zander Duncan (SD) pinned Caleb Carrington, :21;

132 – Nate Moungsiharat (SD) pinned Blake Shults, 1:27;

138 – Drew Lewis (SD) major dec. Logan Jenkins, 13-5;

144 – Jeremiah Wysong (SD) pinned Nolan Henry, 5:06;