Bradley Surprises Cleveland In 4-AAA Wrestling

Baylor Rolls In D-II While Signal Mountain Takes Second In 3-A/AA

  • Saturday, February 15, 2020
  • John Hunt

The Bradley Bears claimed five individual titles in the Region 4-AAA wrestling tournament at Rhea County High School Saturday, but more importantly, they qualified all 14 individuals for next week’s traditional state tournament and they beat arch-rival Cleveland in the process.

The Bears, who were third in last weekend’s state duals, advanced 10 to the championship finals and won half of them as they finished the day with 234.5 points.

Cleveland, who won its third straight duals title last Saturday and will be looking for a three-peat in the traditional tournament, finished a close second with 224.5 points.  The Blue Raiders also qualified all 14 individuals for next week.

Soddy Daisy was third with 116 points and eight qualifiers while East Hamilton and Walker Valley were fourth and fifth overall with 92.5 and 73 points, respectively.  The Hurricanes will take six next weekend while the Mustangs will have five.

While Bradley was winning a close one over Cleveland in the AAA division, the Baylor Red Raiders were winning the Division II East region tournament with 300.5 points and eight champions.

McCallie was a distant second with 230 points and five champs while MBA was third with 156, Boyd-Buchanan fourth with 85 and Knoxville Webb fifth with 77.

Nolensville was the champion of Region 3-A/AA with 221 points while Signal Mountain was second with 180.  Eagleville, Forrest and Whitwell completed the top five teams with 139.5, 134 and 126 points, respectively.

Bradley got championship performances from Ethan Wilson at 106, Easton Lipsey at 113 and Luke Belcher at 120 to begin the finals while Gavin Hughes (132) and Seth Gregory (138) also won titles while defeating Cleveland wrestlers in the finals.

Taron Patterson (126), Anthony Lynn (152), Tyrone McDonald (182), Gavin Sewell (220) and Austin McClure (285) finished second for the Bears.

Cleveland, like Bradley, had 10 in the finals, but could only produce four champions, including Trae McDaniel at 126, Cael Laxton at 152, Nate Schilling at 160 and Ashton Davis at 220.

Bentley Ellison (106), Arlo Laxton (113), Jackson Bradford (120), Blake Randall (132), Burns Meagher (138) and Zach Brezna (170) all finished second for the Blue Raiders.

Soddy Daisy and East Hamilton both had two champs while Walker Valley had one. 

Winning for the Trojans was Cole Prestwood at 145 and Hayden Maynor at 182 while East Hamilton’s two winners included Cade Meeks at 170 and Jason Brumlow at 195.  Walker Valley’s Jadon Langford was the winner for Walker Valley at 285.

“That was badly needed for our team and really felt good,” said Bradley coach Ben Smith after arriving back on the Bradley campus early Saturday night.

“We feel like we have some guys who can go with those from Cleveland and Wilson Central, but today was a day where our guys took care of business.  We finally got over the hump in some matches and I felt like our momentum just picked up through the finals as we were able to keep our distance from Cleveland.

“We showed that we can compete and we have 14 young men who can score a lot of points next weekend.  I felt like we wrestled well with very little stress.  It wasn’t a bad day for Bradley wrestling,” said the likable Smith, now in his ninth year as the Bradley boss.

Cleveland coach Joey Knox felt like the opening round was the downfall for his team as Cleveland had nine byes out of 14 weight classes.  Meanwhile, Bradley was recording pins and building a 30-point lead.

Turns out, the early deficit was too much for the Blue Raiders to overcome.

“I don’t think we lost a single match in that first round, but we were down by 30 with all the byes and just couldn’t climb back in it,” said Knox later.

“I felt like we lost two matches we should have won, but we have a young team and that’s just growing pains.  I’m just glad it happened this weekend and not next.  We started off behind the eight ball, clawed our way back in and got within a shot of winning, but this just shows we have to be ready to wrestle every time we step on the mat,” Knox added in his usual soft tone.

Top-ranked Baylor had another strong performance in their own gym as they won this tournament by more than 70 points over arch-rival McCallie.

The Red Raiders had eight individual champs while McCallie had five and MBA one.

