FRANKLIN, Tenn. – The Soddy Daisy Trojans had a memorable season a year ago when they went unbeaten in dual meets and concluded a great run with a state duals title then then a traditional title a couple of weeks later.
That winning just continues for the Trojans as they wrapped up another unbeaten campaign with their second straight unbeaten season, improving to 19-0 for the season with their 52nd straight dual meet win in a 39-37 victory over the Signal Mountain Eagles.
It really wasn’t that close as the Trojans built a commanding 39-19 lead before forfeiting the final three weight classes after the title had been secured.
“Holy Cow! What a day,” said Soddy Daisy coach Ulrich Winesburgh following his team’s third win of the day.
“We were able to save some points in key spots, but we had guys step across the board. We had a medical emergency shortly before our warmups began where one of my guys had to take a quick trip to the hospital. Thankfully, he’s going to be okay, but that was a major ordeal right before the championship match was to begin.
“All of my guys did what we asked. Signal Mountain is a good team and we had to get things done before we faced the Uhorchuk brothers. But these guys have worked extremely hard all season and I’m really proud of what they accomplished here today,” Winesburgh nodded.
Signal Mountain coach Houston Clements knows just how tough it is to win a state title as his Eagles did just that three years ago when they defeated Greeneville in the finals. He also knew that his team would have to beat Soddy Daisy if they were to win their second title.
“I thought we wrestled great all day today, especially in tonight’s match against Soddy Daisy,” he said after his team’s record dropped to 23-3, two of those losses coming against Soddy Daisy.
“We have absolutely nothing to hang our heads about. Hats off to Soddy Daisy as they have a great team. I knew coming in that we would wrestle well and I’m so proud of Jackson Davis at 190 pounds as he came in and pinned the top-ranked guy in the first minute.
“We knew it would be a huge challenge for us and that we’d have to earn it. I thought we had them right where we wanted them, but they rose to the occasion with their backs against the wall,” Clements added.
There were only five pins in that final match with Soddy Daisy getting three and Signal Mountain two.
Boogie Cosper (157), Luke Myhan (113) and Ayden Jenkins (120) got falls for the Trojans while Brenden Sanko (150) and Davis got pins for the Eagles.
Signal Mountain had the early lead following Sanko’s pin. Davis pin put the Eagles back up 15-11 before Pete Laxton’s technical fall at 215 gave the lead back to Soddy Daisy. A forfeit to Jonathan Davis at 285 stretched the Trojan lead to 22-15 and Soddy Daisy then won the next three matches to clinch the title.
The entire Soddy Daisy team and cheering section erupted in celebration when assistant coach Shane Turner walked away from the scoring table after being sure his team’s lead was safe.
Soddy Daisy had advanced to the finals with a win over Anderson County in the quarterfinals by a 40-27 margin and then beating Station Camp 40-31 before facing Signal Mountain.
The Eagles had advanced to the finals with wins over Tullahoma 44-29 in the quarterfinal and then Pigeon Forge in the semis by a 47-26 final.
D-I, CLASS A CHAMPIONSHIP
SODDY DAISY 39, SIGNAL MOUNTAIN 37
(Match started at 150 Pounds)
106 – Luke Higdon (SM) major dec. David Blazek, 15-1;
113 – Luke Myhan (SD) pinned Abram Trone, :44;
120 – Ayden Jenkins (SD) pinned Oliver Green, 5:35;
126 – Nathaniel Moungsiharat (SD) won by technical fall over Hunter Poe, 3:53;
132 – JoJo Uhorchuk (SM) won by forfeit;
138 – Christian Davis (SM) won by forfeit;
144 – Ethan Uhorchuk (SM) won by forfeit;
150 – Brenden Sanko (SM) pinned Finn Dease, 2:43;
157 – Boogie Cosper (SD) pinned Noah Clingan, :43;
165 – Jeremiah Wysong (SD) won by technical fall over Asher Cone, 4:00;
175 – Mason Lillard (SM) dec. Fisher Higgins, 4-3;
190 – Jackson Davis (SM) pinned Nathan Wade, :44;
215 – Pete Laxton (SD) won by technical fall over Mason Tate , 5:41;
285 – Jonathan Davis (SD) won by forfeit.
