It’s pretty much turned into a two-team race in the Class A traditional state wrestling tournament being held at the Williamson County Agricultural Expostion Center in Franklin.
The Soddy Daisy Trojans, who wrapped up their second straight unbeaten season with a second State Duals title two weeks ago, are within shouting distance of claiming their second straight traditional title as they sent six individuals to the championship round and still have five alive in consolation rounds. It’s no surprise that they are head and shoulders ahead of second-place Signal Mountain as the Trojans finished Friday’s action with 153.5 points while the Eagles are a ways back with 99.
Pigeon Forge is third with 77.5 while Station Camp and Anderson County complete the top five teams with 72 and 61 points, respectively.
Soddy Daisy coach Ulric Winesburgh could not have drawn a more perfect script with pen and paper as his team had a near-flawless first day. Their opening round was their toughest as they won eight of 12 while seven advanced in the quarterfinals and six of seven in the semis to Saturday’s championship rounds. Add those other five still in the consolations and the Trojans have pretty much put an exclamation mark on this tournament.
“My guys have worked hard all season for this moment and we all know that hard work matters, but we wrestled pretty well today as it was about what we expected,” Winesburgh said following the last match in the semifinal round.
“We were ready to go when the first match began, but attitude and effort all count. As long as we stay positive and do what we’re supposed to do, we can win a lot more matches. But I couldn’t be any more proud and happy with what we did today,” he added.
Soddy Daisy’s six finalists include Luke Myhan at 113, Ayden Jenkins at 120, Tyson Flavin at 132, Boogie Cosper at 150, Nathan Wade at 190 and Jonathan Davis at 285. Myhan and Davis are both defending state champs. Nathaniel Moungsiharat (126), Jake Laxton (138), Fisher Higgins (157), Jeremiah Wysong (165) and Daniel Adcock (175) are still alive in the consolation rounds.
Signal Mountain’s three finalists include junior JoJo Uhorchuk at 132, senior older brother Ethan Uhorchuk at 138 and Jackson Davis at 175. Luke Higdon (106), Hunter Poe (120), Christian Davis (126) and Zander Moody (215) are also still battling. Ethan is currently 51-0 and shooting for his fifth state title, which would be a first for public school wrestlers. JoJo is currently 47-0 and looking for his third straight title after finishing second as an eighth grader.
Signal Mountain coach Houston Clements is pretty sure that his team has wrestled well enough to win, but he also knows just how good Soddy Daisy is and is quick to send credit their way.
“We got off to a great start and really had a good day, despite losing two tough ones in the semis,” Clements said later by phone.
“Christian Davis was down 7-0 against a really good kid from Pigeon Forge, but rallied to win by a pin and that was one of our brightest spots for the day. Luke Higdon was leading 3-1 late in his semifinal match at 106, but got taken down and pinned with eight seconds left. I’m really hurting for him, but we left it all on the mat tonight.
“Soddy Daisy is always tough and they had a great first day too, but we still have a lot to wrestle for. I love these young men and am really proud of what they’ve done this year. We just want to finish strong tomorrow,” he added.
While Soddy Daisy has six finalists and Signal Mountain three, Whitwell is the other Chattanooga-area team with a finalist as senior Wyatt Davis won three matches in the 144-pound class, including a pin in the semis.
Pigeon Forge, Station Camp, Anderson County, Montgomery Central and Upperman all have two in the finals.
TOP 10 TEAM SCORES AFTER FRIDAY ROUNDS: 1. Soddy Daisy 153.5; 2. Signal Mountain 99; 3. Pigeon Forge 77.5; 4. Station Camp 72; 5. Anderson County 61; 6. Gibbs 55.5; 7. Tullahoma 52.5; 8. Montgomery Central 51; 9. Upperman 49.5; 10. Millington Central 39.5.
CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINALS
106 – Brylan Rhodes (Greeneville) pinned Luke Higdon (Signal Mountain), 5:52; Jacob Stinnett (Upperman) won by technical fall over Jimmy Johnson (Sullivan East), 2:34;
113 – Luke Myhan (Soddy Daisy) dec. Ryley Correll (Eagleton), 1-0; Nathaniel Graham (Station Camp) dec. Dalton Lopez (Millington Central), 8-6;
120 – Ayden Jenkins (Soddy Daisy) pinned Zedediah Hulet (Anderson Co), 2:19; Blake Allen (Gibbs) dec. Derrick Bolden (Millington Central), 7-4;
126 – Daylen Davis (Munford) major dec. Christian Davis (Signal Mountain), 10-2; Grady Phelps (Upperman) major dec. Noah Eller (Gibbs), 9-0;
132 – JoJo Uhorchuk (Signal Mountain) pinned Zachary Murphy (Tullahoma), 1:01; Tyson Flavin (Soddy Daisy) pinned Nikolas Inmon (Greenback), 1:32;
138 – Ethan Uhorchuk (Signal Mountain) won by technical fall over Derrick Day (Greeneville), :58; Craig Sudderth (Montgomery Central) dec. Jake Laxton (Soddy Daisy), 10-3;
144 – Vayden Moore (Cascade) dec. Max Cable (Pigeon Forge), 18-16; Wyatt Davis (Whitwell) pinned Ezra Finstad (Gibbs), 3:36;
150 – Boogie Cosper (Soddy Daisy) pinned Nathaniel Calvillo (Fairview), 1:13; Jeremy Mills (Montgomery Central) major dec. Thomas York (Station Camp), 11-2;
157 – Wyatt Howard (Pigeon Forge) major dec. James Tuepker (Millington Central), 11-3; Corbin Avans (Tullahoma) dec. Lane Cope (Samuel Everett), 5-3;
165 – Elijah Moore (Tennessee) pinned Hayden Simmons (Carter), 1:30; Ayden Hood (Pigeon Forge) pinned Kaden Weitzel (Livingston Academy), 2:43;
175 – Jackson Davis (Signal Mountain) pinned Dawson Trentham (Pigeon Forge), :54; John Pettis (Station Camp) dec. Skyler Campbell (Seymour), 5-4;
190 – Nathan Wade (Soddy Daisy) dec Samuel Beck (Station Camp) 2-1 in ultimate tie breaker; Eli Bratton (Anderson Co.) dec. Darius Sudderth (Alcoa), 12-10;
215 – Tyson Click (Samuel Everett) pinned Anthony Lastra (David Crockett), 2:00; Joshua Bingham (Anderson Co.) dec. Houston Retting (Eagleville), 10-3;
285 – Jonathan Davis (Soddy Daisy) dec. Jalen Wright (Gibbs), 1-0; Brayden Vance (David Crockett) dec. Robert Tatum (Tullahoma) in sudden victory, 4-1.
(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)