“Our guys were rocking and rolling today as they scored a lot of bonus points,” related Baylor coach Ben Nelson after the competition had ended for the day.

“We won everywhere we expected to win and I was really proud of Anthony Mannella, who got an upset at 152 that we were all happy about. 

“I thought we took care of business and will be taking 13 next weekend as we look forward to another opportunity to perform at a high level.  I’m not sure how many of these we’ve won in a row, but I’m pretty sure it’s at least six,” Nelson concluded.

Baylor’s champions included Nick Cordey at 106, Jackson Bond at 113, Noah Horst at 132, Garrison Dendy at 138, Mannella at 152, Connor Duffy at 182, David Harper at 195 and Barrett Chambers at 220.

McCallie’s five champs included Jack Braman at 120, Emory Taylor at 126, Alex Whitworth at 160, Gavin Cagle at 170 and James Howard at 285.

The only other champ was MBA’s Robby Barnes at 145.

Nolensville claimed four individual titles and advanced 11 to next week’s tournament while Signal Mountain also had four champs and qualified eight.  Eagleville and Forrest both had two winners while Whitwell and Howard had one champ each.

Signal Mountain got victories from Caleb Uhorchuk at 106, Noah Shriner at 113 and Daniel Uhorchuk at 120 to begin the championship round, but Kevin Muschel was the only other champion for the Eagles.

Meanwhile, the Knights got wins from Riley Lippincott at 126, Jacob Vogelpohl at 138, Gavin Channell at 152 and McKinley Wagner at 195 to maintain an early lead to the end.

Signal’s other qualifiers, in addition to the four champions and runner-up Preston Worley at 160, included Kale Albritton at 132, Clay Gallant at 138 and Brock Shipley at 152, all finishing third.

Howard’s Jermichael Young beat Nolensville’s Bailey Black with a 3-2 overtime decision to claim the 220-pound title while Whitwell’s James Headrick posted a first-period pin to win a region title at 285.

Next week’s tournament will begin on Thursday for the AAA teams while the A-AA and D-II participants will join the fray on Friday. 

Every individual who placed in the top four of their respectively tournament advance to next week's traditional state tournament in Franklin.

REGION 4-AAA TEAM SCORES: 1. Bradley 234.5; 2. Cleveland 224.5; 3. Soddy Daisy 116; 4. East Hamilton 92.5; 5. Walker Valley 73; 6. McMinn Co. 53.5; 7. Ooltewah 43; 8. Rhea Co. 17.

4-AAA CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

106 – Ethan Wilson (Bradley) dec. Bentley Ellison (Cleveland), 6-1;

113 – Easton Lipsey (Bradley) dec. Arlo Laxton (Cleveland), 7-4;

120 – Luke Belcher (Bradley) dec. Jackson Bradford (Cleveland), 8-6 in overtime;

126 – Trae McDaniel (Cleveland) pinned Taron Patterson (Bradley), 1:20;

132 – Gavin Hughes (Bradley) won by injury default over Blake Randall (Cleveland);

138 – Seth Gregory (Bradley) dec. Burns Meagher (Cleveland), 5-0;

145 – Cole Prestwood (Soddy Daisy) dec. Kyle Cooley (McMinn Co.), 6-1;

152 – Cael Laxton (Cleveland) pinned Anthony Lynn (Bradley), 1:10;

160 – Nate Schilling (Cleveland) dec. Landon Lewis (Soddy Daisy), 7-3;

170 – Cade Meeks (East Hamilton) dec. Zach Brezna (Cleveland), 7-1;

182 – Hayden Maynor (Soddy Daisy) dec. Tyrone McDonald (Bradley), 6-1;

195 – Jason Brumlow (East Hamilton) dec. Kallum Lowe (Walker Valley), 3-2;

220 – Ashton Davis (Cleveland) dec. Gavin Sewell (Bradley), 7-0;

285 – Jadon Langford (Walker Valley) dec. Austin McClure (Bradley), 5-3.

