Baylor’s wrestlers win fifth state title in a row
NASHVILLE — Baylor School senior Omaury Alvarez was voted most outstanding wrestler of the TSSAA Division II state traditional tournament.
Despite his individual success, the 182-pounder was also most humble when the twoday competition at Montgomery
Bell Academy was over, choosing to shine a light on what his team as a whole accomplished.
All 14 Red Raiders scored points in the tournament, which ended with the program winning its fifth straight title. Baylor now has 19 team state titles in traditional competition and 32 team state titles overall with duals championships included; both are state records.
Alvarez secured his first individual title in dominant fashion, winning a 15-3 major decision against MBA’s Johnothon Moore. Alvarez was one of five individual champs for his team, which finished with 227.7 teams points to hold off runner-up Father Ryan (217) — perhaps a measure of revenge after the Fighting Irish beat Baylor two weeks ago in the DII-AAA state duals final, ending the Red Raiders’ run of titles in that event at four straight.
“This was our end goal,” said Alvarez, who will wrestle in college for North Carolina. “We had plenty of kids wrestle in our lineup that didn’t think they would this season. Grady Joyner (170) and Chase Hart (126) showed lots of heart on the back side, and this wouldn’t have been possible without all of us working together. Grady came to practice twice a week because he is focusing on football, and he got fourth place. Everyone made this happen.”
Alvarez, who wrestled through an ankle fracture for a
runner-up finish a year ago, had a first-round pin in the quarterfinals and a 14-4 win in the semifinals.
“This state title means a lot because that kid has had incredible national accolades,” Baylor coach Rex Kendle said. “He is a two-time Fargo AllAmerican, but it has been a long time coming for him to get this state title.
“Omaury’s drive and athleticism has allowed him to develop a very unique skill set, especially for an upper weight. His hand fighting skills, lateral quickness and strength separate him from a lot of wrestlers in the country. He is going to do big things at UNC.”
The first two Baylor state champions of the day defeated opponents who beat them earlier this season. In an all-freshman final, Oliver Phillips won the 106-pound title 5-4 over Father Ryan’s Tanner Tran, scoring all five of his points in the second period. Jacob Bond (113), a sophomore, took his second straight state title as he built a 13-2 lead in the second period before winning by injury default against Boyd Buchanan’s Nolan Hardeman.
Baylor’s Nate Askew (138) earned a 4-2 tiebreaker victory against Lakeway Christian senior Caleb Gumlick, and fellow sophomore Hunter Sturgill (152) defeated Memphis University School senior Ian McGehee 6-3.
“Our boys came back the Monday after we lost the state duals, and the energy was down,” Kendle said. “We looked at every year Baylor has lost a state duals championship but won a traditional, and there were many. We restored that belief and confidence.
“For it to come to fruition here is an incredible feeling. It means so much to these boys. When they bring their kids and grandkids back here to the wrestling room one day, they can show them they were a part of this.”
Baylor senior Micah Tisdale became a threetime state runner-up, with his 4-3 loss in the finals to to Father Ryan’s Chancery Deane voted the tournament’s best match.