62 local wrestlers named all-state
After ending long TSSAA state championship wrestling droughts, McCallie and Soddy-Daisy led the way with the most all-state selections of the 62 local wrestlers honored by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association over the weekend.
The Blue Tornado swept the state duals and traditional state team titles and garnered an area best 12 all-state selections with
senior state champion heavyweight Carson Gentle
leading the way. McCallie’s state title drought — which dated back to 2006 — was put to an end with the help of fellow all-state selections Jaxon Lane (106, 8th grader), Axel Ritchei (113, sophomore), Brody Connell (120, sophomore), Cainan Williams (126, 8th grader), Dylan Villers (132, 8th grader), Cooper Ledbetter (138; 8th grader), Zaydan Morgan (144, freshman), Cannon Voiles (157, freshman), James Cross (165, senior), Ja’Von McMahan (190, senior) and Cooper Gentle (215, sophomore).
Soddy Daisy’s return to prominence for the first time since 2012 also resulted in the Trojans sweeping both the state duals and traditional tournaments.
Senior leaders Elijah Turner (157) and Andrew Lewis (138) each won their first individual state titles and were two of Soddy Daisy’s 10 all-state selections, which included: Luke Myhan (106, freshman), Ayden Jenkins (106, sophomore), Tyson Flavin (120, sophomore), Zander Duncan (126, junior), Braylan Cosper (144, sophomore), Logan Rawlinson (175, sophomore), Nathan Wade (190, junior) and Jonathan Davis (285, junior).
The Chattanooga area has won 50 of the last 73 state dual team titles since 2000, while the Cleveland girls’ wrestling program has swept the state team awards over the last two seasons.