4-AAA CONSOLATION FINALS FOR THIRD PLACE

106 – Aaron Walker (East Hamilton) major dec. Lincoln Harvey (Soddy Daisy), 10-2;

113 – Hunter Bankes (Soddy Daisy) pinned Caleb Hickman (Rhea Co.), 2:09;

120 – Tristan Hight (Soddy Daisy) pinned Alex McCord (Walker Valley), 2:28;

126 – Maclain Otting (East Hamilton) dec. Robby Thomas (Ooltewah), 6-1;

132 – Dylan Ricker (McMinn Co.) pinned Jacob Allen (Soddy Daisy), :36;

138 – Gage Boggess (McMinn Co.) pinned Roman Evans (Ooltewah), 2:08;

145 – Garrett Stevenson (Cleveland) dec. Ben Stansberry (Bradley), 6-4 in overtime;

152 – Gavin Hamrick (Soddy Daisy) pinned Alexander Wright (Ooltewah), 4:33;

160 – Knox Watson (Bradley) major dec. Allen Lewis (East Hamilton), 15-2;

170 – Caleb Jeffers (Bradley) won by technical fall over Francisco Campos (Rhea Co.), 5:00;

182 – Tetoe Boyd (Cleveland) dec. Heath Tanksley (Walker Valley), 5-3;

195 – Riley Harris (Cleveland) won by forfeit over Cody McDaniel (Bradley);

220 – Dennis Pedigo (Ooltewah) pinned Jacob Anderson (Walker Valley), 1:25;

285 – Javarrius Dunnigan (East Hamilton) dec. Nick Nicodemis (Cleveland), 3-1 in overtime.

D-II EAST TEAM SCORES: 1. Baylor 300.5; 2. McCallie 230; 3. Montgomery Bell Academy 156; 4. Boyd-Buchanan 85; 5. Knoxville Webb 77; 6. Notre Dame 66; 7. Christian Academy of Knoxville 53; 8. Chattanooga Christian 46; 9. Grace Christian of Knoxville 42; 10. Friendship Christian 38; 11. Knoxville Catholic 30; 12. Donelson Christian 6; 13. St. Andrew’s-Sewanee 3; 14. King’s Academy 0.

D-II CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

106 – Nick Cordey (Baylor) pinned Tate Williams (Boyd-Buchanan);

113 – Jackson Bond (Baylor) won by technical fall over Nicholas Ridings (McCallie), 5:00;

120 – Jack Braman (McCallie) pinned Kade Hartline (Baylor), 3:28;

126 – Emory Taylor (McCallie) won by technical fall over Will Higgins (MBA), 4:42;

132 – Noah Horst (Baylor) won by technical fall over Frank Perazzini (MBA), 4:03;

138 – Garrison Dendy (Baylor) pinned Adam Garfinkel (MBA), 1:04;

145 – Robby Barnes (MBA) dec. Dominick Coker (Boyd-Buchanan), 9-8;

152 – Anthony Mannella (Baylor) dec. Dan McGuire (MBA), 6-2;

160 – Alex Whitworth (McCallie) dec. Omaury Alvarez (Baylor), 5-3;

170 – Gavin Cagle (McCallie) dec. Ronald Garriques (Baylor), 6-4;

182 – Connor Duffy (Baylor) pinned Chase Looper (McCallie), :46;

195 – David Harper (Baylor) pinned Gabe Fisher (MBA), 1:02;

220 – Barrett Chambers (Baylor) pinned David Dixon (Boyd-Buchanan), 2:52;

285 – James Howard (McCallie) pinned Ryan Jackson (Friendship Christian), 3:48.

D-II CONSOLATION FINALS FOR THIRD PLACE

106 – Ellis Haney (McCallie) dec. A.J. Jolley (Chattanooga Christian), 7-5;

113 – Bob Deitch (Notre Dame) pinned Matthew Tieng (Knox. Webb), 2:35;

120 – Chase Eakes (Friendship Christian) dec. Ben Beaver (Knoxville Grace), 4-1;

126 – Ryan Tisdale (Baylor) dec. Parker Sapp (CAK), 6-2;

132 – Nathan Harris (CAK) major dec. Ian Herring (McCallie), 15-3;

138 – Francisco Palacios (Notre Dame) dec. Hawk Dunn (CAK), 9-4;

145 – Chase Radpour (Baylor) dec. Rand Holtzclaw (McCallie), 6-1;

152 – Frankie Zahrobsky (McCallie) pinned Alexander Coker (Boyd-Buchanan), 2:36;

