After dropping the opening three matches, nationally-ranked Cleveland rallied for victory in a battle of defending TSSAA double state champs Friday as McCallie visited the Jones Wrestling Center.
Ranked as the top two overall teams in the latest state poll, the unbeaten Blue Raider's 36-23 come-from-behind dual meet victory wasn't secured until the third from the final match. The loss was the first dual meet defeat of the campaign for the Blue Tornado.
Cleveland has won the last seven TSSAA State Duals and eight Traditional championships, tying them with Bradley Central for 26 overall crowns atop the Tennessee public schools ranks.
McCallie, won both DII-AAA state titles last year, raising its overall total seven to got with 18 runner-up finishes, plus the Tornado have won nine State Traditionals crowns.
RAIDERS 36 TORNADO 23 The boys from the Chattanooga private-school powerhouse starting the battle strong with a pair of wins and a "walkover" for a 12-0 edge.
Starting at 138-pounds, third-ranked freshman Cainin Williams rallied fro a 10-0 deficit heading into the final period with fifth-ranked ninth-grader Kellen Sanders, before rallying for a 10-7 decision.
After Cleveland gave top-ranked freshman Dylan Vickers a forfeit at 144, the Tornado dropped fourth-ranked 157-pound junior Braden Ryan down a weight class to tangle with 11th-grader Blake Congdon, ranked fourth at 150, for a 6-3 decision win.
Raider freshman Gary High got the goose egg off the home side of the scoreboard with a 15-0 technical fall over fourth-ranked (150) Cooper Ledbetter, stopping the 157-pound battle at the 3:35 mark.
McCallie answered immediately with an 11-4 decision by sixth-ranked sophomore Zayden Morgan to push the difference back to double digits.
Ranked 11th nationally and No.
1 in the state, defending state champion and Air Force commit Cy Fowler started the Cleveland rally with a 18-1 technical fall at the 4:36 mark of the 175-pound match.
Freshman Rock Schurette followed with a 10-2 major decision to close the team gap to a single point.
Once again McCallie responded, this time with a overtime win by second-ranked sophomore Cannon Vailes over third-ranked junior Gabe Moore at 215.
After stalling penalty just before the regulation horn made it a 1-1 score, the duo went to the extra period, where Vailes was able to get the match's only takedown in 32 seconds.
The Raiders once again closed the gap to a solo point when defending state heavyweight champion Tyson Russell, ranked No. 1 in the state and 10th in the nation, held of for a 15-8 decision.
After trailing 12-3 at the first horn and 15-4 heading into the final frame, second-ranked junior Cooper Gentle posted a 4-0 run in the final two minutes to prevent bonus points.
Cleveland finally took the lead in the night's 10th match, when second-ranked freshman Ace Chittum earned a 19-3 technical fall over third-ranked Camden Ritchie just before the second period buzzer.
Defending state champ and top-ranked Jose Cordero followed by building a 15-2 "catch-and-release" lead before "sticking" his 113-pound opponent at the 2:34 mark.
Another exciting win secured the Raider victory as top-ranked defending state champ Chase Walker got a takedown at the final buzzer for a 4-1 decision over second-ranked junior Axel Ritchie at 120.
The teams traded 17-2 technical falls to conclude the night's action with top-ranked McCallie freshman Jaxon Lane, who won the DII 106-pound crown as an eighth-grader last February, taking the 126-pound match.
No. 1-ranked and defending state runner-up Zac Bosken did the same the Raiders at 132 to close out the "Battle of the Titans."
DUAL MEET
SUMMARY
McCallie vs. Cleveland
Friday, Jan. 17
at Jones Wrestling Center
BLUE RAIDERS 36
BLUE TORNADO 23
106 — Ace Chittum (C) tech fall Camden Ritchie, 15-0 4:00; 113 — Dominic Cordero (C) pinned Levi Scott, 2:34; 120 — Chase Walker (C) dec. Axel Ritchie, 4-1; 126 — Jaxon Lane (M) tech fall Colt Maughon, 17-2 5:50; 132 — Zac Bosken (C) tech fall Brody Connell, 17-2 4:54; 138 — Cainan Williams (M) dec. Kellen Sanders, 9-7; 144 — Dylan Villers (M) won by forfeit; 150 — Braden Ryan (M) dec. Blake Congdon, 6-3; 157 — Gary High (C) tech fall Cooper Ledbetter, 15-0 3:35; 165 — Zaydan Morgan (M) dec. Joshua Pulley, 11-4; 175 — Cy Fowler (C) tech fall Myley Belva, 18-1 4:36; 190 — Rock Shurette (C) major dec. Fischer French, 10-2; 215 — Cannon Voiles (M) dec. Gabe Moore, SV 1, 4-1; 285 — Tyson Russell (C) dec. Cooper Gentle, 15-8.