CLASS A QUARTERFINALS
SODDY DAISY 40, ANDERSON CO. 27
(Match Began at 138 Pounds)
106 – David Blazek (SD) pinned Christopher Baldwin, 2:34;
113 – Luke Myhan (SD) won by technical fall over Aiden Reed, 16-0;
120 – Zedediah Hulet (AC) won by forfeit;
126 – Tripp Haire (AC) won by forfeit;
132 – Edmund Presson (AC) won by forfeit;
138 – Max Wolfley (AC) dec. Jake Laxton, 6-3;
144 – Hayden Harrell (AC) dec. William Holloway, 7-3;
150 – Finn Dease (SD) won by forfeit;
157 – Boogie Cosper (SD) won by technical fall over Evan Previtt, 17-1;
165 -- Colton Meister (SD) dec. Isaiah Tuckey, 10-4;
175 – Jeremiah Wysong (SD) won by technical fall over Joe Rygelski, 15-0;
190 – Nathan Wade (SD) major dec. Eli Bratton, 12-3;
215 – Joshua Bingham (AC) dec. Pete Laxton, 3-0;
285 – Jonathan Davis (SD) pinned Robert Blevins, :25.
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN 44, TULLAHOMA 29
106 – Abram Trone (SM) pinned Jordan Frye, 3:40;
113 – Luke Higdon (SM) pinned Sayvion Surles, 3:37;
120 – Oliver Green (SM) major dec. Cael Treuhaft, 13-0;
126 – Kilvon Butler (Tul) dec. J.P. Brennan, 10-4;
132 – Zachary Murphy (Tul) won by technical fall over Khan Flick, 17-2;
138 – JoJo Uhorchuk (SM) pinned Grayson Hartman, :45;
144 – Brenden Sanko (SM) won by injury default over Lucas Willette;
150 – Ethan Uhorchuk (SM) pinned Nolan Stroop, :22;
157 – Corbin Avans (Tul) pinned Noah Clingan, :41;
165 – Kameron Stafford (Tul) won by technical fall over Asher Cone, 17-2;
175 – Mason Lillard (SM) major dec. Hunter Roberts, 14-2;
190 – Jackson Davis (SM) pinned Chandler Kile, :30;
215 – Carson Avans (Tul) major dec. Mason Tate, 8-0;
285 – Robert Tatum (Tul) won by injury default over Zander Moody.
CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINALS
SODDY DAISY 40, STATION CAMP 31
(Match began at 144 pounds)
106 – David Blazek (SD) won by forfeit;
113 – Luke Myhan (SD) major dec. Nathaniel Graham, 13-4;
120 – Aiden Oswald (SC) won by forfeit;
126 – Brodie Jaeckel (SC) won by forfeit;
132 – Brycen Vanstory (SC) won by forfeit;
138 –Patrick York (SC) won by forfeit;
144 – William Holloway (SD) dec. Thomas York, 11-9;
150 – Boogie Cosper (SD) pinned John Worrell, :56;
157 – Lincoln Rich (SC) dec. Colton Meister, 13-6;
165 – Jeremiah Wysong (SD) pinned Mike Welty, 3:49;
175 – John Pettis (SC) major dec. Fisher Higgins, 12-2;
190 – Nathan Wade (SD) dec. Samuel Beck, 7-5;
215 – Pete Laxton (SD) won by forfeit;
285 – Jonathan Davis (SD) won by forfeit.
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN 47, PIGEON FORGE 26
106 – Abram Trone (SM) pinned Jayden Patel, 2:38;
113 – Luke Higdon (SM) pinned Alexander Srejma, :30;
120 – Oliver Green (SM) pinned Ozodbek Ruziboev, 2:53;
126 – Adam Perez (PF) won by forfeit;
132 – JoJo Uhorchuk (SM) won by forfeit;
138 – Double forfeit;
144 – Maddox Reed (PF) major dec. Brenden Sanko, 11-1;
150 – Ethan Uhorchuk (SM) won by technical fall over Max Cable, 18-1;
157 – Jonathan Garcia (PF) won by technical fall over Noah Clingan, 19-2;
165 – Wyatt Howard (PF) won by technical fall over Mason Lillard, 18-3;
175 – Jackson Davis (SM) pinned Ayden Hood, 1:20;
190 – Mason Tate (SM) won by disqualification over Dawson Trentham;
215 – Zander Moody (SM) won by disqualication over Josiah Kelly;
285 – Javier Mate (PF) won by forfeit.
(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)