160 – Julian Waters (Boyd-Buchanan) major dec. Lachlan Brandt (Chattanooga Christian), 9-1;

170 – Kaden White (Knox. Catholic) dec. Jake Fuller (Knox. Webb), 7-2;

182 – Dominic Vance (Knox. Webb) pinned Mason Skeeters (MBA), 3:43;

195 – Leonardo Bonifacio (Knox. Webb) pinned Coen Campbell (McCallie), 1:56;

220 – Brik Boruff (Knox. Webb) pinned Noah Bruhin (Knox. Grace), 4:03;

285 – Jacob Brigman (Notre Dame) pinned Joseph Moore (MBA), :20.

REGION 3-A/AA TEAM SCORES: 1. Nolensville 221; 2. Signal Mountain 180; 3. Eagleville 139.5; 4. Forrest 134; 5. Whitwell 126; 6. East Ridge 88; 7. Red Bank 74; 8. East Nashville 57; 9. Howard 53; 10. Sequatchie Co. 50; 11. Watertown 35; 12. Cascade 26; 13. Marshall 24; 14. Stratford 19; 15. Tennessee School for the Blind 7.

REGION 3-A/AA CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

106 – Caleb Uhorchuk (Signal Mountain) dec. Cole Dorsett (Nolensville), 7-0;

113 – Noah Shriner (Signal Mountain) pinned Seth McCoy (Forrest), 1:43;

120 – Daniel Uhorchuk (Signal Mountain) dec. Brody McLemore (Eagleville), 9-3;

126 – Riley Lippencott (Nolensville) pinned Brice Barton (Whitwell), 4:45;

132 – Gabriel Pennington (Eagleville) major dec. Micah McClendon (Forrest), 9-0;

138 – Jacob Vogelpohl (Nolensville) pinned Erik Johnson (Eagleville), 1:07;

145 – Kevin Muschel (Signal Mountain) pinned Amado Gomez (Whitwell), :35;

152 – Gavin Channell (Nolensville) pinned Jacob Roberts (Whitwell), 3:05;

160 – Wyatt McLemore (Eagleville) dec. Preston Worley (Signal Mountain), 8-7;

170 – Nick McClendon (Forrest) pinned Caden Cline (Red Bank), :15;

182 – Noah Hill (Forrest) pinned Jason Dennis (Eagleville), 2:47;

195 – McKinley Wagner (Nolensville) dec. Jerry Campbell (East Nashville), 11-6;

220 – Jermichael Young (Howard) dec. Bailey Black (Nolensville), 3-2 in overtime;

285 – James Headrick (Whitwell) pinned Kaymon Overton (East Nashville), 1:40.

3-A/AA CONSOLATION FINALS FOR THIRD PLACE

106 – Malikhi Johnson (Red Bank) won by technical fall over Jacob Pennington (Eagleville), 21-5;

113 – Kyle Harper (Red Bank) pinned Collin Thomas (East Ridge), 1:00;

120 –Tate Crowell (Nolensville) pinned Braiden Vanderploeg (Forrest), :30;

126 – Perrin Clark (East Ridge) pinned Andrew Green (Watertown), :32;

132 – Kale Albritton (Signal Mountain) pinned Matthew Schutt (Stratford), :22;

138 – Clay Gallant (Signal Mountain) major dec. Carson Blackwell (Forrest), 13-1;

145 – Sean Allen (Nolensville) major dec. Hunter Pendley (Forrest), 15-4;

152 – Brock Shipley (Signal Mountain) pinned Aaron Foster (Marshall), :34;

160 – Gavin Rich (Nolensville) pinned Alex Moore (Whitwell), :27;

170 – Joshua Bryant (Nolensville) dec. Donovin Darnell (Eagleville), 8-3;

182 – Lloyd Pinheiro (East Ridge) pinned Nathan Montpool (Nolensville), :15;

195 – Mason Keel (Whitwell) pinned Alexander Pirok (East Ridge), 1:38;

220 – Christian Wampler (East Ridge) pinned Seth Lacy (Red Bank), 1:02;

285 – Ontarrious Woodruff (Howard) pinned Isaac Stutts (Watertown), 1:17.

(email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)

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