Three area teams on brink of winning state
FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Underneath the lights where wrestling legends are made, the Chattanooga area again flexed its power on the mats.
Heading into the final day of the TSSAA state traditional tournament, the three firstplace squads are Baylor, Cleveland and Signal Mountain.
There are 26 area wrestlers in the championship finals today at 5:30 p.m., led by Baylor’s Red Raiders with seven.
“Our guys went out there and fought for each other, the team race and themselves,” Baylor coach Ben Nelson said. “They were all going for bonus points, and all seven guys got them in their semifinal matches.”
Baylor led the Division II leaderboard at the end of Friday’s competition with 158 points, while Christian Brothers and McCallie followed with 134.5 and 126.5, respectively. McCallie has five in the championship finals.
Jackson Bond (113 pounds), Noah Horst (126), Garrison Dendy (132), Andrew Pace (145), Mason Reiniche (170), Connor Duffy (182) and David Harper (195) will look to make history for Baylor. The school record is six state champions in one season.
“They just need to go out and have fun,” Nelson said. “Don’t do anything different. The energy in the room is great. These guys can keep it rolling if they just stay loose.”
Already with the state plaque virtually delivered, Cleveland’s Blue Raiders lead Class AAA comfortably with a total of 199.5 points. They are followed by Wilson Central with 148, Science Hill with 126 and Bradley Central fourth with 109.5.
Still, heartbreak was felt on Cleveland’s sideline despite sending five to the finals with a chance to top the program record of three state champions in a season.
“It’s an emotional roller coaster,” Blue Raiders coach Joey Knox said. “Even if we had 13 state champs, I would still be heartbroken about the one who didn’t win it all. We are going to go after five titles tomorrow with all we’ve got, though.”
While both sets of Raiders essentially will cakewalk to bring home the state plaques, Signal Mountain has a wild and fun final day in store.
The Eagles sit atop the A/ AA leaderboard with 126.5 points, but Pigeon Forge and Hixson lurk behind with 121 and 115.5 points, respectively.
Responding from a letdown at the state duals against Nolensville, 106-pounder Caleb Uhorchuck, 113-pounder Daniel Uhorchuk, 138-pounder Kevin Muschel and 152-pounder Preston Worley will battle for individual state titles for Signal.
“These kids have believed in what we have been preaching,” Eagles coach Joe Jellison said. “They are wrestling from the heart. We have recharged and found our focus after we had a disappointing duals tournament.”
Cleveland 106-pounder Trae McDaniel improved to 39-0 for the season and has won all four matches via pin. He will be joined in the finals by teammates Jackson Bradford (113), Grant Lundy (145), Austin Sweeney (152) and Isaiah Perez (195).
McCallie’s finalists are Jack Braman (113), Emory Taylor (120), Nate Wysong (132), Alex Whitworth (152) and Thomas Sell (182).
Hixson will send Trevor Lewis (120) and Devotis McCurdy (285) to the finals, along with Red Bank’s Caden Cline (160).
Also represented in the finals will be Notre Dame’s undefeated 113-pounder Cade Holloway (35-0), Whitwell 182-pounder Allen Ashworth and Walker Valley heavyweight Jadon Langford.
With the A/AA title well up for grabs still, Signal Mountain hopes to make it an area sweep of the traditional team awards this year for the first time since 2011.
“For our small community on Signal Mountain to perform like this up here shows a lot about the fight of our program and kids,” Eagles assistant coach Casey Thompson said. “Tomorrow is an opportunity for these guys to show what they have worked for since they were all little kids. We are proud of them win or lose, though.”
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress. com. Follow him on Twitter @ PMacCoon.
“It’s an emotional roller coaster. Even if we had 13 state champs, I would still be heartbroken about the one who didn’t win it all. We are going to go after five titles tomorrow with all we’ve got, though.”
— BLUE RAIDERS COACH JOEY KNOX